WHAT'S NEW AT RESNET - 05/01/02
RESNET Wants Your Comments on Incorporating Lighting, Appliance and Photovoltaics Into the Rating ScoreThere has long been an interest in factoring the contributions of energy efficient lighting and appliances and photovoltaic systems into the rating score. RESNET sees this issue important to the residential energy efficiency industry. RESNET is conducting a national dialogue on this issue. At a session on the subject at the 2002 RESNET Conference. The session defined principles that must be met in considering any added measures to the rating method:
- The feature has to be one for which a reference level of efficiency can be defined, and
- A way must exist to cost-effectively measure the performance efficiency of the feature.
- Should the basis of the rating score be locked and never allowed to change?
- How valid is the view that only features covered by the energy code should be rated?
- How valid is the view that the rating consider only measures that a builder would install and that can not easily be removed when the occupant moves?
- Should new rated features expand the denominator or should they be treated as some type of "bonus points"?
- Photovoltaic Systems: Should the PV contribution be credited in the rating method -- against the whole home or just the rated features? How should the PV credits be counted with respect to non-electric fuel uses?
- What appliances should be covered in the rating method?
- How should lighting be measured? Count just permanently installed fixtures or count all lighting fixtures, including table, floor, and task lighting? Measures by fixture count or measure by percentage of area light by each lighting type (fluorescent and incandescent)?
RESNET Posts Report on Software Standards for Tax Credit
Legislation introduced in Congress to create federal income tax incentives for energy efficient buildings requires that the Secretary of Energy promulgate a set of software certification standards based on the California Residential Alternative Calculation Method Approval Manual (ACM). RESNET formed a Software Calculation Method Task Force to review the California ACM and provide advice to Congress on how ACM can best be modified by the Secretary to meet the needs of the legislation. The task force is composed of fifty-five representatives of state energy offices, utilities and all facets of the residential energy efficiency industry. A report has been released on tax credit software certification issues. The report finds that "the HERS industry can compete in an environment where software certification is 'based on' the California ACM." The task force found that the term 'based on' must be understood broadly and that any software certification implementing regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Energy must:
- Provide for a range of acceptable simulation results rather than prescribing a single, exact result that must be achieved by all software.
- Incorporate additional software testing considerations like the ability to accurately predict the energy impacts of changes to building components and systems, and
- Be less discriminatory against more simplified methods that can adequately predict home energy uses.
RESNET Forms Rating Software Testing and Accreditation Committee
The Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating System Accreditation Procedures has been amended to incorporate the National Home Energy Rating Technical Guidelines. There is currently no independent testing or accreditation process for home energy rating software programs. RESNET has formed a Rating Software Testing and Accreditation Committee to develop a rating software testing method and accreditation process to demonstrate compliance to the technical guidelines. The mission of the committee is to develop recommendations on a rating software testing process that is cost-effective to implement and will enhance the credibility of the home energy rating industry."
The members of the committee are:Patrick Bailey, GeoPraxis; Steve Bolibruck, IBACOS, Inc.; Brian Christianson, E-Star Colorado; Philip Fairey, Florida Solar Energy Center; Michael Holtz, Architectural Energy Corporation; Jim Larsen, Cardinal Windows; David Meisegeier, ICF Consulting; Dave Roberts, Architectural Energy Corporation; Robert Scott, CHEERS; Ian Shapiro, Taitum Engineering; Matt Shipley, IBACOS, Inc.; Bruce Wilcox, B.S.G.; and Mike Witte, GARD.
Three working groups have been formed:
- HERS reference home test specifications
- Equipment test specifications and
- Rating method test specifications.
The RESNET Rating Software Testing and Accreditation Committee is scheduled to complete its work by October 15, 2002.
RESNET to Join EEBA Conference
RESNET and the Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement that will link RESNET into the 2002 EEBA Excellence in Building Conference. The EEBA Conference will take place on October 9-12, 2002, in Phoenix, AZ. For more information on the EEBA Conference go to http://www.eeba.org/conference/default.htm
RESNET Task Force on Code Performance to Meet in Conjunction with National Building Energy Codes Workshop
You are invited to participate in the meeting of the RESNET Task Force on Code Performance. This meeting will present the task force's recommendations on addressing barriers to effective code compliance and a new education program to explain the benefits of performance-based code compliance to the housing industry. The meeting will take place at 5:00 p.m. on July 16, 2002 at the Embassy Suites Des Moines on the River's Mississippi Room. For more information on the RESNET task force visit Êhttp://www.natresnet.org/codes/default.htm
RESNET Posts Directory of Accredited ENERGY STAR Homes Program Building Option Package Providers
In cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, RESNET has adopted an ENERGY STAR Homes Building Option Package Provider Accreditation Standard. To date three providers have been accredited. The directory of accredited BOP providers in posted at http://www.natresnet.org/dir/cy.htm
Updates to RESNET's Web Site:
MAY MEMBERS NEWS
View these news features at http://www.natresnet.org/news/mn2002-05.htm
NEW ACCREDITED RATING PROVIDERS
View these new accredited providers at http://www.natresnet.org/accred/registry.htm
NEW ACCREDITED RATER TRAINING PROVIDERS
View the new accredited provider at http://www.natresnet.org/accred/training.htm
NEW RESNET MEMBERS:
+ C & C Engineering, Inc.
+ Emerald Homes
+ Energy Designed Homes
+ Product Integrity Group
+ Southwest Gas
View these new members listings at http://www.natresnet.org/dir/members/default.htm
DIRECTORY OF CERTIFIED RATERS
View the updated listing at http://www.natresnet.org/dir/raters/default.htm
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RESNET is your information source on the latest developments in the dynamic field of residential energy efficiency financing. Residential energy efficiency and housing industry professionals find RESNET Notes as an indispensable tool for planning and implementing home energy rating, energy mortgage, and market-drive residential energy efficiency programs. Join RESNET today!
For RESNET membership information go to http://www.natresnet.org/inside/membership.htm
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Last updated on 05/05/02.