Transcript Energy Audits & Blower Door Potential

Energy Audits
Presented by
Doug Kendall – GPI
Special thanks to Rick Nelson, NPI Maryland
and Steve Gregory, NPI Virginia
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Why energy audits
The Building Science
Programs
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Residential
Existing homes
 New homes
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Other inspections/audits
Getting started
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How to do an audit
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Training
Documentation
The blower door test
What does it mean?
It’s in the details
Why Energy Audits?
Green house effect
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The greenhouse
effect traps
reradiated heat in
the earth’s lower
atmosphere
We are trying to
reverse this trend
Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions,
1998 to 2010
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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
Secondary Energy Use
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The residential sector makes up
approximately 18% of Canada’s secondary
energy use. (1990-2004)
Agriculture
2%
Residential
18%
Transportation
30%
Commercial
14%
Industrial
36%
Agriculture
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Transportation
Air Infiltration
Primary Air Infiltration Locations
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Heat loss to home
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42% basement
10% windows
25% air leakage
7% roof
Consumer Awareness
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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
Latest consumer housing trends
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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
What is a home energy audit?
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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.
The Building Science
Exterior Foundation Insulation
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Prevents thermal
bridging
Ease of installation
Drainage layer for
water control
Interior Basement Detail
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What benefits do
you see here.
Thermal bridging
Moisture control
Ease of installing
electrical and
finished products
Interior Basement Insulation
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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
Insulated Concrete Forms
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There is room for air leakage in these
systems also
Electricians need guidance
Air Leakage Damage
Air Leakage Matters
Over an average winter
Infrared will help
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See the air leakage
at the rim joist area
Blower door allows
people to feel the
draft and sinks it
home.
Floor Areas
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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?
Suggesting Up-grades
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Adding exterior
insulation
Air sealing
Moisture
protection
My Pet Peeve
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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
Attic Hatch Leakage
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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.
Why the Depressurization Test
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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
Cold Air Return Boots
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Boots need to be sealed to prevent drawing air from
behind wall board and down from attic space
HVAC Lines
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All HVAC lines are to
be sealed against
leakage and insulated
if their location
dictates
Finding the Holes
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Plumbing stacks
are the first to go
after
Check all floor or
wall areas where
plumbing passes
through
Energy Consumption Comparison
Air Barrier Systems
Relative Energy Consumption
Annual Relative Energy Consumption,
Montreal
1.05
1
0.95
0.991
0.909
0.909
0.898
0.9
0.888
0.861
0.85
0.8
0.75
Conventional
Sealed
w all w ith
polyethylene
strapping
Airtight
dryw all
approach
Fiberboard
w ith air
barrier
membrane
CodeBord
(6.5) 2X4
CodeBord
(5.5) 2X6
Wall and Air Barrier System Types
Reference wall: 2x6 (R-20), OSB sheathing, lapped poly air/vapour barrier
New Home Details
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Areas that will not be
easily detailed
Bridge with rigid
materials
OSB. Foam boards,
Plywood
Poly will not hold in
these areas
Exterior Detailing
The building sheathing must actually line up and the seam
tape must be compatible to create the air barrier
Foam boards and air sealing
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Exterior details – do they
work?
Foam boards and air sealing
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Exterior details – do they
work?
Where is the air barrier?
Foam boards and air sealing
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Exterior details – do they
work?
Where is the air barrier?
Where is the sheathing
membrane?
Foam boards and air sealing
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Exterior details – do they
work?
Where is the air barrier?
Where is the sheathing
membrane?
The interior rim joist
foamed is a great seal
Foam Board Details
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What do you see in
the photo?
Foam Board Details
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What do you see in
the photo?
Think
- air leakage
- bonding
- compatibility
- support
- water intrusion
Ceiling Fixtures/ Pot Lights
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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
Its all in the details
Air Leakage Points
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What could you
do to seal these
areas better?
Who do you
need to talk to
get this done?
This is new
build!!
Hard areas to detail
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Suggest solid
board material to
hold poly in place
and allow for
support and
detailing.
Energy Audit Residential
Programs
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ecoENERGY
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Build America
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Energy Gauge
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RESNET
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Building Performance Institute
How the chain of residential energy
programs typically works
Energy Program
Delivery/Reporting
Agency
Auditor
ecoENERGY
Energuide for
new homes
Energy Star
Green Home
R2000
LEED Home
About Residential Programs
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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
New Homes
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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!
What’s the Process?
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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.
What’s the Process? (Cont’d.)
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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.
Doing a home energy audit
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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 it’s
own challenges
You then have to explain what you have found to
the customer
Submit your files if required (depends on local
programs)
Pre evaluation data collection
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Obtain info on the home
Explain the process and booking
There will be 2 evaluations in total
Initial Evaluation
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On site data collection
Blower door test
Recommendations of energy upgrades
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
On site data collection
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Initial Evaluation
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building orientation, physical characteristics
Building envelope’s air tightness and thermal
resistance
HVAC systems characteristics
Renewable energy equipment
Photos
Water conservation (e.g., low flush toilet)
Stand by power consumption
How do you measure?
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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.
Documentation
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Photos
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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
Documentation Photos
The Blower Door Test
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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
The Blower Door Test (Cont’d.)
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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
Using the
automated
software
to do the
measuring
Graph showing the readings
What does the test report
Air
exchange
rate
Dog days
Size of hole
Leakage check
Fireplace damper
Radiator box
Leakage at Receptacles & Plumbing
Stacks
Sump pits and any hole through
foundation
Dog days of summer
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Critical month ACH
Acceptable ACH is
between .2 to .35 per
hour.
If less than .2 ACH
(natural), mechanical
ventilation system
should be added.
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Critical Month ACH is
The natural ACH rate at
normal house pressures
that occur when there is
little to no air pressure
differences
Typical airflow of exhaust devices
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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)
Depressurisation testing
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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)
EnerGuide Rating
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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 :
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Est. total energy cons.+ space heating + DHW + base load
Benchmark total energy consumption:
Bm.total energy cons. = space heating bm = dhw = base
load bm
New Construction Advisor
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It’s 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 you’re there to help them prevent call
backs
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.”
Thanks
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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