Better Homes, Better Future – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Three RESNET standards combined: 1 - operations (HERS Index), 2 - the grid (CO2 Index) and 3 - embodied carbon (currently being written) provide capacity to analyze Carbon Usage Intensity. We'll explore time-of-use, load reduction and carbon sequestration in buildings at both the single-family and multi-family scale (500 units) to show cumulative impact. And discuss policy benefits of energy labeling and decarbonization for advancing energy equity, so that vulnerable populations can make informed housing opportunity decisions.

While the content is technical in nature, the presenters will draw a direct relationship to equity in the context of who has access to low carbon housing and how carbon reductions strategies in both operational and embodied phases can be scaled to the housing industry at large through the standards and programs being developed through RESNET. While the early adoption of low carbon strategies have been pioneered in large part by well-funded custom single family construction, the approaches being discussed in this presentation are designed to bring much broader access to the industry at large and in so doing, increase resiliency. Further, we will explore equity from a climate justice lens to understand which communities are most directly impacted by the climate crisis that the residential housing sector is currently contributing to and provide the context and motivation for why building resilience through these initiatives is so critical.

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand how the RESENT Carbon "Trifecta" allows calculation and analysis of blended metrics like Carbon Use Intensity.

2) Understand how such a blended metric facilitates a Whole Lifecycle Analysis at the residential scale and how close we are to being able to do this.

3) Understand the role that HERS Raters play in resiliency, especially in EJ neighborhoods, though the evolution of dynamic grid electrification, load management/reduction and carbon sequestration in buildings.

4) Understand the cumulative impact of simple materials substitutions at the scale of a residential development of 500 units.

In the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the primary residential provisions of the code (Chapter 4) consisted of four pages. That same chapter in the 2021 IECC is 21 pages long! Mandatory, prescriptive, performance, energy rating index, additional efficiency packages and UA trade-offs all combine to make IECC compliance complicated.

Prescriptive compliance is increasingly more expensive and complicated to use, and the performance compliance option doesn’t allow consideration for high efficiency equipment. The energy rating index path provides a whole-house performance approach but has aggressive targets that are complicated with amendments for ventilation requirements and no requirements for quality assurance oversight of third parties.

If the energy code’s primary purpose is to reduce energy consumption, why can’t we set performance goals and let builders figure out how to achieve it?

One recent example of this approach is in Texas. Texas House Bill 3215 updated the state’s universal energy code compliance pathway to allow builders to use the energy rating index for energy code compliance across the state, in lieu of the state energy code or any stretch code adopted by municipalities. The legislation ratchets down target ERI scores to improve efficiency through 2028, allowing builders to plan for future efficiency requirements.

Attend this webinar to learn how a simpler approach to energy code compliance can work, how it can be used to set a path to net-zero energy and how to implement it in your state.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the changes and complexities of the IECC over time.
• Understand how the energy code can be simplified.
• Be able to describe how a simplified performance-based approach has worked in other states.
• Learn how a performance-based energy code approach can be used to get builders to net-zero homes more quickly.

As jurisdictions across the country consider electrification policy, industry understanding of their electric options for heating and cooling is increasingly important. 

Attendees of this course will learn the benefits of innovative electric heating and cooling technologies, for examples:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the building sector as a result of displacing natural gas, propane combustion and oil heating.
•  Increases in electrical efficiency as a result of replacing using innovative systems such as ductless minisplits and ground source heat pumps
• Utility bill savings for ratepayers as a result of technology efficiencies and the ability to shift electric consumption to parts of the day when renewable energy resources are abundant and electricity prices are lowest.
• Concepts such as dual-fuel heating and cold climate heat pumps.
• Attendees will be familiarized with the various types of heating and cooling systems.

Attendees of this course will learn the benefits of water heating technologies, for examples:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the building sector as a result of displacing natural gas and propane combustion water heating.
• Increases in electrical efficiency as a result of replacing electric resistance water heaters.
• Utility bill savings for ratepayers as a result of technology efficiencies and the ability to shift electric consumption to parts of the day when renewable energy resources are abundant and electricity prices are lowest.

Attendees will be familiarized with the various types of water heaters:

Conventional storage water heaters offer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water which is adequate for everyday use. In some instances, however, such as when simultaneous usage of hot water occurs, or when there is a longer durational need for hot water.

• Heat pump water heaters move heat from one area to another instead of generating heat directly to provide hot water, resulting in high efficiencies and significant cost reductions.
• Solar water heaters use the sun to heat water, reducing energy costs for homeowners.
• Tankless or demand-type water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. This type of water heater is designed to provide a sufficient supply of hot water without running out, when adequately sized.
• Tankless coil and indirect water heaters use a home's space heating system to heat water. 

Most folks in the EEBA community know there’s a connection between water and energy (and as a result, carbon). On the one hand, we use huge amounts of water to generate electricity, and managing reservoir levels in a way that supports hydroelectric generation has become an increasing issue in the West. On the other hand, we use huge amounts of energy to extract, move, treat, and deliver water and wastewater to our homes. So how much energy does it take? How much energy and carbon can you save by reducing water? We’ll explore these questions using both national averages and local case studies.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the relationship between water, energy, and carbon
• Express how and where energy is consumed in the process of supporting our homes with water
• Describe the factors that influence the energy intensity of different water supplies and specific homes
• Learn how WaterSense labeled homes certification and the tools provided by WaterSense can help address the energy embedded in water

Consumer awareness and demand for homes that perform at zero energy or near zero levels is on the rise.  As builders across the country attempt to deliver zero energy performance to their customers, there are a variety of strategies to reach this target – some more expensive than others.  In addition, as builders attempt to find the most cost-effective solutions, it is important to think about cost implications for both the builder and the buyer.  Attendees of this class will be able to:

• Define the key components of any zero energy home
• Identify a broad range of cost considerations for both the builder and buyer of a zero energy home
• Understand various approaches to achieving zero energy performance
• Understand methods for analyzing zero energy strategies
• Identify existing analysis tools for optimizing cost and efficiency

Most Home Builders are struggling to design ventilation systems that meet the new IECC state building codes and ENERGY STAR for Homes version 3.1’s mandatory, delivered ventilation air flow rates to qualify for the 45L Federal Tax Credit. By the end of this training, Home Builders will have the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement cost-effective ventilation systems that meet state and federal regulations while achieving maximum efficiency.

Four Learning Objectives:

1. What are the 2021 IECC ventilation requirements and how can you meet them?
2. How can your ventilation design help you qualify for the 45L Federal Tax Credit?
3. How can Home Energy Raters help you model for maximum efficiency?
4. How can you ensure that your installed ventilation system delivers code compliant air flow? 

The Inflation Reduction Act will soon be rolling out financial incentives for more efficient HVAC systems like heat pumps to save energy and improve home comfort for American households. But what happens if these systems are improperly installed? According to a recent analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 70% to 90% of residential HVAC systems have at least one problem with their installation that is wasting energy, whether it’s improper refrigerant charge or airflow. The Department of Energy’s Smart Tools for Efficient HVAC Performance (STEP) Campaign is working to address this issue through widespread adoption of smart diagnostic tools in the HVAC industry. Smart diagnostic tools can help technicians commission new HVAC systems and verify optimal performance. When used in quality installation programs to ensure new HVAC systems are installed without energy-wasting errors, these tools can be the solution to ensuring IRA-backed HVAC systems are delivering the home comfort and energy savings promised.

Learning Objectives:

- Learn about smart diagnostic tools and how they work

- Understand the business value of smart diagnostic tools for HVAC contractors

- Understand how smart diagnostic tools align with the goals of the IRA

- Learn how smart diagnostic tools can be incorporated in quality installation programs

Climate change has caused unprecedented power outages and soaring energy costs, and homeowners are paying the price. As new codes and standards continue to push for efficiency and connectivity, homeowner expectations are evolving too — and Schneider Electric is positioned to play a major role in the transition.

In this webinar, we'll introduce Schneider Home, an all-in-one, grid-to-plug home electrification system that makes it easy to monitor, manage, and maximize energy use in residential homes. By ensuring homes are future-ready for the new energy landscape, we can advance a new energy economy that is sustainable, resilient, and affordable.

Learning Objectives:

1) Learn about the outsized role the residential building sector plays in the push for electrification and decarbonization.

2) Understand how both building codes and customer demand are converging to help drive these energy solutions.

3) Discover what homeowners expect from a modern home are smart technologies that are interconnected and intuitive - Yet the reality today is that these solutions are fragmented.

4) Recognize that Schneider is the only technology provider that can deliver a full grid-to-plug solution with a single digital interface thus fulfilling consumer demand and helping to achieve emerging electrification and decarbonizing goals.  

Aaron Smith, CEO of EEBA, is joined by Adam Robertson, co-founder and principal of Sustainatree Consulting from Calgary, AB Canada. With a background of over 10 years in civil engineering within the construction industry, particularly in wood building products, Adam brings a wealth of expertise. Embodied carbon, a topic gaining traction among builders and developers, encapsulates the totality of greenhouse gas emissions and removals throughout a product's lifecycle. This includes inputs, outputs, raw materials, energy, and more, each with its own carbon footprint. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive, quantified understanding of the climate impacts associated with each product's journey. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the significance of embodied carbon for builders and its implications moving forward.