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?
• Its in the details

4
Why Energy Audits?
5
Green house effect

• The greenhouse effect traps reradiated heat in
  the earths 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 Canadas 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

10
(No Transcript)
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?

• Its a snapshot of the existing homes 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

30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
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
51
About Residential Programs

• You use a reporting system
• You may need a provider to send your reports
  through to government
• Promoted by companies supplying products and
  services that qualify for grants

52
New Homes

• The Energy Star program is the starting place, as
  builders need 3rd party verification
• Contact local builders you wish to work with and
  develop a network through the Home Builders
  Association, HVAC installers, insulators,
  framers, etc.
• You need to be the energy wizard!

53
Whats the Process?

• Choosing a blower door machine
• Find a unit such as Retrotec or Minneapolis
  these are two of the most popular systems.
• Choosing based on local service backup is a good
  idea.

54
Whats the Process? (Contd.)

• Take the training on the audit process
• This will vary based on your geographic area and
  the delivery system controls in place.
• Do practice homes yours, your friends,
  relatives etc. You need to be comfortable before
  attacking the market.

55
Doing a home energy audit

• Gather information about the home, enter it onto
  a data collection form and take photos of
  existing equipment
• Then enter the data into the computer program
• Calculate the volume of the home and run the
  blower door test to confirm the air leakage rate
  
• Sounds pretty simple! Each program will have its
  own challenges
• You then have to explain what you have found to
  the customer
• Submit your files if required (depends on local
  programs)

56
Pre evaluation data collection

• Obtain info on the home
• Explain the process and booking
• There will be 2 evaluations in total

57
Initial Evaluation

• On site data collection
• Blower door test
• Recommendations of energy upgrades

58
Second Evaluation

• Done after retrofit upgrades are performed by
  homeowner
• Confirmation of energy upgrades implemented and
  targets reached
• Blower door test
• Local rules for how the upgrades are reported and
  sent in for grants/credits

59
On site data collection

• Initial Evaluation
• building orientation, physical characteristics
• Building envelopes air tightness and thermal
  resistance
• HVAC systems characteristics
• Renewable energy equipment
• Photos
• Water conservation (e.g., low flush toilet)
• Stand by power consumption

60
How do you measure?

• The interior surfaces of the building
• Perimeter measurements
• Heights of walls
• Highest ceiling above grade
• Above grade height of foundation
• You are calculating the volume of the home and
  the surface area.

61
Documentation

• Photos
• Each side of the home
• Primary heating system
• Wood/solid fuel burning equipment
• Gas fireplaces with pilot lights
• Central and window AC units
• Attic area and one shot showing depth of
  insulation
• Basement area and rim joist area

62
Documentation Photos
63
The Blower Door Test

• Collect all your data first
• Ensure wood burning fireplace or appliances are
  cleaned out and dampers are closed
• Install the blower door unit
• Take inside/outside temperatures
• Close all windows and dampers
• Turn on all fans and take a depressurisation
  reading
• Take a beginning reading

64
The Blower Door Test (Contd.)

• Run your test
• Start to take readings from 55 pa stepping down
  by 5 Pascals to 25 pa
• Enter the results and check to see if you need to
  redo the test
• Take an end reading
• Record your readings

65
Using the automated software to do the measuring
66
Graph showing the readings
67
What does the test report
Air exchange rate
Dog days
Size of hole
68
Leakage check
Fireplace damper
Radiator box
69
Leakage at Receptacles Plumbing Stacks
70
Sump pits and any hole through foundation
71
Dog days of summer

• Critical Month ACH is
• The natural ACH rate at normal house pressures
  that occur when there is little to no air
  pressure differences

• Critical month ACH
• Acceptable ACH is between .2 to .35 per hour.
• If less than .2 ACH (natural), mechanical
  ventilation system should be added.

72
Typical airflow of exhaust devices

• Bathroom fans 40-100 cfm
• Standard range fans 100-200
• Grill top Range fan 120-1000
• Clothes dryer - 85-160
• Central Vacuums 90-130
• ( exterior exhausting)

73
Depressurisation testing

• If the exhaust systems of the home create a 5 Pa
  or more pressure when they are all turned on at
  the same time.
• You need to direct the client to an HVAC
  contractor.
• 5 Pa or more could cause back drafting of
  combustion gases into the home. (Safety issue)

74
EnerGuide Rating

• Each program will be a bit different but all will
  focus around similar model
• Rating 100- (estimated total energy consumption)
  x 20 (benchmark total energy
  consumption)
• Estimated total consumption
• Est. total energy cons. space heating DHW
  base load
• Benchmark total energy consumption
• Bm.total energy cons. space heating bm dhw
  base load bm

75
New Construction Advisor

• Its all about finding the holes.
• Look for the big ones first
• You are the person who is going to be the
  envelope science guru
• The builder and trades need to be able to feel
  youre there to help them prevent call backs

76
From the September 1999 Construction Specifier
An article titled 10 Lessons from Building
Failures Author Richard Rivin CSI, CCS,
AIA Redundancy in building envelope design helps
to reduce failures. Most agree that there is no
such thing as a perfect set of construction
documents, as there is no perfect on-site
installation. Given this, the building team must
acknowledge the need for redundancy in the design
of the building envelope systems.
77
Thanks

• To you for your time and interest
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• National Research Council
• Ontario Building Officials
• DuPont Tyvek
• Newspaper articles
• Natural Resources Canada training manual
• Websites, Resnet, Build America, Energy Gauge,
  ecoENERGY