Industry News & Announcements

>>Preliminary Findings from Residential Energy Code Field Study - Webinar, Dec. 7

DOE is hosting a webinar to present the initial findings of its residential field study, which is investigating whether an investment in code education & training can produce a change in residential energy savings. The webinar will highlight the methodology, sampling and current status of the participating states. The potential savings associated with these activities will also be presented, which are of interest to government agencies, utilities and other entities. The webinar is December 7 at 1-2:30 p.m. ET

>>Revolution Now: The Future Arrives for Five Clean Energy Technologies – 2015 Update

DOE hasreleased an update to its Revolution Now report, which highlights four transformational technologies: light-emitting diodes (LEDs), land-based wind power, utility-scale solar PV, distributed-solar PV, and electric vehicles (EVs). This update briefly introduces three additional technologies on the cusp of wider deployment and cost reduction in the coming years: smart building systems, fuel-efficient freight trucks, and vehicle lightweighting. Selected charts from the report are available to help better understand the progress made on clean energy technologies. 

>>Race to Zero 2016 Teams Announced

Registration for the 2016 competition is closed and DOE has announced that 34 teams from 27 collegiate institutions have been invited to compete. Eight institutions have more than one team registered. 

>>Solutions for Combustion Safety in Existing Homes – Webinar Dec. 16

It can be challenging for residential contractors to conduct appropriate combustion safety test procedures in existing homes and use effective actions to address any failures. Commonly used testing methods can be complicated to follow and may be overly conservative, producing false positive results without addressing the fundamental need for inspection of the venting system itself. Additionally, there are situations where comprehensive combustion safety tests are not necessary and prescriptive procedures can be used to address safety concerns. Lean more at this webinar on Dec. 16, from 3-4:30 p.m. EST.

>>$9.5 Million Funding Oppt’y for Commercial Buildings Solutions -- Papers Due Dec. 4

DOE is seeking to fund promising solutions to the market barriers that hinder the growth of energy efficiency in the small and medium commercial building sector, which are less than 100,000 square feet in gross floor area and account for more than 50% of the energy used in the commercial sector. The objective of this funding is to build a path for market-ready solutions to be used at scale across the U.S. to improve building energy efficiency.

>>Beyond Insulation – Sprayfoam Can Offer Durable, Versatile Roofing Solution

Source: constructormagazine.com
"A strong and well-built roof is the first defense in protecting a structure from the corrosive effects of the outside environment... One product that has proven to be a versatile and durable choice as a roof system is spray polyurethane foam (SPF), especially for existing structures in need of a good roof replacement," says Peter Davis, chairman and CEO of Gaco Western, and author of the article in Constructor, the magazine of the Associated General Contractors of America. 

>>Capturing Efficiency in Residential Real Estate Transactions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new white paper highlighting how residential energy efficiency programs can help make homes’ energy efficiency visible to appraisers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, homebuyers, and sellers. Prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the white paper provides examples of programs around the United States that are successfully engaging the real estate community and overcoming barriers to valuing energy efficiency in the home resale process.