Giving Credit to Quality. Insulation Installation

Transcription

1 Giving Credit to Quality RESNET Insulation Installation NC ENERGY STAR Conference December 6, 2006 Raleigh, North Carolina Steve Baden Executive Director RESNET

2 RESNET s Mission Improve the energy efficiency of the nation s housing stock and qualify more families for home ownership by expanding the national availability of mortgage finance options and home energy ratings.

3 RESNET s Key Services Maintain National Home Energy Rating Standards Accredit Rating Providers, Rating Software Programs, & Rater Training Providers Work with the Mortgage Industry in Developing and Promoting New Energy Mortgage Products

4 Home Energy Ratings Are Voluntary Accredited Rating Programs in all 50 States Over 3,000 Raters Certified Across Nation

5 National Home Energy Rating Standards Rating Program Administration Technical Guidelines Rater Training and Certification

6 What Are Ratings Used For? Energy Efficient Mortgages ENERGY STAR Home labeling Performance option for energy code compliance in 16 states State utility public benefit funded residential energy efficiency programs in 9 states

7 Goal of Enhancements of RESNET Standards Enhance the Technical Basis, Quality and Consistency of Ratings as Rating Industry Expands to Meet Growing Demand for Rating Services

8 Goals of Technical Enhancements Enhance the Technical Basis of Energy Ratings Update Rating Standards to Bring Into Alignment with Current National Standards (IECC, Zero Energy Homes, Proposed Tax Credits)

9 Insulation Quality Inspection Procedures Appendix A Insulation Installation

10 Insulation Inspection Procedures + Assess Insulation Quality - Three Grades: I, II & III - Grade I Based on Industry Published Standards + Provides Specific Modeling Guidance - Based on Results of Field Inspection - For Rating Software Developers Not Raters + Other Details - Installation Practices, Framing and Compression

11 Inspection Required? No Not Required for Rating -Must Accept Default if Don t Inspect (Grade III) Yes To Take Full Credit of Thermal Performance of Insulation Practically Required for: - ENERGY STAR - Federal Tax Credit

12 TECH: Not Inspected Default values for insulation that is not inspected according to Procedures in Appendix A shall be modeled according to the requirements of Grade III under 3.B.5.m, and shall be recorded not inspected in the rating information.

13 TECH: RESNET Insulation R-Values may not be averaged according to coverage area. *For example, if 50 square feet of a wall area has no cavity fill insulation at all, that 50 square feet must be recorded as a separate wall area with no cavity insulation.

14 TECH: RESNET Exceptions: 1. Modular and manufactured housing using IPIA (In-Plant Inspection Agent) may be substituted for a HERS inspection.

15 TECH: RESNET Exceptions: 2. Structural Insulated Panels (SIP s) and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF s) and other similar manufactured assemblies

16 Exceptions: 3. A RESNET approved, third-party audited installer certification program

17 TECH: RESNET Grade III Shall be used to describe an installation with substantial gaps and voids, with missing insulation amounting to greater than 2% of the area, but less than 5% of the surface area it is intended to occupy. *This includes insulation that is not in substantial contact with sheathing on at least one side of the cavity or insulation in a wall that is open (unsheathed) on one side, and exposed to the exterior.

18 TECH: Grade III RESNET

19 TECH: RESNET Grade II Shall be used to describe an installation with moderate to frequent installation defects: gaps around wiring, electrical outlets, plumbing and other intrusions; rounded edges or shoulders ; or incomplete fill amounting to 10% or more of the area, with less than 70% of the intended thickness. *Wall insulation must be enclosed on all six sides, and must be in substantial contact with the sheathing material on at least one side (interior or exterior) of the cavity. Gray areas illustrate compression

20 TECH: RESNET Grade II Shall be used to describe an installation with moderate to frequent installation defects: gaps around wiring, electrical outlets, plumbing and other intrusions; rounded edges or shoulders ; or incomplete fill amounting to 10% or more of the area, with less than 70% of the intended thickness.

21 TECH: RESNET Grade I Shall be used to describe an installation that is generally installed according to manufacturer s instructions and/or industry standards. A Grade I installation requires that the insulation material uniformly fills each cavity side-to-side and top-to-bottom, without substantial gaps or voids. *Wall insulation must be enclosed on all six sides, and must be in substantial contact with the sheathing material on at least one side (interior or exterior) of the cavity. Gray areas illustrate compression

22 TECH: RESNET Grade I Shall be used to describe an installation that is generally installed according to manufacturer s instructions and/or industry standards. A Grade I installation requires that the insulation material uniformly fills each cavity side-to-side and top-to-bottom, without substantial gaps or voids.

23 TECH: Grade I Detail of Grade I Installation RESNET

24 TECH: RESNET Loose Fill For loose fill applications, be sure to get four (4) readings which accurately reflect the insulation level.

25 Federal Tax Credit for New Homes $2,000 to builder for each home whose performance is calculated to exceed Heating and Cooling Use of Section 404 of 2004 Supplement of the IECC by 50% (Does not count water heating/renewable energy production covered by other incentives)

26 Federal Tax Incentives for Building Energy Efficiency RESNET Web Site

27 Federal Tax Credit for New Homes IRS Rule IRS rd Party Inspection Required Certified by RESNET or Equivalent Rating Certification Organization (Must have Professional Liability Coverage of Minimum of $500,000) + Software Tool Must Comply with RESNET Software Test Specifications

28 RESNET Federal Tax Credit Inspection Specifications + Homes Shall be Independently Field Tested + Field Verification Shall Follow RESNET s Home Energy Rating Procedures + Person Who Certify Home s Qualification for Tax Credit Shall be Trained and Certified in Accordance with RESNET s National Home Energy Rating Procedures

29 RESNET Federal Tax Credit Inspection Specifications Documentation Rater Must Provide to Contractor + Results of Software Analysis + Results of Field Inspection & Testing + Rater Declaration to IRS

30 IRS Form that Builder Files IRS Form that Builder Files RESNET

31 Comprehensive Review of Enhancements to ENERGY STAR & Rating Standards Federal Tax Credits