SPFA Joins New Coalition Examining Fire Retardants 
SPFA is an active member of this new coalition examining the responsible and proper treatment of products containing fire retardants. Click here for more details.
California Proposal to Eliminate Flame Retardants in Foam Plastics
A group of SPFA stakeholder members in California have been very active in opposing a new proposal in the California Assembly to reduce or eliminate flame retardants in foam plastic insulation. This proposal, AB127, can have a significant impact on the use of foam plastic insulation across the State, and is being promoted nationally by a group called Safer Insulation Solution. Working with Tim Shestek of the American Chemistry Council, more than a dozen SPFA contractor members co-signed a letter to the proponent, Assemblywoman Skinner of the California Legislature's Natural Resources Committee (NRC). Many of our SPFA members also contacted the members of the NRC within their respective legislative districts. Although AB127 did pass through the NRC on April 29, it now moves to the Appropriations Committee, where the financial implications of the bill will be reviewed. SPFA will continue supporting the ACC and the Energy Efficient Foam Coalition's grass-roots efforts in California, read here. Interested SPFA members should contact Rick Duncan for more information rickduncan@sprayfoam.org.
Industry-Level Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for SPF in Progress
In November 2012, SPFA released final reports that documented the SPF industry's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. This announcement and detailed report can be found by clicking here. This study documents the detailed results of the overwhelmingly net-positive environmental impacts of generic LD, MD and roofing SPF products from cradle to end-of-life. The six impacts studied include primary energy demand, global warming (carbon footprint), ozone depletion, eutrophication (nitrogen release), smog and acidification (acid rain). While the study met all requirements of ISO-14040 and 14044, the results need to be summarized in a third-party environmental product declaration (EPD). EPD's, following the Product Category Rules (PRC) for insulation, provide an important verification of the results that assist in product selection under sustainable building programs such as USGBC's LEED, IgCC, GreenGlobes and other similar programs. UL Environments will be the most likely developer of the SFPA's industry-level EPD. For more information on the EPD development, please contact Rick Duncan, Technical Director of SPFA at rickduncan@sprayfoam.org.
Other Technical Activities
- During the ASTM Spring meetings in Indianapolis, SPFA was very active. Mason Knowles, workgroup leader for ASTM C1029, is actively working to update this material specification for closed-cell SPF. In addition, Peter Birkbeck of Icynene is leading the workgroup to finalize a new material specification for low-density, open-cell SPF.
- Material and installation specifications are needed for the new SPFA Professional Certification Program. In addition, Mr. Knowles has initiated the development of a new SPF Installation standard within ASTM. For more information on these standardization activities, please contact Mason Knowles masonknowles@aol.com or Peter Birkbeck birkbeck@icynene.com.
- Three of SPFA's Technical Committees held the first of their three meetings for 2013. On April 22, the Building Envelope Committee (BEC) met to update and outline projects and activities. One important project for the BEC is to complete the cold-climate guide for hybrid insulation systems. On April 24, the Roofing Committee held its first meeting. This year the RC will be working to update several roofing-related AY documents. On May 20 the new SPFA Safety Committee (SC) held its first meeting and developed a list of 2013 goals. For more information on the work being done by these committees, as well as upcoming meetings, please contact the respective committee chairs:
>>Building Envelope Committee (BEC) -- Mark Fortney, Gaco-Western mfortney@gaco.com
>>Roofing Committee (RC) -- Roger Morrison, Deer Ridge Consulting roger@deer-ridge-consulting.com
>>Safety Committee (SC) -- Joe Bolduc, Masco Contractor Services joe.bolduc@mascocs.com
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Check Out This New Site: SprayFoamHomes.com
Spray Foam Nation is offering a subsidized cost to get sprayfoam contractors listed on the newest sprayfoam site, www.SprayFoamHomes.com, geared to help homeowners, builders/GCs and architects understand foam better. Listings are sorted by state. The site's mission is to provide homeowners, as well as builders, GCs, architects and all other energy-conscious individuals with the most current news and information on spray polyurethane foam technology.
Analysis: Chemical Industry Coped With Growth, Demand Challenges in 2012
The global chemical industry didn't see the expected return of strong growth last year, though many companies performed well, according to this analysis. In the U.S., chemical production increased by 0.1% and chemical shipments declined by 1.5%, as noted in these facts and figures of the chemical industry.
Net Zero Homes Gain Momentum and Affordability
Source: SolarReviews.com
By Emily Hois
As energy efficiency makes its way into the mainstream sector, net zero homes and commercial buildings are gaining momentum. In fact, net zero homes—houses produce more energy than they consume and average zero carbon emissions—have been integrated into standard building practices for both specialty builders and national companies like KB Home. The market for green building construction is on the rise, despite the struggling housing market. Energy efficient homes comprised 20 percent of all newly built homes in the U.S. last year with an overall price-tag of $25 billion, reports the research firm McGraw Hill Construction. By 2016, the firm predicts that the green residential construction market will continue to grow, accounting for anywhere between 29 and 38 percent of all new homes in the U.S.
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Encouraged Through Free Download of IAQ Guide
To promote good indoor air quality (IAQ) in buildings, ASHRAE is making available for free a guide for achieving enhanced IAQ. The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning provides strategies to achieve good IAQ using proven technologies and without significantly increasing costs.
First published in 2009, the guide is the result of collaboration between ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association and the U.S. Green Building Council with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Through ASHRAExCHANGE, the Society is providing both ASHRAE members and others in the industry with an online platform for real-time discussion and information exchange for design, construction, operation and support of the built environment.
"Many ASHRAE members felt there was a need for a place where both ASHRAE members and non-members alike can freely and openly exchange information focused on the built environment," Spencer Morasch, incoming chair of ASHRAE’s Electronic Communications Committee. "The information exchange is informal and takes place in real time. So if you have a question at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday night, you can post that on the ASHRAExCHANGE, and chances are, have a reply posted back to you within 24 hours!"
The platform provides a place for users to post and generate discussion on either a general or specific topic. With thousands of ASHRAE members and non-members checking the ASHRAExCHANGE 24/7, the hope is the online discussions will generate plenty of thoughts and comments from many knowledgeable people, according to Morasch.
Anyone with access to the Internet can view posts, comments and messages on the ASHRAExCHANGE at any time. No registration is necessary, and neither is the need for special software, as everything is web-based. Users who want to become active participants and be able to post both initial messages and responses to posts are required to register.
New Publication Provides Design, Construction, Operation of Underfloor Air Distribution Systems
With use of underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems increasing in commercial and institutional buildings in North America, ASHRAE has published a new comprehensive guide on their design, construction and operation.
The newly published "UFAD Guide: Design, Construction and Operation of Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) Systems" incorporates updated results from laboratory and field experiments. Also included are simulation studies, manufacturers' literature, design experiences from practicing engineers, and other relevant guidelines from users of UFAD. For those in the construction, building commissioning and operations and maintenance industries, this design guide provides a wealth of information on an emerging technology, all while keeping in mind the typical flow of decision making.
"There are many advantages to UFAD that make it an attractive building system solution," James Megerson, lead author and a member of ASHRAE's technical resource group on underfloor air distribution. "It truly integrates the heating and air conditioning system with the entire building by utilizing common building materials as the air delivery means. The raised access floor allows accessibility to other building system infrastructure, such as power and data cabling, to facilitate easier space reconfiguration. Due to the lower system operating pressures and potential to expand economizer operation, the system has the potential to use much lower energy than ducted systems."
The use of UFAD is increasing in North America as a solution to space conditioning concerns. The design guide provides assistance in the planning, construction and operation of UFAD systems, while carefully detailing the major differences between UFAD and more traditional forms of space conditioning.
The cost of "UFAD Guide: Design, Construction and Operation of Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) Systems" is $99 ($89, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Contact Center at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide) or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
SPF Used in Construction of Hurricane-Resistant Domes
Source: Miami Herald
By Joseph A. Mann Jr.
If your business is looking for the ultimate protection against hurricane damage, a Miami-based company — American Business Continuity Domes — can build you a steel-reinforced concrete dome the company says can survive winds of more than 250 miles per hour, as well as seismic activity, water and fires. The construction of the multi-ply shell includes layers of steel, polyurethane foam and concrete ("shotcrete"). The shell or airform serves as the form for building the dome and as the roof membrane once it is completed.
ASHRAE Installs New Officers, Directors
ASHRAE has installed new officers and directors for 2013-14. The new president is William P. "Bill" Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, ASME Fellow, a professor of Architectural Engineering and director of the Indoor Environment Center at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.
Bahnfleth is the son of ASHRAE Presidential Member Donald R. Bahnfleth, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, who served as president in 1985-86. This marks the first father/son presidency in ASHRAE’s history.
Other officers installed for a one-year term are:
President-Elect: Thomas H. Phoenix, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, ASHRAE-Certified Building Energy Assessment and Building Energy Modeling Professional, principal and vice president, Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates, Greensboro, N.C.
Treasurer: T. David Underwood, P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, ASHRAE-Certified Commissioning Process Management Professional, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Vice President: Daniel C. Pettway, senior project manager, Hobbs and Associates, Norfolk, Va.
Vice President: Thomas E. Werkema, Knoxville, Tenn.
Vice President: Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, assistant vice president (Facilities Management and Planning), Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Vice President: Bjarne W. Olesen, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, professor, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. He is head of the Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy at the Department of Civil Engineering.
ASHRAE installed the following directors to serve a three-year term from 2013-2016:
Region IV Director and Regional Chair: M. Ginger Scoggins, P.E., president, Engineered Designs, Cary, N.C.
Region V Director and Regional Chair: Richard A. Zbin, ASHRAE-Certified Healthcare Facility Design Professional, associate/senior designer, Tec Inc. Engineering and Design, Eastlake, Ohio.
Region VI Director and Regional Chair: Mark F. Miller, business development engineer, Mestek Inc. – Airtherm Division, Oregon, Wis.
Region XII Director and Regional Chair: Jennifer A. Isenbeck, P.E., ASHRAE-Certified Commissioning Process Management Professional, facility engineer/manager, University of Tampa, Tampa, Fla.
Region XIII Director and Regional Chair: Edward K.C. Tsui, managing director, Intelligent Technologies Ltd., Hong Kong
Director-at-Large: K. William "Bill" Dean, P.E., facilities manager, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Director-at-Large: Julia A. Keen, Ph.D., P.E., ASHRAE-Certified High Performance Building Design Professional, associate professor, Architectural Engineering and Construction Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
Director-at-Large: Ben A. Leppard, P.E., principal, Leppard Johnson and Associates, Tucker, Ga.
Energy Efficiency Day, Thursday, July 11
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.
With the passing of SB269 this past spring, many questions on Energy Rating Systems and Programs for Florida contractors have arisen and so in partnership with the Florida Home Builders Association the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) will host an entire day dedicated to energy efficiency on July 11, 2013.
From 2-5 p.m. there will be an Energy Professionals Forum in room S320-H on how the deregulation of Energy Ratings will affect Florida’s Housing Market. Speakers will tackle the tough questions everyone is asking: What’s going on with HERS? How does BPI fit in? How did SB269 happen? Who’s in charge and what are they going to do now? What should raters ask when deciding on a provider? What should providers know about doing business in Florida? How does the repeal affect energy code calculations and the energy rating brochure?
Speakers at the forum include: Douglas Buck, FHBA Government Affairs Director, Tallahassee, Fla.; Arlene Stewart of AZS Consulting Inc., Gainesville, Fla.; Roxanne Greeson of SEEA, Atlanta, Ga.; Steve Baden of Resnet, Washington, D.C., and Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI.
The forum will also feature table displays of energy efficiency organizations and ratings providers including Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), Masco Home Services, and Guaranteed Watt Saver (GWS), Inc., Energy Vanguard, and the Building Performance Institute (BPI). These organizations will be happy to answer questions about their products and services.
Before the Energy Professionals Forum, the SEBC invites you to attend these additional free educational seminars in energy efficiency:
Myth vs. Reality of Green Certification
8-9:30 a.m.: (Room S320-H)
Speaker Drew Smith will give an over of LEED, NGBS, and FGBC Residential certifications and will discuss how to determine the best certification for a residential project.
Marketing your High Performance Homes
10-11:30 a.m.: (Room S320-H)
Speaker Dave Jenkins will focus on the effective marketing of high-performance homes through practices that might include ESHP builder sales numbers.
Admission is free, but registration is required to ensure that sufficient seating is available. Register at SEBC. To learn more about the SEBC and to view a complete schedule of events, visit www.sebcshow.com.
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Some of the articles in Summer 2013 issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional magazine include:
2013 SPFA CONTRACTOR AWARDS
>>SPECIALTY APPLICATION -- Complex Project on Residence Shaped Like Stack of Books
>>COMMERCIAL WALL FOAM -- Heavenly Results: LDS Temple Calls Upon SPF to Rise to Occasion
CHECKLIST -- How to Reduce Exposures During SPF Application
NEW COLUMN! SPEAKING SENSIBLY -- Are You Ready to Grow with the Improving Economy?
SAFETY FIRST -- Effect of Ventilation Rates on Applicator Exposure During SPF Application
If you didn't receive this issue in the mail or via email and would like to be on future distribution lists, click here to sign up.
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 SPFA 2013 National Contractor Excellence Award Winning ProjectsCongratulations to all the winners in the 2013 Annual SPFA National Contractor Excellence Awards. These projects are examples of SPF’s unique performance, applicability and appeal. In upcoming issues of SPRAYFOAM Professional, various winning projects will be spotlighted.
Here is the full list of winners:
>>Arizona Foam & Spray: Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
>>Spray-Tec Inc.: Bluegrass Community and Technical College Newtown Pike Campus
>>Southwest Spray Foam LLC: Television Personality Steve Thomas
>>Smart Choice Insulation & Roofing, Inc.: The Flour Tower
>>West Roofing Systems, Inc.: Boulevard Terrace & Neal Terrace Apartments
>>Honeywell Building Envelope Solutions: 206,000 sq.ft. re-roofing over BUR with extensive removal
>>Biofoam: Fermilab
>>West Roofing Systems, Inc.: Playhouse Square 14th Street Theatre Roof Reconstruction
>>Insulate SB, Inc: The Book House
>>J. Calman Industries: Coastal Progress – Marine Vessel
SPFA Annual Report and Look Ahead
Thank you for your consistent and unwavering support of SPFA, allowing us to do so many critical things for you and the industry. It’s your membership that makes it happen. It is our highest priority to serve you as our member, bring value to you and the industry, and represent the product and our members’ services accurately, positively, and completely.
Read about some of the ways SPFA is working for you, including highlights of 2012 and plans for 2013, at the SPFA YouTube page.
If you have any questions about SPFA activities, about your membership or anything related to SPFA, please do not hesitate to contact us.
SPFA Member Benefits
SPFA knows there are lots of organizations out there that would like to have you in their membership. But if you are in, or getting into, the sprayfoam business, we are the place for you. We work hard to represent you well and give you value back for your support. Click here to find out more.
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By Terry Nordbye
Source: JLC -- The Journal of Light Construction
When it comes to air-sealing, canned spray foam is often seen as the perfect material for plugging medium-sized holes and gaps, mostly because it's inexpensive and easy to apply. I've used a lot of canned foam for air-sealing over the years, and I even wrote a JLC article that described some of my methods for working with it and other sealants ("Air-Sealing Tips and Tricks," 1/12). But as time passed, I began to have questions about canned foam's durability. I noticed in particular that pipes and wires would often break loose from the surrounding foam...
Source: BuildingGreen.com
Note: Subscription required to read this but trial provides 30 days free access.
If you've ever held a Styrofoam cup comfortably in your hand, only to scorch your tongue sipping the piping-hot coffee inside, you know that plastic foam is a really good insulator. It's also lightweight, generally impervious to moisture, relatively cheap, and strong. With all that in its favor, it would take some effort to find a contemporary, high-performance building that doesn't incorporate foam insulation into key parts of its assembly. But a dark side to foam has come into focus over the last decade. To name a few issues, its manufacturing process can be polluting, its global warming impact can be stratospheric, it is laden with toxic flame retardants, and it is highly flammable, even with those chemical additives...
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SPF Professional Certification Program (PCP) Updates
Since SPFA completed development of the SPF Professional Certification Program (PCP) and publicly rolled it out at its annual convention and expo in February, already almost 800 tests have been administered. SPFA members and partners, including Gaco Western, Premium Spray Systems, Demilec, Bayer Material Science, and the ABAA Conference have all hosted testing sessions. More sessions are scheduled over the next several weeks at locations including CertainTeed, Sprayfoam Nation, Conklin, Premium Spray Systems, Quadrant Urethanes, and NCFI, with more getting scheduled all the time. SPFA is working presently on the development of a Contractor, Distributor and Manufacturer Firm Accreditation program to complement the new certification program. To find out more about the program, enroll, register for a test, or get set up for one of the upcoming testing locations, email admin@spfapcp.org or call (866) 222-5000 and simply state what you want to do. They will either process you or get you with the right people.
Spray Foam Nation will be offering SPFA Master Installer Exams every Friday in July and August. The 3-Day Training Plus SPFA Certification will be July 17-19, and 5-Day Training Plus SPFA Certified Combo Package on Aug. 5-9. Contractors will be able to take prep courses and exams that will earn them SPFA Certification for various levels (Assistant, Master Installer and Project Manager) as well as taken advantage of hands-on training.
In a June 19 press release, the Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) of the American Chemistry Council announced its support of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance's (SPFA) new Professional Certification Program for sprayfoam applicators. The Coalition strongly supports this new program that will continue to expand the ongoing efforts of the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry to create the highest standards of quality and professionalism for its customers.
"The SPF industry has for many years and will continue to support the safe and appropriate use of SPF," said SFC Senior Director Lee Salamone. "SPFA has created a first-rate certification program to continually raise the bar on safety, performance, quality and professionalism among SPF industry professionals and help give building owners confidence when choosing an SPF applicator."
SPFA launched its new Professional Certification Program at the Spray Foam 2013 Convention & Expo. The program was developed in compliance with the ANSI/ISO 17024 standard. Individual certifications will be available at four different levels in the two categories of insulation and roofing. To become certified under SPFA's new program, individuals must pass an exam and meet various criteria for any level of certification they would like to achieve. It is a progressive program with each level based on the candidate passing the exam for the previous level.
SPF is an excellent insulation choice for building owners. It insulates and acts as an air barrier, both of which are critical to making buildings comfortable and reducing heating and cooling costs.
Gaco Western, a leader in innovative spray foam insulation products, is pleased to announce that the company has made a commitment to ensure GacoWallFoam contractors are certified under the SPFA Professional Certification Program by January 1, 2015.
Demilec USA Holds SPFA Certification Seminar
Demilec USA, LLC held a preparatory seminar June 25-28 to assist contractors and installers to certify under the SPFA Professional Certification Program. The goal was to prepare the attendees to take the SPFA examinations for the various levels of installer (applicator) certification, plus there was a day of business training and a full day of hands-on training including spray technique, troubleshooting and equipment maintenance. On the final day of training, all students had the opportunity to take the tests for any of the SPFA certifications. For details on future SPFA Certification training with Demilec, click here.
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Bayer MaterialScience LLC has rejoined the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and will support its efforts to raise industry standards for spray foam application training and certification.
The SPFA has designed a sprayfoam insulation contractor certification program that requires applicators to have the necessary background, training, and testing to install spray polyurethane foam safely. Bayer, who had developed its own applicator training program, will now recognize the SPFA Insulation Master Installer certification as comparable to the Bayer bronze accreditation level for spray polyurethane foam application.
Bayer will work with the SPFA to improve their current certification program, as well as expand its coverage to include contractor companies, distributors and manufacturers. As an industry leader, Bayer recognizes the importance of customer accreditation and for every spray foam applicator to have the proper safety and application training. Bayer will continue its efforts through the SPFA, the Center for the Polyurethane Industry’s Spray Foam Coalition, the Insulation Contractors Association of America and other organizations to advance spray polyurethane foam product stewardship along the value chain.
Renewing its membership in the SPFA will give Bayer an added opportunity to support the industry through product stewardship, codes initiatives, research, and educational programs to connect with customers.
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WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect workers from the serious health effects from occupational exposure to isocyanates. OSHA develops national emphasis programs to focus outreach efforts and inspections on specific hazards in an industry for a three-year period. Through this NEP, OSHA will focus on workplaces in general, construction and maritime industries that use isocyanate compounds in an effort to reduce occupational illnesses and deaths. Read more here and here.
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Source: NASEO
By David Terry, Executive Director
On June 27, 2013, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2014 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill totaling $34.773 billion, which is $1.96 billion below the FY'13 enacted level ( see attached press release). The bill includes $53 million for the U.S. State Energy Program and $190 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program. The House marked up their version of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill on June 18, 2013, which is $2.9 billion below FY’13 funding levels to $30.4 billion. All signs point to another Continuing Resolution for FY'14, which would be based on the FY'13 spending levels, less a sequester.
The Senate version proposed $2.281 billion for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy projects, which is $470 million more than fiscal year 2013, to develop the next generation of renewable energy technologies, advanced vehicles and fuels, and more energy efficient measures to reduce energy use of U.S. manufacturers and residential and industrial buildings. The House bill provides $1.4 billion below the Senate mark for these activities.
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GGAC Goes Live
As of July 1, the Grassroots Government Activities Committee (GGAC) will become official.
As has been reported in numerous past issues of Update, at the 2012 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the creation of a new Society-level committee to address government actions which happen at the state, local, provincial, and national (beyond North America) levels.
Under the new governance structure each ASHRAE Region has a Regional Vice Chair (RVC) dedicated to encouraging grassroots chapter and member engagement who will meet frequently to determine Society-wide courses of actions on the local government activities front. Chapters will be asked to appoint a grassroots chair to support cooperation with like-minded organizations and work with community policymakers to promote ASHRAE members’ technical expertise – as well as the use of ASHRAE standards – and to advance ASHRAE’s public policy aims.
This means an ASHRAE member with a public policy concern relative to ASHRAE’s government activities has a voice, which, when appropriate, can be conveyed by their chapter’s grassroots chair to the regional grassroots RVC, and, eventually, to the Society’s Board for consideration.
Furthermore, this new structure will facilitate the sharing of best practices between regions and chapters, empowering ASHRAE and its members with more unified messages and processes to effectively connect with lawmakers and regulators in their area.
If you are interested in being a GGAC leader in your chapter or section please contact Mark Wills, ASHRAE’s Manager of State and Local Government Affairs, at mwills@ashrae.org to initiate communication with the Regional Vice Chair for GGAC in your region, a list of whom are provided below.
Richard Vehlow (Region I)
Doug Cochrane (Region II)
Dunstan Macauley (Region III)
Bryan Lampley (Region IV)
Sonya Pouncy (Region V)
Kelly Crow (Region VI)
Chad Moore (Region VII)
Jon Symko (Region VIII)
Brian Lynch (Region IX)
Mark Bender (Region X)
Jeff Hurd (Region XI)
Ricardo Esbri (Region XII)
Yong Kong Ng (Region XIII)
Ahmed Alaa Eldin Mohamed (Region-At-Large)
North Carolina: Still of Concern, but a Temporary Reprieve
As has been reported in previous Updates, the North Carolina General Assembly continues to consider legislation (HB 201) to roll back building energy codes to previous, less efficient versions. Now, as a result of recent amendments, the bill only applies to the commercial code, so if enacted, the code would revert to the 2009 state code, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in commercial building energy efficiency. The current code includes a requirement for compliance either with ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010 or to be 20 percent more efficient than the 2007 version of Standard 90.1.
Earlier this week, after being placed on the Senate’s calendar, the measure was suddenly and unexpectedly referred to the Rules and Operations Committee, which delays any floor action on HB 201 for a week.
Consequently, we have a short reprieve to impact the outcome.
Building energy codes – including code-intended standards like Standard 90.1 – are adopted, with or without amendment, by local governments on a regular cycle. These cycles are usually based upon the publication of the new editions of codes and standards; in the case of Standard 90.1 (and most other codes and code-intended standards), those published updates occur every three years.
Beyond North Carolina, state lawmakers are examining code roll-backs and/or are pushing back those updates, arguing that codes and standards are considered too costly to implement or update on so frequent a basis.
These proposals are problematic for ASHRAE for several reasons:
--Codes and standards developed and revised on a regular, three-year, basis ensure that the latest advances in efficiency- and safety-related technologies and techniques are codified, and made available to technical professionals and code officials in a way to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
--As noted above, the public benefits from up-to-date codes and standards: families and building owners want safe and efficient homes and buildings; owners and tenants want to ensure customer and employee safety and keep their overheads low; and taxpayers bear the costs of legal actions and high building operations and maintenance costs when codes and standards are not updated regularly.
--Delaying code and standard update cycles puts a state far behind others. For example, if a state enacts a delay law this year, the 2012 standards and codes wouldn't be implemented until 2015, while other states would, presumably, have adopted 2012 and 2015 editions. This means that the construction industry and code inspectors would need to absorb six years of new information at one time. Also, consumers would have less access to technologies developed since the last update because the design community and code officials would have inadequate safety installation information.
And, as noted above, for many ASHRAE members, these measures are injurious to their bottom lines as business people.
This is a dangerous trend that may spread to your communities, so please be on the lookout for such proposals. If one does arise, contact Mark Wills so connections with GGAC leadership can be made quickly and effectively.
Support for CBECS Highlighted in U.S. House Funding Bill
This week, a major victory for the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) was achieved when the House Appropriations Committee released language that strongly supports the Survey:
"The Committee recognizes that the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) data are critical to the building industry. The 2003 CBECS remains the most current survey of commercial building efficiency. CBECS data are used in the development of ASHRAE building energy efficiency standards, the Energy Star program at U.S. EPA, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, and Green Globes."
The inclusion of this language speaks to the continued strong bipartisan support for CBECS. Over the years ASHRAE has co-led a group of technical societies and stakeholder organizations to build this support and increase awareness for this previously little-known survey.
Work on a new edition of CBECS is currently underway and, barring any unforeseen significant funding reductions, is expected to be released in 2014.
President Obama Issues New Climate Action Plan; Building Energy Efficiency Prominently Featured
Earlier this week U.S. President Barack Obama issued his Climate Action Plan. This comprehensive new document contains several strategies for mitigating and reversing the effects of climate change. Featured prominently in the President’s Plan is increasing building energy efficiency.
"Energy efficiency is one of the clearest and most cost-effective opportunities to save families money, make our businesses more competitive, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," stated the President’s Plan, which goes on to say that "the Administration is setting a new goal: Efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings set in the first and second [Presidential] terms combined will reduce carbon pollution by at least 3 billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030 – equivalent to nearly one-half of the carbon pollution from the entire U.S. energy sector for one year – while continuing to cut families’ energy bills."
The Climate Action Plan also addresses curbing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other greenhouse gasses that are used for air conditioning and refrigeration. The Plan notes that HFC emissions are expected to nearly triple by 2030 in the United States. To help prevent this, the President will encourage the private sector to continue investing in low-emissions technologies.
The White House has created a visual of the Climate Action Plan. A link to the full Plan is located at the bottom of the Plan’s graphic. If you’re having trouble finding it, download the Plan directly.
Innovative Energy Efficiency Bills Spotlighted in U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing
As reported in previous editions of the Update, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S.761, a.k.a. Shaheen-Portman) has become the leading bipartisan energy efficiency bill in the U.S. Senate, and momentum continues to build for its passage. As part of this process, this week a subcommittee of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to increase awareness and support for several bills that could either be included as amendments to Shaheen-Portman or passed on their own as standalone legislation. ASHRAE strongly supports many of the bills highlighted at the hearing, and listed below:
S. 717, the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act
S. 1084, the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act
S. 1191, the Better Buildings Act
S. 1199, the All-Of-The-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act
S. 1200, the Residential Energy Savings Act
S. 1205, the Local Energy Supply and Resiliency Act
S. 1206, a bill to encourage benchmarking and disclosure of energy information for commercial buildings
S.1209, the State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act
S. 1213, the Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act
The text of these bills, witness testimony, and an archived webcast can be found here.
Unless noted otherwise, for details on any of the news items listed above, contact Mark Ames, ASHRAE's Senior Manager of Federal Government Affairs, at mames@ashrae.org.
ASHRAE's Government Affairs Updates detail information on government affairs-related activities of interest to ASHRAE members and others interested in the built environment. Archives of previous updates are available from the Government Affairs website.
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 SPFA Looks for Input on Draft of Builders Handbook At the 2013 NAHB IBS show in Las Vegas, SPFA offered a compendium of spray foam technical, safety, contractor certification, and installation information of specific interest to home builders during one of the sessions, "What You Need to Know When Working with Spray Polyurethane Insulation for Residential Buildings." To accompany the session, a draft of the SPFA Builders Reference Handbook was released. The document is a draft and will evolve with input received from builders. You are invited to download this document for free and let us know where we can make it better.
ASHRAE Seeks Papers for "Efficient, High Performance Buildings for Developing Economies" Conference
Papers are being sought for a conference focused on the design, construction and operation of buildings in developing economies.
Organized by ASHRAE along with the Philippines Chapter, the "Efficient, High Performance Buildings for Developing Economies" Conference will take place April 24-25, 2014, in Manila, Philippines. It is co-sponsored by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and endorsed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
Abstracts (400 or less words in length) are due July 12, 2013. If accepted, papers are due Oct. 18, 2013. Submittal information can be found at www.ashrae.org/Developing2014.
Call for Papers for ASHRAE 2014 Annual Conference
ASHRAE is seeking papers for its 2014 Annual Conference in Seattle, Wash., June 28-July 2, 2014.
The Conference addresses broad topics in the application of technology to practice, specific applications in ground source heat pumps, O&M and indoor environmental quality, as well as new reports on research taking place worldwide.
The second annual Research Summit seeks papers that report on HVAC&R research with particular emphasis on high performance building design and its role in a clean energy economy, and brings together researchers to present and discuss the latest research. Papers describing ASHRAE-related research are encouraged as well as papers from societies and associations worldwide.
As with past ASHRAE Conferences, the Seattle Conference also seeks papers addressing advances and practices across HVAC&R systems, equipment, fundamentals and applications.
Conference paper abstracts are due Sept. 23, 2013. Upon acceptance, papers will be due Jan. 9, 2014. These papers undergo a single-blind review.
Full technical papers are due Sept. 23, 2013. Papers submitted for review must be both technically accurate and clearly written. These papers undergo a rigorous double-blind review and will be published in ASHRAE Transactions.
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The Building Codes Assistance Project releases regular updates on building energy codes through its quarterly BCAP Newsletter and weekly Code Alert Bulletin.
BCAP Newsletters are quarterly summaries of what's been happening at the Building Codes Assistance Project and building energy code progress around the nation. To access the full archive, click here. Here are some of the recent alerts:
>>New State Alerts
US Conference of Mayors - Adopts Resolution Endorsing Most Efficient 2015 IECC
>>New State Alerts
North Carolina - Senate Removes Bill Repealing 2012 Energy Code From Calendar
>>Ongoing State Alerts
California - Senate Amends Bill Calling for Inclusion in State Building Standards Adoption Process
Pennslyvania - First Consideration in Senate of Bill Requuring all State Buildings to Comply with Energy Code
>>Ongoing Locality Alerts
California - Senate Amends Bill Calling for Inclusion in State Building Standards Adoption Process
Pennsylvania - First Consideration in Senate of Bill Requiring all State Buildings to Comply with Energy Code
BCAP Code Alert Bulletins are released weekly by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its website, the Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN). Code Alert Bulletins are designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption and implementation of building energy codes. The bulletins highlight immediate opportunities to influence state and local policy outcomes, indicate code status, and recommend contacts for action. If you know of activity that should be on this bulletin or would like to sign up for this bulletin, contact Matt Kerns at (202) 530-2252 or mkerns@ase.org.
Building Codes Assistant Project: Annual Report 2012
BCAP is a team of the Alliance to Save Energy and -- by working in collaboration and partnership with stakeholders across the country and around the world -- is making enormous strides by driving energy efficiency through creation, adoption and effective implementation of building energy codes. One of the most important accomplishments of 2012 was the creation of the National Energy Codes Collaborative, which will ensure future success by maintaining strong lines of communication and coordination among the many important groups and organizations working to advance dynamic building energy codes. See news release here.
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Alliance to Save Energy's Efficiency News
Updates from ASE include:
For complete list of ASE's Efficiency News articles, click here.
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Join leading firms, manufacturers, non-profits, and industry groups in adopting the 2030 Challenge for Products and reducing the carbon impact of building products. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – the foundational element of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) – provides A/E/C practitioners with the tools they need for low-carbon decisions. Join Edward Mazria, CEO & Founder of Architecture 2030, and Steve Baer, Principal Consultant at PE INTERNATIONAL, in a webinar specifically for the A/E/C community. Learn more about the critical impacts of building products, the basics of LCAs & EPDs (including how to read an EPD!), and the simple steps you can take to catalyze the market place.
In partnership with the Florida Home Builders Association, the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) will host an entire day dedicated to energy efficiency on July 11, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center.
Claudette Hanks Reichel, Ed.D. will be the speaker at this 11 a.m.-noon event, where SPFA will be rolling out another DICE webinar in its series for sprayfoam professionals. The B.S. in the title stands for Building Science... Claudette has a good sense of humor, and so do we. But she also knows her stuff and will offer an exceptionally informative session on the critical interactions of sprayfoam, moisture and HVAC's role. Claudette's information is relevant to every professional in this industry, but especially so in hot, humid climates where sprayfoam must be installed properly, the correct type of sprayfoam should be used and, to avoid serious building science issues, moisture must be properly controlled.
Building Science Fundamentals is a two-day seminar that teaches the basic knowledge needed to design and build durable, energy efficient, affordable and healthy buildings. The registration fee for this seminar is $795.
Join this AGC of America webinar, from 1-2:30 p.m., to learn how LCPtracker's web-based software collects, checks and verifies your subcontractors' certified payrolls. See how LCPtracker will safeguard you by ensuring that your subcontractors are compliant with the labor laws. Speakers are Jade Banks (LCPtracker), Kris Vincil (LCPtracker) and Kelli Hardge (Clark Construction).
Building Science Fundamentals is a two-day seminar that teaches the basic knowledge needed to design and build durable, energy efficient, affordable and healthy buildings. The registration fee for this seminar is $795.
The 2013 Polyurethanes Technical Conference will be held September 23-25, 2013. CPI is now accepting poster abstracts for the conference. Poster abstracts are due August 22, 2013.
Building industry professionals are heading to Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort with a real purpose - to learn the science and above code strategies behind energy efficient and high performance building practices, to understand new regulations and legislative measures, and to capitalize on increasing opportunities.
Designed for current users who want to take it to the next level, this class will enhance the quality and speed of your WUFI results. Tips and tricks, hands-on practice with advanced examples, and discussion of field validation exercises are all part of this advanced seminar. The registration fee for this seminar is $395.
Building Science Experts’ Session is an annual two-day seminar that focuses on advanced building science topics. This session is intended to provide thought provoking professional development for experienced building industry professionals who are interested in healthy, durable and energy efficient new and old buildings. The registration fee for this seminar is $795.
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