WHAT'S NEW AT RESNET - 10/01/02

RESNET Needs Your Input on the 2003 RESNET Conference
To make the conference of maximum value to residential energy efficiency professionals, RESNET is seeking nominations for sessions to be offered at the Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Partnerships for Success -- Today and Into the Future" which will emphasize rater business development and updating the latest trends in residential energy efficiency financing and the home energy rating industry. For more information on the 2003 RESNET Conference click on www.natresnet.org/conference/.

We are seeking your input on sessions you would like to see offered at the conference. RESNET has posted an on-line sessions nominations form where you can submit your ideas on-line. The on-line nominations form is posted at http://www.natresnet.org/conference/2003/nominations_form.htm. Please submit your suggested sessions as well as potential speakers by November 15, 2002.

RESNET Launches Web Site on 2003 RESNET Conference
The 2003 RESNET Conference will take place on February 24 - 26, 2003 at the Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina. This year's theme of the conference is "Successful Partnerships -- Today and Into the Future". RESNET has posted a conference web site at http://www.natresnet.org/conference/default.htm. The 2003 RESNET Conference site includes:
  • Theme of Conference
  • Conference Registration
  • Hotel Information
  • Conference Logistics
  • On-Line Form to Nominate Conference Sessions
  • Conference Planning Committee
  • About Our Host City: San Diego
Join RESNET at the EEBA Conference
RESNET will be joining the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference that will be taking place on October 9-12, 2002, Phoenix, Arizona. As part of this partnership, on Wednesday, October 9 RESNET will have a single day dedicated to home energy rating and residential energy efficiency financing issues. The RESNET sessions will include:
  • Presenting an Update on Home Energy Rating Accreditation Standards.
  • Highlighting Opportunities for the Energy Rating Industry by Incorporating Lighting, Appliances, and Renewable Energy Resources into Rating Method.
  • Expanding Business Opportunities with Fannie Mae Partnership Offices Taking Advantage of New EPA ENERGY STAR Home Marketing Strategies and Materials.
  • Understanding and Marketing Energy Mortgages.
  • Developing Rating Business Strategies.
There will be a RESNET Membership Roundtable on Wednesday, October 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. The roundtable will take place in the same room as the RESNET tracks took place. Topics of discussion will include membership fees structure, introduction of directors nominated for the RESNET Board, Process for amending HERS standards, and RESNET's goals for 2003.

RESNET has posted a web page on the RESNET Track at the EEBA Conference. Click on http://www.natresnet.org/track_opp.htm.

RESNET Begins Process for Amending Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards
RESNET has combined the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating System Accreditation Procedures, the RESNET National Rater Training and Certifying Standard, and the National Home Energy Rating Technical Guidelines into a single set of standards, the "Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards". The combined standards are posted at http://www.natresnet.org/accred/amended.htm. With the standards now combined into a single document, RESNET is seeking proposed changes to the standards.

The new standards spell out the process for amendments. It includes posting the proposed amendments on the RESNET web site and a public comment process. The final approval is made by a Standards Revision Evaluation Committee that is composed of three representatives of the home energy rating industry and three representatives of state energy offices.

Before posting revisions, the public will be solicited to submit proposed amendments. It is proposed that this process have two tracks, a RESNET drafting committee and a public process.

Amendments would be proposed through these two processes. The RESNET Standards Revision Evaluation Committee would consider the proposed amendments and draft a set of proposed amendments. The proposed amendments would be posted on RESNET's web site and a public comment process will take place which will include posting comments on RESNET's web site. The Standards Revision Evaluation Committee then would consider the comments received and approve the amendments to the standards.

RESNET Drafting Committee

Since the national home energy rating technical guidelines were adopted there have been a number of proposals suggested to improve the guidelines. A drafting committee has been appointed to address these issues. The drafting committee will be led by Philip Fairey of the Florida Solar Energy Center and Dave Roberts of Architectural Energy Corporation and is composed of the following individuals:
  • Steve Andrews, E-Star Colorado
  • Barbara Collins, Energy Rated Homes of the West
  • Richard Faesy, Energy Rated Homes of Vermont
  • Bruce Harley, Conservation Services Group
  • Kelly Parker, Guaranteed Watt Saver Systems
  • Gayle Sampson, Ohio energy rater and representative of the National Energy Raters Association
The drafting committee will have three subcommittees:
  1. Lighting, and Appliances Technical Subcommittee - This subcommittee would review the technical papers and public comments and draft amendments to incorporate these technologies. Subcommittee members are:
    • Richard Faesy, Energy Rated Homes of Vermont (chair)
    • John Ashe, ICF Consulting
    • Sue Bryant, Colorado energy rater
    • Glenn Chinery, EPA ENERGY STAR Homes
    • Adam Gifford, Conservation Services Group
    • Pat Haller, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
    • Lee O'Neal, NSpects, Ltd.
    • Danny Parker, Florida Solar Energy Center
    • Dave Roberts, Architectural Energy Corporation
    • Charles Segerstrom, Pacific Gas and Electric
    • Don Swift, MaGrann Associates
  2. Renewable Energy Sources Technical Subcommittee - This subcommittee will draft amendments to address this issue of including renewable energy sources into the rating method. Subcommittee members are:
    • Philip Fairey, Florida Solar Energy Center (chair)
    • Matt Howes, ICF Consulting
    • Tim Merrigan, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    • Lee O'Neal, NSpects, Ltd.
    • Charles Segerstrom, Pacific Gas & Electric
    • David Springer, Davis Energy Group
    • Mark von Topel, Power Shift
      tatives of rating providers, rating software developers, raters and other interested parties.
  3. Rating Provider Quality Assurance Subcommittee - This subcommittee would draft procedures to address quality assurance of rating providers that will be included in the provider accreditation procedures. Subcommittee members are:
    • Barbara Collins, Energy Rated Homes
    • John Ashe, ICF Consulting
    • Wade Byrd, Energy Rated Homes of Louisiana
    • Andrew Fisk, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
    • Kathy Howard, Energy Sense Systems
    • C.T. Lloyd, Nelrod Company
    • Mark Newey, Southface Energy Institute
    • Don Swift, MaGrann Associates
Public Process

Individuals are also asked to submit proposed amendments to the standard. A form is posted on RESNET's web site soliciting interested individuals to propose amendments to the standards. Go to http://www.natresnet.org/accred/ammendment.htm. Proposed amendments must be submitted by November 1, 2002.

The drafting committee will consider the proposed amendments from the three subcommittees and the proposed amendments submitted through the public process and draft a single set of amendments. The amendments will be submitted to the Standards Revision Evaluation Committee and would review them and submit them through a public comment process. The drafting committee will consider public comments received and draft a final set of amendments for final action by the Standards Revision Evaluation Committee.

Fannie Mae Launches New Energy Mortgage Product
Imagine that you are a lender. If some one offered a mortgage product that allowed your borrowers to afford a higher quality home, that is more comfortable, has lower operating costs while allowing 100% loan-to-value, does not require additional income to qualify, and can be electronically underwritten - could you sell such a mortgage? This is exactly what Fannie Mae now offers with its new Energy Efficient Mortgage Program.
The new Fannie Mae product covers new and existing homes and offers:
  • 100% Loan-to-Value (LTV)
  • Requires only 3% minimum borrower contribution - utility and manufacturer rebates can be credited to the contribution.
  • Monthly energy savings documented from an energy rating is treated as additional income for loan qualification.
  • The energy savings are capitalized be adding value to the home's appraisal.
  • Automated underwriting
A summary of the new Fannie Energy Efficient Mortgage is posted on RESNET's web site at www.natresnet.org/lenders/fnm_summary.pdf

For lower income borrowers Fannie Mae is offering the My Community Energy Efficient Mortgage which offers the same features as the Energy Efficient Mortgage product but offers a 105% LTV and requires only the lesser of $500 or 1% borrower contribution. A summary of the new Fannie Energy Efficient Mortgage is posted on RESNET's web site at www.natresnet.org/lenders/fnm_mcmsummary.pdf

These products require an energy rating from a RESNET accredited rating provider. On July 18, 2002, RESNET entered into an agreement with Fannie on the requirements that ratings must meet. These include:
  • The raters will comply with the provisions of RESNET's Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Accreditation Procedures and the National Energy Rater Training and Certifying Standard.
  • The rating software must report the monthly energy savings and an energy value by calculating the weighted physical life of the energy measures (the result is referred to as the "Energy Life") and then calculate the present value of the Energy Savings using the Assumed Rate applied to the life of the energy improvements.

    The Fannie Mae/RESNET agreement can be downloaded at www.natresnet.org/lenders/fnm_agreement.htm.

    Fannie Mae has developed a comparison between the new energy mortgage products and the old product. To download the chart go to www.natresnet.org/lenders/fnm_comparison.pdf.

    Mark Your Calendar:
    2003 RESNET Conference
    February 24 - 26, 2003
    Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina
    San Diego, California
    California Here We Come! Click on www.natresnet.org/conference

    Updates to RESNET's Web Site:
    OCTOBER MEMBERS NEWS
    • 2003 RESNET Conference Planning Committee
    • Tanzanian Solar Manufacturer is RESNET's Newest Member
    • Philip Fairey Selected to be Interim Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center
    • Iowa Utility Promotes Energy Mortgages and RESNET
    • Energy Rated Homes of Mississippi In the News
    • EnergyCheck Funded for "Time of Sale" Home Energy Program
    • Fort Collins Evaluation of Performance of New Homes
    • Affordable Comfort Improving the Quality of Our Housing Conference
    • Study on Private Sector Support of Low Income Energy Programs
    • New York Public Housing Energy Efficiency Initiative
    • Mortgage Bankers Association National Conference
    • Alliance to Save Energy's Summit on Energy Efficiency
    • Affordable Comfort in New England
    • State and Local Climate Change Partners Conference
    • International Conference for Enhanced Building Operations
    • Empire Energy & Environmental Expo
    • Call for Papers - 2003 ACEEE Summer Study in Industry
    • Funding Green Buildings Workshops
    • Nation-Wide Home Loans and Mortgages
    • Solar Product Manufacturer Sought for Distribution in Pakistan
    • EnergyResume.com
    View these news features at http://www.natresnet.org/news/mn2002-10.htm

    NEW ACCREDITED RATING PROVIDERS
    America Home Energy Advisors (Georgia. Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee)
    ConSol (Nevada)
    Energy Gauge Program (Alabama, Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas)
    Energy and Environmental Ratings Alliance (Kansas)
    NSpects Ltd. (New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Vermont)
    Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies (Oklahoma)


    View these new accredited providers at http://www.natresnet.org/accred/registry.htm

    NEW ACCREDITED RATER TRAINING PROVIDERS
    Competitive Resources, Inc.

    View this new accredited provider at http://www.natresnet.org/accred/training.htm

    NEW RESNET MEMBERS:
    • Build One Construction, Inc.
    • Energy and Environmental Ratings Alliance
    • EnergySmiths, Inc.
    • Johns Manville
    • O.K. Solar Engineering and Works
    • Willams Insulation
    View these new members listings at http://www.natresnet.org/dir/members/default.htm

    DIRECTORY OF CERTIFIED RATERS
    Updated listings for:
    • Georgia
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • Ohio
    • Texas
    • Virginia
    View the updated listing at http://www.natresnet.org/dir/raters/default.htm

    LINKS TO RELATED SITES
    Updated links for:
    • Corn Belt Power Cooperative's Energy Efficient Mortgages Can Save You Money
    • Nation-Wide Home Loans andf Mortgages
    View the updated listing at http://www.natresnet.org/sites.htm

    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 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!

    You can join RESNET on-line at http://www.natresnet.org/inside/memprem.asp



©2001, 2002 GWSSI, OKC, OK. All rights reserved.
Last updated on 10/01/02.