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Energy Star V3 Homes – HVAC Lessons Learned – Recorded Webinar CEUs

In this webinar, Ryan Miller, Program Manager of Advanced Energy’s Quality-Assured Professional (QAP) for HVAC program, one of two national HVAC Contractor credentialing programs for the ENERGY STAR® Certified New Homes program v3.0, will present lessons learned from the HVAC Contractor owner/operators the program has worked with during its first year in operation.

QAP_Energy Star Homes _ HVAC Know How Graphic Brett

Topics include:

1.    The changing role of HVAC Contractors working in the ENERGY STAR® program.  What HVAC Contractors are required to do and should be doing.

2.    How to save time, money, and increase customer satisfaction by performing quality ENERGY STAR® work.  Tips for developing internal quality control plans and procedures will be provided.

3.    Training crews on performing ENERGY STAR® jobs.  What they need to know, how you can train them, and resources available to them that can decrease their time and cost on jobs while increasing quality.

4.    Marketing your company as a (ENERGY STAR® v3.0 required) credentialed HVAC Contractor.  Tips for setting your company apart from others in the market.

5.    How to evolve your role with Builders and Raters from receiving design plans to having significant input in the upfront design process.  How acting as an HVAC design advisor on ENERGY STAR® jobs, not just an installer, can yield across the board savings for all parties involved and reduce comfort issues.

Target Audience: HVAC Contractor owner/operators currently working in or interested in working in the ENERGY STAR® Certified New Homes program.  Prior experience in the ENERGY STAR® program is not necessary

Recording can be viewed here

Please take a min to fill out this survey after viewing. Thank  you! 

Instructor

Ryan Miller: Project Manager II and Quality-Assured Professional (QAP) Program Manager, Advanced Energy Corporation

Ryan Miller joined Advanced Energy in 2011 to manage residential new construction projects for utility and other clients from across the country.  As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Black Belt, Miller brings significant project management and business process improvement experience to the organization and its customers.

Ryan Miller PIC

In 2012, Miller managed the development and launch of the first nationwide residential energy efficiency program in Advanced Energy’s 30-plus year history with the Quality-Assured Professional (QAP) program.  As Program Manager, Miller is responsible for the managing the strategic direction of the program as well as the day-to-day administration of the staff and program participants.

Prior to joining Advanced Energy, Miller was the Operations Manager for a home performance contractor in Durham, NC, where he learned energy efficiency improvements and HVAC contracting from the ground-up.  Managing the office and warehouse functions of the company, Miller made significant operational and financial improvements to the organization.  Prior to this experience, Miller served as Business Process Manager for Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC) in Austin, TX.  In this position, Miller again tackled business and system improvement projects throughout the state, working closely with the statewide electric cooperatives and other utilities to lower costs, improve efficiencies, and lead training initiatives. 

AIA & GBCI CEUs In order for CEUs to be processed we will need a  small donation based on what value you found on the course. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization (view our details), we deliver green building education courses throughout the Midwest at minimal cost and at no profit. Please support us to help keep these going. Your donation to the Green Home Institute may be tax-deductible. Please check with your accountant or tax attorney for details.

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Webinar: How I Made a Million Dollars as a Green Remodeler

Let’s face it, if it doesn’t put money in your client’s pockets, or your pockets, it is very likely not going to happen.  Sustainability is just fine as a concept but where the pedal hits the metal is on the accounting ledger. Learn how one remodeler, who refuses to do anything except green remodeling, has built a super successful, industry-leading company, which (even during the down turn) provided ample resources allowing him to take 3 months off each year. How does your vacation schedule look?

Speaker

Michael Anschel, a nationally recognized expert on green design, remodeling and building, writes, trains, and speaks for various publications and events around the nation. He is the owner of Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build–an award winning nationally celebrated design-build firm–and CEO of Verified Green Inc. which consults with local government, product manufacturers, suppliers, builders, and architects on green building. Michael led the effort to develop MN GreenStar, and now serves as Technical Research and Development liaison on the Board of Directors. Called “one of the nation’s most outspoken green building advocates” by MN Business, Michael successfully straddles the building, design, and green worlds by engineering profitability into sustainability.

Learn about you can get involved in a Midwest Pilot launch of the GreenStar remodeling certification program and trainings. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn how you can utilize a green remodeling program that is cheaper and more inclusive than LEED for Homes Gut Rehabs and the National Green Building Standard small projects program.

Continuing Education

  • 1 MI Contractor (Code & Green)
  • 1 MI Architect
  • If you need continuing education units for a license in another state, this course may apply. Please consult your state’s requirements.

Watch the webinar for FREE.

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Webinar: Natural Building Materials in Cold & Wet Climates

HIJY-diningAre natural, locally or regionally sourced, non toxic, bio-based wall assemblies possible in the cold weather climate regions of the US? How can strawbale be effective without causing mold, moisture, and durability issues? Can clay be incorporated into a design and still avoid moisture, rot and mold issues?

This webinar will provide an understanding of two fundamental natural materials: straw and clay. It will also describe material properties and a methodology for using each of them appropriately in cold, wet climates.

SigiAbout the Presenter
Sigi Koko is the principal designer at Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams of living in a natural, healthy home. She translates each client’s vision into a unique building design that reflects their personality & lifestyle, while responding to the surrounding landscape & climate. Sigi’s unique collaborative design process provides information & support that encourages her clients to engage fully throughout the design process. Sigi also teaches natural building workshops that empower her clients to contribute creatively during the construction of their own home. All of Sigi’s projects are designed to function in synchronicity with their environment. Each building relates to seasonal cycles of sun, wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources. Her clients enjoy an average 75% reduction in total energy usage compared to conventional buildings. She uses building materials that ensure healthy indoor spaces & minimal environmental impact.
Continuing Education 
  • 1 GBCI – General
  • 1 AIA – LU|HSW
  • 1 NARI Green
  • 1 MI Contractor (Code & Green)
  • 1 MI Architect
  • If you need continuing education units for a license in another state, this course may apply. Please consult your state’s requirements.

This webinar is free to review. If you are interested in continuing education credits, you must follow the following steps:

1. Watch the webinar for FREE.

2. Take the 10 question quiz and score at least 80% to be approved. Please also post a comment below and help add to the conversation.

3. Pay the fee below to get your certificate and CEUs. You must be an  member to pay the reduced member fee.

Webinar Pricing


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Ohio is Hiring – Project Coordinator

Sol design + consulting is looking for a Project Coordinator in the Cincinnati area. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for assisting with all aspects of successful delivery of green buildings certifications on projects assigned (10–20 projects). The role will start under direct supervision of our Energy Director and Project Manager and eventually lead to a Project Manager position with full responsibility of assigned projects.

Broadly, the Project Coordinator will assist with review and verification of green requirements in construction drawings during design phase, and verification of green measures during construction through field inspections and testing. The Project Coordinator will assist with creation of energy simulation models. Meticulous tracking and maintenance of certification documents throughout the course of the project is an essential requirement of this role.

Qualifications:
• BS in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Building Science, or equivalent
• 1-5 years of experience in building design/construction/energy consulting (Architectural project management, Construction Management, HVAC or Civil Engineering, Energy Auditing, or related fields)

Contact sanyogr@solconsults.com for a full description & application requirements.

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Tankless Water Heaters Come Of Age: Are They The Right Choice For Your Home?

Tankless water heaters have not been widely available in the U.S. market for long. Early on, the selection was limited; building codes were not always accommodating and finding a good contractor was a challenge. Nevertheless, they gained a foothold and are now a growing aspect of the building market.

Many of the early obstacles to installing tankless heaters have diminished. To be sure, there are still significant issues to be addressed, and buyers should educate themselves before replacing their traditional tank based unit.

How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?

Unlike traditional models which usually hold between 40 and 60 gallons, a tankless water heater does not store water. Instead, the water is heated continuously as it passes through a heat exchanger between the water supply and the tap. The heating mechanism is only invoked when the hot water is turned on. This is why these are sometimes referred to as “on-demand” heaters.

Tankless water heaters are mounted to a wall instead of resting on a stand or on the floor. They usually require different plumbing and ventilation configurations than a conventional tank unit. Tankless units have sophisticated circuitry, sensors and switches compared to the relatively simple design and components on a typical tank unit.

The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

  • Because the hot water supply is continuous, tankless systems never run out of hot water.
  • Tankless systems are much more expensive to purchase and install. A licensed contractor will usually be required to change your existing plumbing and ventilation. Preparing a wall and mounting the unit will also add cost.
  • Because they are much more complex, tankless systems may not be as reliable as those with a tank and may require more maintenance.
  • Tankless systems may last 8 to 10 years longer than a conventional tank heater. Many tank heaters eventually succumb to water leaks and can sometimes cause damage if the entire tank leaks out in a short period of time.
  • Hot water flow rates may be much lower with a tankless unit. This could be a problem for consumers who need to, for example, run the shower and the washing machine at the same time. Two or more tankless units are sometimes installed to get around this constraint. Of course, if you need to purchase two tankless heaters to replace a single tank unit, the additional cost will be even higher.
  • Tankless units generally consume less energy than a unit with a tank. This is because you don’t need to maintain a tank of hot water at the desired temperature for 24 hours a day. The energy used to keep the tank heated when it is not in use is called stand-by heat loss. While monthly energy costs may be lower, they may not necessarily pay back the entire cost of a tankless system.
  • Because they mount on the wall, tankless units can be a big benefit in homes with space constraints.

Which System Is Best for You?

There is no easy answer to this question. It really depends on your personal preference and your budget. Most people fall into one of five camps:

  1. Affluent consumers who are attracted to the endless showers that a tankless system can provide. Some of these individuals may also have multi-head showers or new soaking tubs that would completely drain a conventional tank heater.
  2. Big households that consume large amounts of hot water for bathing, laundry, etc. In these households, the last person in line for a shower in the morning may run out of hot water altogether. Tankless systems can provide welcome relief to this daily challenge.
  3. Cost conscious consumers who can’t stomach the high price and installation cost of tankless heaters, particularly if multiple units are required to meet the existing hot water flow rates. For these individuals, even the monthly energy savings is not enough to justify the upfront cost.
  4. Consumers who are concerned about global warming and want to reduce their carbon footprint. To them, the energy efficiency of tankless heaters alone justifies the high upfront cost.
  5. Risk-averse individuals who have read about the problems experienced by some tankless users. These users may stick with their trusty tank units until tankless technology improves or has a better track record.

Regardless of which system you choose, be sure that you understand how the costs and benefits will affect your particular situation. If you elect to install a tankless system, make sure that you get several installation quotes from licensed contractors and can meet your local building codes.

Written by: Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago suburbs. He also writes for the Home Depot blog. Chris’ interests in household plumbing topics including providing help with a tankless hot water heater and toilet repair tips.

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Consumers Believe Green Certified Homes have More Value

“This Consumer Green Preferences Survey, conducted by Green Builder® Media, is aimed to understand the sustainable lifestyle preferences, attitudes, behaviors, and purchasing patterns of adults aged 35-55 with an active and healthy lifestyle who are interested in sustainable living. The survey was fielded from March 11-31, 2013, with a sample size of 582 adults. Respondents were 67% female/33% male; 85% between the ages of 31-60, spread equally throughout the country; 81% are homeowners, 60% of whom believe they live a green life. ” 

“Respondents also realize that a green home is more valuable: 85% of respondents thought highlighting the energy efficiency features of their homes would help their house sell faster and 87% thought showcasing the durability of the products in their home would positively impact a home sale.”

Certified Green Homes are More Valuable

Looking for practical advice on how to value you a green home?  Complete this form and give it to the appraiser! Youtube video explains Green Appraisals

If you are looking to learn more about Green Certified Homes in the Midwest and how you can get involved, give us a call 616 458 6733 ext 1 or info@allianceES.org. has 7 years of over 1,500 certified green homes in the Midwest.

Both of these charts and quotes come from a big thanks to Green Builder Magazine.  Learn more

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Bathroom Wallboard Requirements for Green Building

LEED for Homes, Enterprise Green Communities and Energy Star have certain requirements for wallboard installed in moisture prone locations such as bathrooms. All of these programs prohibit the use of typical “green board.”

LEED and Enterprise require either a paperless product or one meeting mold-resistant standard ASTM D3273(with score of 10). Energy Star also allows products meeting ASTM D6329. These requirements do not apply to powder rooms.

There may be other products available, but here are a few examples:

Georgia Pacific’s DensArmor Plus

National Gypsum’s Gold Bond XP

Certainteed’s ProRoc

Mold Tough 

If using a product other than the above, please supply a cut sheet showing that it meets the applicable standard.

Enterprise Green Communities has additional requirements for installation as follows:
 Criteria 7.9c: To be in compliance with the criteria we require that projects use a non-paper-faced backing material such as cement board, fiber cement board, or equivalent in portions of the bathroom in the following areas that are susceptible to bulk moisture damage (i.e. splash-prone and puddleforming
areas), including:

o 4” surrounding the entire perimeter of the tub/shower enclosure,
o 4” up from where the floor meets the vertical wall throughout the entire bathroom (creating a band around the bathroom floor).
For the rest of the bathroom wall and ceiling surfaces, projects can use an ASTM D 3273 compliant board with a score of 10.

Article by 

Janice Romanosky, LEED AP BD+C, Green Rater

Principal, Pando Alliance

ENERGY STAR | NGBS | LEED Homes

Direct: 443-852-5969

www.PandoAlliance.com

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Webinar: Journey to Almost Passive House & LEED Platinum Near-Zero Home

Finally it is here – after 2 years of filming and a big thanks to four Grand Valley State University Interns, 2 hours of video detailed in over 10 sections on the how and why of LEED for Homes and Passive House construction specifically to Sam Pobst’s home.

Sam and some of the other high performance building professionals take us through many aspects: site selection/design, insulation, heating and cooling, passive building, water efficiency and renewable energy. 

Sumac Grove Pobst Residence LEED Platinum Home

What makes it Green? For starters, Michael Holcomb – President/CEO and owner of Home Inspector General has called this “the tightest home I have ever tested.” It comes in at 0.44 ACH @50PA (for all you energy geeks). Michael has test thousands of homes and buildings in the Midwest in his 20 years of experience, so that is saying something.

Next, this project almost achieved Passive House standards! Sam worked with an experienced PHIUS rater “John Semmelhack” to use the advanced modeling software to design his house. The house tested below the air change requirements of Passive House but only made 7.20 KBTu’s as opposed to the required 4.75 (energy geek talk). Sam’s reasoning: “The primary driver of that cost was the building geometry. Since a primary objective was to build a barrier free home, we designed it all to be on one level. This meant that the ratio of exterior wall and roof area to the floor area was not optimal for thermal design (of Passive House). It was more important to us to have the barrier free design than to meet the PH requirements, though we came very close. The only changes we made from the original PH design was to reduce the thickness of the perimeter walls from 22” to 19”, and specify a window that was not quite as high performing as the one that would attain the PH rating.” Sam told me that there was 99 year back on the window required to meet the standard (at that time).

Last, LEED for Homes Platinum Certification has been achieved. This requires 3rd party onsite verification that proves through actual testing that the home is green.

This must have cost millions right? 

“We spent $167.00/Square Foot, but if you add in O+P, design fees, and my sweat equity, I estimate about a $200/Square Foot cost to construct.” – Sam Pobst

•         Gross Square Feet                         2010

•         Basement Square Feet                851

•         Conditioned Square Feet           2547

•         Garage / Workshop                      621

•         $167/Square Foot  Hard Cost

•         $200/ Square Foot Buildable Cost

  1. + Overhead and Profit
  2. + Design Fees
  3. + Sweat Equity

LEED Label for Sumac Grove Sam Pobst LEED certified Platinum

Objectives

  1. Gain a basic understanding of the Passive House (PH) design standards for homes and products or technologies are needed to achieve it.
  2. Discriminate between LEED, Net Zero, universal design and Passive House objectives and how they interact.
  3. Learn about behind the wall thermal envelope strategies for a super tight and insulated home.
  4. Identify costs, ROI and payback on high performance home LEED projects

Continuing Education

  • 2 GBCI – LEED Specific
  • 2 AIA – LU|HSW
  • 2 MI Contractor (Code & Green)
  • 2 MI Architect
  • If you need continuing education units for a license in another state, this course may apply. Please consult your state’s requirements.

Project utility data update and ROI data

These webinars are free to review. If you are interested in continuing education credits, you must follow the following steps:

1. Read the info above, watch the webinars for FREE and check out the Project Profile.

2. Take the 13 question quiz and score at least 80% to be approved. Please also post a comment below and help add to the conversation.

3. Pay the fee below if this is not taken as part of our GreenHome Associates series to get your certificate and CEUs. You must be a member to pay the reduced member fee.

Webinar Pricing

Further Resources 

Read back on Sam’s progress documented on his Blog and stay informed as he monitors the home’s energy use, durability, comfort, indoor air quality and water use. http://sumacgrove.blogspot.com/2013/01/certified.html

  • Recorded 1 Hour Webinar on the entire project – 1 AIA/GBCI
  •  2 Hour GBCI approved Film Series documenting the project from start to post occupancy informed can be seen here for free

Sumac Grove certificate

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Northbrook IL to get first LEED Platinum home

City incentive to bring 40% permit fee rebate
Preliminary Platinum LEED Rating
HERS Rating 40 (without PV)
Built to exceed Energy Star standards
21st Century Craftsman

NW Exterior View - Northbrook LEED

“When we first started thinking about building our own home we knew we wanted one that would be energy efficient, healthy and representative of our family. We appreciate the style and local history of Craftsman architecture, but also wanted modern touches like an open-concept floor plan, in‐home technology and environmentally friendly building techniques and products,” said future owners Aaron and Jenny Stash.

Enter Architect Michael Kollman and his company SmartHaus who will begin construction on the home in Northbrook this spring.  The custom, high-performance home is being designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. LEED homes are built to be energy efficient and environmentally responsible and are rated for health, comfort and durability by a rigorous third party review process.

SW Exterior View - Northbrook LEED

Why LEED for Homes?

“Why not?  The long term benefits of building an energy efficient, healthy home far outweigh the incremental upfront costs. Studies suggest the initial construction cost of a home represents only 11% of a building’s total cost of ownership. Beyond financials, the benefits to our family and our community are immense. If that weren’t enough, the Village of Northbrook’s forward-thinking  Green Building Initiative ordinance made the decision even easier.”

Homes that are LEED-certified measure a home’s performance based on eight categories: site selection, water efficiency, materials & resources, energy & atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, location & linkages, awareness & education, and innovation. A home that achieves LEED certification has been designed to maximize fresh air indoors, minimizing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants, and in our case uses 45% less energy– than a home built to the International Energy Code Council’s (IECC) 2012 code in Illinois.

Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits

Less energy use means lower utility bills every month throughout the life of the house. Beyond energy efficiency, achieving LEED certification is a mark of leadership in green homebuilding, clearly differentiating a home as among the best in the country. LEED is like the nutrition label that demonstrates in measurable terms how a home incorporates efficient features, healthy indoor air quality and environmentally friendly construction practices with the added assurance that the final product has been third party-verified and performance tested.

“This is our future. The jump in technology and science over the last few years has been incredible.  We can accurately predict how a home will heat and cool and maintain healthy indoor environments utilizing very simple concepts and applications.  Homes can be fine tuned to take advantage of site features, owner’s preferences and budget. We can design and build homes today that can produce as much energy as they need to operate.  That goes for deep energy retrofits on existing homes as well.  There are financial incentives in place to help defray some of the costs of emerging technologies as well.”  Architect Michael Kollman says.

The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. “Every material and system has been studied in terms of its environmental impact and life cycle costs.”

The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants.

The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation.

The home has been reviewed by and has been given a preliminary Platinum rating, if you are interested in learning more about the SmartHaus, check it out at www.smarthaus.org

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PHIUS+ Passive Certification for Building – Recorded Webinar – CEUs

PHIUS+ Certification for Building Projects is the only voluntary certification program on the US Market at an affordable cost that requires both: a thorough third party review of the design and energy/hygrothermal modeling of a project as well as a third party verification of the actual implementation on site through expert trained PHIUS+ RESNET Raters. A successful project earns the PHIUS+ Certified passive house or building plaque/certificate as well as the DOE Challenge Home and Energy Star labels.

PHIUS_low res

GBCI / AIA – Recorded webinar instructions below 

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand why Quality Assurance is essential to verified performance

2) Learn about the pre-certification process and what is required for the design review

3) Learn about the onsite verification performed by a Certified PHIUS+ Rater

4) Learn about the collaboration and endorsement by the DOE challenge Home program

Review the Webinar here

Presenter Katrin Klingenberg

Co-founder and Executive Director of the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)

www.passivehouse.us

Katrin Klingenberg is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS). PHIUS promotes the wide adoption of passive building principles in North America through specialized consultant training and certification, project and product certification, and educational efforts for building professionals and the general public.

Katrin Klingenberg

Ms Klingenberg designed and built the very first home built in the United States using the European standard and design specifications in 2002-2003. She has designed and consulted on numerous passive projects since across North America’s varied climate zones and has made proposals for the possible refinement of current passive house standards to North American climate zones. In addition to her executive role she is the lead instructor for PHIUS Certified Passive House Consultant training. In that role she directs curriculum. She also directs the technical and research programs of PHIUS. She holds a Masters Degree in architecture from Ball State University and is a licensed architect in Germany.

In order to be approved for GBCI/AIA you must follow the below steps

1. View the Audio/Visual Recording Here

2. Complete Survey + 10 Question Quiz and get a passing score of 80% 

3. In order for CEUs to be processed we will need a  small donation based on what value you found on the course. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization (view our details), we deliver green building education courses throughout the Midwest at minimal cost and at no profit. Please support us to help keep these going. Your donation to the Green Home Institute may be tax-deductible. Please check with your accountant or tax attorney for details.