Energy Audits

1. Energy Audits Presented by Doug Kendall – GPI Special thanks to Rick Nelson, NPI Maryland and Steve Gregory, NPI Virginia

2. Why energy audits • The Building Science • Programs • Residential • Existing homes • New homes • Other inspections/audits • Getting started

3. How to do an audit • Training • Documentation • The blower door test • What does it mean? • It’s in the details

4. Why Energy Audits?

5. Green house effect • The greenhouse effect traps reradiated heat in the earth’s lower atmosphere • We are trying to reverse this trend

6. Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 1998 to 2010 • This is one good reason why we are trying to reduce energy consumption • Keep the polar ice caps from melting or you will be swimming

7. Secondary Energy Use • The residential sector makes up approximately 18% of Canada’s secondary energy use. (1990-2004)

8. Air Infiltration Primary Air Infiltration Locations • Heat loss to home • 42% basement • 10% windows • 25% air leakage • 7% roof

9. Consumer Awareness • The media is promoting the energy efficiency programs • We have the expertise to add value in the chain • It is up to us to build our business based on the raised awareness

11. Latest consumer housing trends • Latest JD Power survey of consumers – 90% are expecting new homes to be energy efficient. • 92% Buyers cited cost savings the reason for purchasing energy efficient products • 62% of consumers purchased Energy Efficiency upgrades when offered • 61% want verification of Energy Efficiency

12. What is a home energy audit? • It’s a snapshot of the existing home’s conditions and its energy consumption • The auditing computer program will give you the best energy upgrades to recommend to the home owner. • Your role is to guide the homeowner and advise on the best solutions for energy savings.

13. The Building Science

14. Exterior Foundation Insulation • Prevents thermal bridging • Ease of installation • Drainage layer for water control

15. Interior Basement Detail • What benefits do you see here. • Thermal bridging • Moisture control • Ease of installing electrical and finished products

16. Interior Basement Insulation • There are benefits and drawbacks to both systems shown in this diagram. Extra insulation over exterior Bulk water protection Vapour retarder Insulation and exterior insulation Under slab insulation

17. Insulated Concrete Forms • There is room for air leakage in these systems also

18. Electricians need guidance

19. Air Leakage Damage

20. Air Leakage Matters Over an average winter

21. Infrared will help • See the air leakage at the rim joist area • Blower door allows people to feel the draft and sinks it home.

22. Floor Areas • This photo shows the second floor rim joist area at the first floor attic space. • This needs to be blocked off and sealed to prevent air leakage • Suggestions?

23. Suggesting Up-grades • Adding exterior insulation • Air sealing • Moisture protection

24. My Pet Peeve • The attic hatch is the number one area of air leakage and destruction of roof sheathing. • There are a number of ways to seal this area • It must be well insulated & tight fitting

25. Attic Hatch Leakage • Both photos are taken at the attic hatch and show how air leakage is allowing moisture or dirt to pass both in and out of the conditioned space.

26. Why the Depressurization Test • No more than 5 Pa allowed • More than this could cause back drafting • There is talk of making a depressurization test mandatory for any solid fuel burning installation

27. Cold Air Return Boots • Boots need to be sealed to prevent drawing air from behind wall board and down from attic space

28. HVAC Lines • All HVAC lines are to be sealed against leakage and insulated if their location dictates

29. Finding the Holes • Plumbing stacks are the first to go after • Check all floor or wall areas where plumbing passes through

36. Energy Consumption ComparisonAir Barrier Systems Reference wall: 2x6 (R-20), OSB sheathing, lapped poly air/vapour barrier

37. New Home Details • Areas that will not be easily detailed • Bridge with rigid materials • OSB. Foam boards, Plywood • Poly will not hold in these areas

38. Exterior Detailing The building sheathing must actually line up and the seam tape must be compatible to create the air barrier

39. Foam boards and air sealing • Exterior details – do they work?

40. Foam boards and air sealing • Exterior details – do they work? • Where is the air barrier?

41. Foam boards and air sealing • Exterior details – do they work? • Where is the air barrier? • Where is the sheathing membrane?

42. Foam boards and air sealing • Exterior details – do they work? • Where is the air barrier? • Where is the sheathing membrane? • The interior rim joist foamed is a great seal

43. Foam Board Details • What do you see in the photo?

44. Foam Board Details • What do you see in the photo? • Think - air leakage - bonding - compatibility - support - water intrusion

45. Ceiling Fixtures/ Pot Lights • installed poorly • Hard to seal • If installed between floors, can cause home to fail blower door test • Installed into the attic is a great area to create problems

46. Its all in the details

47. Air Leakage Points • What could you do to seal these areas better? • Who do you need to talk to get this done? • This is new build!!

48. Hard areas to detail • Suggest solid board material to hold poly in place and allow for support and detailing.

49. Energy Audit Residential Programs • ecoENERGY • Build America • Energy Gauge • RESNET • Building Performance Institute

50. How the chain of residential energy programs typically works