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Buildings and Their Systems

1. Understand Indoor Environment Considerations for the Environmentally Sensitive

Some of the indoor environmental concerns homeowners, builders and architects can be prevented with good planning before the home is even built or minimized in an existing home. 

Here are some examples:

• Using locally sourced materials
• Furniture, flooring and adhesives that are low VOC emitting
• Minimizing the heat island effect with materials, landscaping and orientation planning
• Using low water-use fixtures
• Keeping a home comfortable in both temperature and humidity 
• Minimizing energy usage to lower the carbon footprint and green house gases and our dependence on foreign oil

As energy auditors we can recommend a variety of upgrades for each environmental topic such as:

• Using recycled denim or cellulose insulation
• Using low VOC caulk and pookie
• Using trees or landscaping to minimize the heat island effect
• Replace or remove grass with native landscape with low water requirement
• Low 1 GPM sink aerators, 1 GPF toilets and 1.5 GPM showerhead
• Installing a humidifier will help add moisture to the air, but before that, you should look at sizing the HVAC system correctly for the house or installing a variable speed HVAC system. An improperly sized unit could remove too much moisture and dry out the air or remove too little.  A properly sized system can also make the home more comfortable by keeping it at a more even temperature rather than the drops and spikes in temperature with a conventional HVAC system.
• By making a home tighter, sealing the ductwork, and upgrading the heating and cooling system will lower our clients energy bills which in turn reduces the amount of coil, oil and natural gas and their carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil.

Next Section

2a. Building Components

1. Identify basic duct configurations and components
   
2. Identify basic hydronic distribution configurations and components
3. Identify basic structural components of residential construction 
   
4. Thermal boundaries and insulation applications 
   
5. Basic electrical components and safety considerations 
   
6. Basic fuel delivery systems and safety considerations
   
7. Basic bulk water management components (drainage plumbing gutters sumps etc) 
   
8. Vapor barriers/retarders 
   
9. Radiant barrier principles and installations 
   
10. Understand fenestration types and efficiencies 
    
11. Understand issues involved with basements, crawlspaces, slabs, attics, attached garages, interstitial cavities, and bypasses 
12. Understand issues involved with ventilation equipment 
13. Understand basic heating / cooling equipment components controls and operation 
    
14. Understand basic DHW equipment components controls and operation 
    
15. Identify common mechanical safety controls 
    
16. Identify insulation types and R-Values 
    
17. Understand various mechanical ventilation equipment and strategies: spot, ERV, HRV 
    

2b. Conservation Strategies

1. Appropriate insulation applications and installation based on existing conditions 
   
2. Opportunity for ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances 
   
3. Identify duct sealing opportunities and applications 
   
4. Understand importance of air leakage control and remediation procedures 
   
5. Blower door-guided air sealing techniques 
   
6. Water conservation devices and strategies 
   
7. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) conservation strategies 
   
8. Heating & cooling efficiency applications 
   
9. Proper use of modeling to determine heating and cooling equipment sizing and appropriate energy use
   
10. Understand the use of utility history analysis in conservation strategies 
    
11. Appropriate applications for sealed crawlspaces basements and attics 
    
12. Identify/understand high density cellulose 
    
13. Appropriate applications for fenestration upgrades including modification or replacement 
    

2c. Comprehensive Building Assessment Process

1. Determine areas of customer complaints/concerns in interview
   
2. Understand / recognize need for conducting appropriate diagnostic procedures including when to refer to a specialist for further investigation
   
3. Interaction between mechanical systems, envelope systems and occupant behavior
   

2d. Design considerations

1. Appropriate insulation applications based on existing conditions
2. Understand fire codes as necessary to apply home performance in a code-approved manner
3. Understand/recognize building locations where opportunities for retrofit materials and processes are needed to correct problems and/or enhance performance
   
4. Understand climate specific concerns
   
5. Understand indoor environment considerations for the environmentally sensitive
   
6. Understand impact of building orientation, landscape drainage, and grading
   
7. Opportunity potential renewable energy applications: geothermal , photovoltaic, wind
   
8. Understand impact of shading on heating / cooling loads
   
9. Awareness for solar gain reduction in cooling climate/solar gain opportunities in heating climates
   
10. Understand need for modeling various options for heating, cooling and DHW applications, as well as other efficiency upgrades