Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Subcommittee: Infiltration Impact Research Plan

1. Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Subcommittee:Infiltration Impact Research Plan Presentation to the Regional Technical Forum December 13, 2011

2. Residential Weatherization Specifications History Agenda • Weatherization Specification History • Research Plan Context (i.e., where we last left things) • Overview of Research Plan • Next Steps • Need to vote on approval of research plan Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

3. Previous Wx Specifications Adopted 2006 • RTF Adopted Residential Specifications 11/1/11 • Ventilation Specifications approved 6/28/11 • WX Specifications approved 10/4/11 • Inspectors exam approved 11/1/11 • Updates to RTF, Jan, May and June, Oct, Nov. • 3-year revision cycle began 11/1/11 Residential Weatherization Specifications History Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

4. 55 Subcommittee members participated • Bi weekly teleconferences from Dec-May. • Subcommittee process on Research Plan • Plan Discussion/Outline October 20 • Draft Plan Review November 17 • Revision comments Nov 29 • Review Requested from Impact Evaluation • Design Guidelines Subcommittee Dec 1 Subcommittee History Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

5. Research Plan Context Approved updated residential weatherization specification that included: • Updated weatherization requirements • Required more specific prescriptive air sealing with individual weatherization measures • For example: duct sealing required for ducts in attics and under floors; prescriptive caulking, finish, air sealing, flashing requirements added to windows Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

6. Research Plan Subcommittee Participants • Warren Cook • Crispin Wong • Eli Caudill • Adam Zielinski • Jim Dolan • David Hutchins • Mark Johnson • David Baylon • Jim Maunder • Mark Kendall • Adam Hadley Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

7. Research Plan ContextAir Sealing & Testing • New section – Prescriptive and Whole House • Defined accessible/non-accessible locations • Provided Air Sealing Checklist with required sealing locations • Specified testing protocol and CAZ test procedure Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

8. “The RTF advises that the region undertake an evaluation of the impact of the non-whole house air sealing weatherization measures through pre and post blower door tests with the RTF establishing a subcommittee to develop an evaluation design” RTF Research Plan Advise Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

9. Purpose of Research • Assess impact of prescriptive air sealing on infiltration and interaction with ventilation • Air sealing combined with: • Attic Insulation • Wall Insulation • Floor Insulation • Window Replacement • Does NOT include Whole House Air Sealing • Data automatically collected for all these projects

10. Research Plan Overview • Research Team and Structure • Sampling • Data Collection Requirements • Data Analysis and Reporting

11. Research Team • Subcommittee recommends “research contractor” lead work • Need a coordinated effort to obtain quality results • Could use existing resources to complete work (e.g. trained RBSA auditors)

12. Research Plan Sampling • RTF recommends 5 % sampling of all residences without whole house air sealing • BPA programs selected for count determination • Core Sample from BPA Service Territory • Augmentation from IOU’s • ETO committed to some data collection Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

13. Research Plan Sampling Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

14. Research Plan Sampling Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

15. Research Plan Data Collection • Predominantly site data collection • Home characteristics • Weatherization information • Ventilation systems characteristics pre and post • Blower Door Tests pre and post project • Indoor combustion appliances • Data from secondary sources: e.g. • Typical ceiling heights for vintage from RBSA • Typical net fan cfm’s by vintage or type Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

16. Research Plan Analysis and Reporting • Clean, well-defined data set • Data quality and management • Data analysis • Change in infiltration • Ventilation impact analysis • Reporting with conclusions and recommendations Estimated Budget: $250,000 Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

17. Research Plan Next steps • RTF role is to vote on plan (suggest edits / approve) • Guidance to program administrators on research contractor selection • Results reported back to subcommittee • Final research results presented to RTF • Results inform future weatherization measure updates Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

18. RTF Proposed Motion: “I ____________move that the RTF adopt the Residential Weatherization Research Plan for Determining the Impact of Prescriptive Air Sealing on Ventilation and Infiltration Resulting from the Implementation of the RTF Residential Weatherization Measure Specifications developed by the Residential Weatherization Specification Subcommittee.”