ACTION IN SENATE ON RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAX CREDIT

The Senate Finance Committee has drafted the Energy Tax Incentive Act of 2002. The legislation inlcudes tax incentives for new energy efficient homes and improving the energy efficiency of existing homes. During the committee proceedings RESNET was active in making the rating industry's voice heard on this important legislation. The Senate Finance Committee markup for existing homes includes a credit of 10% of the cost up to a maximum of $300 for a homeowner who reduces the home's energy consumption by 30%. For new homes the credit offers a tax incentive of up to $1,250 for a home that exceeds 30% of Chapter Four of the IECC and $2,000 for being 50% more efficient. The markup can be downloaded at:

It is expected that the when the actual language is written it will be incorporated into the Energy Polict Act of 2002 (S. 1766) that is sponsored by Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). The Senate is expected to begin debate in the legislation during the week of February 25.

RESNET has added a session on "Washington Update - Status of Legislation to Create Federal Tax Credits for Residential Energy Efficiency." The session will take place at 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6. Join us for this informative panel discussion and learn RESNET's principles for a federal tax credit, what are the various proposals being considered, and what are the chances of passage this year.

If you have not registered for the 2002 RESNET Conference yet, please do so today on-line at

NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON INCORPORATING LIGHTING, APPLIANCES, AND SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS INTO THE RATING SCORE

SCHEDULE OF 2002 RESNET CONFERENCE SESSIONS POSTED

SPECIAL FEATURE OF 2002 RESNET CONFERENCE WILL BE NATIONAL ROUND TABLE ON RATER TRAINING

A special feature of the 2002 RESNET Conference will be a "How to Produce the Best Raters" - A Round Table on Rater Training. Join the nation's rating training providers in a facilitated round table to explore how to produce the best raters. The session promises to be a lively and fun discussion of what can be. The goal of the session is to jhelp grow a national home energy rater training industry. During the session rater trainers will identify areas where rater students fail and how to improve their performance, what makes the best rater student and how to recruit them, and other areas that will assist rater trainers to produce the best raters. The session will take place on Sunday, March 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.

POST CONFERENCE SESSION OFFERED ON TOOLS OF THE TRADE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PROFESSIONALS

Join a lively and fun discussion session on how to jump-start best practices anddevelopment of new tools and practices for raters. The post conference will be facilitated by Russ Rudy of the Kansas Building Science Institute and will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2002.

RESNET TASK FORCE ON ENERGY CODE PERFORMANCE TO MEET IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2002 RESNET CONFERENCE

Learn of the findings of the White Paper on Using Home Energy Ratings to Improve Energy Code Performance and you can be involved in implementing its findings. The RESNET task force will meet at the Flordia Solar Energy Center on Wednesday, March 6 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

RESNET ADDS POLICY INITIATIVES PAGE TO SITE

Since the 2001 RESNET Conference RESNET has adopted policy statement on a number of issues that is concern to the home energy rating industry. To make it easy for members and policy makers to access these policy initiatives, RESNET has launched a new page on its web site. Currently the page contains:

A white paper recommending that energy ratings be the verification method for all federal energy efficiency programs.

The Home Energy Rating Industry Blue Print for Action adopted at the 2001 RESNET Conference.

The RESNET Whitepaper on Using Home Energy Ratings to Improve Energy Code Compliance.

MARCH MEMBER NEWS

--President Bush Unveils Global Climate Change Strategy

--Energy Rater Training Opportunity

--Energy Rater National Recertification Opportunity

--E-Star Colorado "Building It Better" Seminars for Builders

--Connecticut Light & Power ENERGY STAR Homes Program

--Residential Energy Efficiency Porject Coordination Position Opening

--Second Annual National Housing Summit

--EEBA 2002 Excellence in Building Conference and Exposition

--Earth Day 2002: "Protect Our Home"

--The Natiional Green Building Conference

--Building Energy 2002

--Affordable Comfort 2002 Conference

--Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot & Humid Climates

--2002 National Workshop on State Building Energy Codes Seeks Sponsors and Exhibitors

--Empire Energy and Environmental Exposition

NEW RESNET MEMBERS

-- Acadiana Home Energy Review Organization

-- Building Diagnostics

-- Energy First

-- MaGrann Associates

-- Osceloa County Extension

-- PD Associates Energy Services

-- Santee Cooper Power

-- Staples, Hutchinson & Associates

View these new members listings at:

NATIONAL REGISTRY OF ACCREDITED ENERGY RATING PROVIDERS

New Listings:

-- Arizona

-- Colorado

-- District of Columbia

-- Maryland

-- New Jersey

-- New Mexico

-- North Carolina

-- Ohio

-- South Carolina

-- Texas

-- Virginia

-- West Virginia

DIRECTORY OF CERTIFIED ENERGY RATERS

Updated Listings:

-- Alabama

-- Arkansas

-- Delaware

-- Georgia

-- Maryland

-- Missouri

-- New Jersey

-- New Mexico

-- Pennsylvania

-- Virginia

View the updated listing at:

NOT A MEMBER OF RESNET? JOIN RESNET TODAY!

RESNET is your information source on the latest developments in the dynamic field of residential energy efficiency financing. Residential energy efficiency and housing professionals find RESNET NOTES as an indispensable tool for planning and implementing home energy rating, energy mortgage, and residential energy efficiency programs. Send in your membership today!

CHECK RESNET'S WEB SITE OUT AT: