>>Debut of Expo eNewsletter Announced
New this year at the expo will a daily eNewsletter, intended to keep you informed and up to date on all of the expo's activities.
ACT QUICKLY! There is limited space and the deadline to participate is Jan. 12.
Reach attendees of the SprayFoam 2015 Convention and Expo by advertising in our Conference Daily eNewsletter. Via email, all attendees will receive one issue before, four issues during andone issue after the show. For more information, click here or contact John O’Neil at 770-810-6959 or joneil@naylor.com.
>>Sprayfoam 2015 Schedule 
Sunday, Jan. 25
6 a.m.–6 p.m. SPFA PCP Field Exam Setup
Monday, Jan. 26
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. SPFA PCP Field Exams (Marshalling Yard)
8 a.m.-4 p.m. SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses
ABAA Spray Polyurethane Foam Installer Training
SPFA PCP Written Exams
Tuesday, Jan. 27
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. SPFA PCP Field Exams (Marshalling Yard)
8 a.m.-4 p.m. SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses
ABAA Spray Polyurethane Foam Installer Training and Exam
8 a.m.-4 p.m. SPFA PCP Written Exams (last start @noon)
Noon-5:30 p.m. Golf Tournament, Twin Warriors Golf Club
(Transportation departs hotel lobby @10:45 a.m.)
6-7 p.m. Women’s Leadership Networking Reception
Wednesday, Jan. 28
8 a.m.-4 p.m. SPFA PCP Written Exams
8-10 a.m. General Session
Welcome Address, SPFA’s Executive Director, Kurt Riesenberg
SPFA President’s Message, Dennis Vandewater
General Session Presentation, Dr. George R. Thompson
Keynote Speaker, Ty Pennington
10:15-11 a.m. Breakout Session 1
11:15 a.m.-Noon Breakout Session 2
Noon-2 p.m. 10th Annual Contractor Awards Luncheon
2-6 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
5-6 p.m. Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall
Thursday, Jan. 29
7-7:45 a.m. SPFA Membership Business Session
8 a.m.-Noon SPFA PCP Written Exams
8:30-10 a.m. General Session
Committee Reports
Keynote Address
10:15-11 a.m. Breakout Session 3
11:15 a.m.-Noon Breakout Session 4
1:15-2 p.m. Contractor Only Networking Session
2:30-5 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
7-9 p.m. Closing Reception, Entertainment, Drawings
 Hotel Information While the Albuquerque Hyatt Regency is now sold out, room are still available at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Albuquerque, 505-247-3344. This hotel is directly connected to the Convention Center, where Sprayfoam 2015 will be held. Please use the group code "SPR" and group name "Spray Foam 2015" when making your reservation.
Hospitality Suites
 >>A Few Golf Sponsorships Still Available
Join us for 18 holes of golf at the award winning Twin Warriors Golf Course at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa. Home to numerous professional events, Twin Warriors is ranked by Golf Digest as the 49th best public course in America and by Golf Magazine as among the country's top 75 best golf resorts. Built alongside the sacred land of the Tamayame, the name comes from the belief that Twin Warriors showed their tribe the way to the upper world along the banks of the Rio Grande River. Come join us and maybe the Twin Warriors will lead you to a better golf swing!
The format is an 18-hole scramble, with prizes for gross and net, as well as closest to the pin and long drive contests. Sign up as a four-man team or sign up individually and we will place you on a team. To reserve rental clubs, contact the course directly at 505-771-6155. Bus service will be provided to and from the hotel to the course, and boxed lunches will be served.
Sponsorship opportunities range from $500-$1,500, with some packages including entry for two along with recognition as a tourney sponsor.
Take a course tour and plan your day here. To access the SPFA Convention & Expo Sponsorship Prospectus, click here.
>>Ty Pennington to Headline 2015 Sprayfoam Convention and Expo![]() 
Ty Pennington is best known as the Emmy-award winning host of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" and the co-host of ABC Daytime's "The Revolution." He has been recognized as a home design expert, carpenter and leader in the field of volunteerism.
>>Sprayfoam 2015 Presentation Topics Solidified
The technical presentation topics for the 2015 Sprayfoam Convention and Expo were solidified. The schedule and more information is included in the current issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional magazine. The topics below (and many more) will be part of the course offerings in Albuquerque:
SPF Roofing on Steep Slopes: Safety concerns, installation techniques, lift suggestions
SPF and Solar: Where and how can roofing work with solar, especially on the commercial side?
Dealing with Overspray: How to attempt to avoid, and how to handle if it happens
Prevention & Remediation of Ice Dams on Attics and Cathedral Slopes: The procedures for locating, prioritizing, and remediating the causes of ice dams in buildings.
Foamed Plastic Insulation and the Codes: Outline all of the code provisions that apply to SPF and IPF installations.
Movement Through a House: This session will explore how conditions outside affect the inside of a home and how different ventilation and HVAC strategies can make inside conditions better or worse. A psychrometric wheel and an iPhone/Android app will be used to experiment how these strategies will affect the conditions in the home.
Temperature and Pressures: The Key to Foam Quality and Yield: Discuss the impact of temperature and pressure on foam quality. Address quality points such as density and interlaminate adhesion. Also discuss the impact on foam yield.
Marketing Strategies: How do we increase our market share? Why has overall growth been so weak over the years? Ways to overcome negative customer perceptions; planning and strategies for dealing with potential upcoming trends
Wall Assemblies: Where are we in the big picture? When will SPF get the true energy efficiency rating it deserves? Are wall assembly designs taking advantage of the increased strength potential of SPF? What about existing structures? How to address a retrofit properly?
What to Do When the Application Turns South? How should you handle customer complaints and concerns?
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>>California DTSC Corrects Misinformation About SPF
SPFA Pleased with Corrections, but Continues to Represent Industry in the Fight to De-list the Product Completely from the Agency Process Aimed at Potential Product Regulation
The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), a leading voice representing spray polyurethane foam industry contractors, manufacturers and the complete product value chain, is pleased to announce that the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has completed corrections to the public documents distributed by the agency as part of the Safer Consumer Products Priority Products Initiative. Corrections completed by the DTSC include the deletion, or adjustment, of inaccurate facts about the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) product, its chemical components and safety. The SPFA, along with partner organizations representing a resolute coalition of homebuilders, building performance professionals and systems manufacturers, had previously made requests to the Department in person during a series of public workshops and in submitted letters, as part of the formal process surrounding the state’s Priority Products Initiative.
As part of the DTSC’s corrections, changes have been made to the publicly distributed Priority Product Profile for SPF, in addition to the scope of the Department’s activity. Corrections include:
-- The Department has altered the definition of "Spray Polyurethane Foam Systems", narrowing it to include only pressurized two-component systems utilized to make SPF. Additionally, the definition includes two-component systems marketed for insulation and roofing applications, however now excludes roof coatings.
-- The Department has excluded one-component spray polyurethane foam systems sold in cans from the official Scope of Products being evaluated.
-- The DTSC has removed HDI and TDI, isocyanates utilized in some elastomeric roof coatings but not in the A-side of SPF systems, from the scope of the Chemicals of Concern documentation.
-- The Department has deleted certain reference documents from the Priority Product File.
-- The DTSC revised the contentious and incorrect statement found on page 6 of the Product Profile that read "diisocyanates are the leading attributable cause of asthma in the workplace" to state "exposure to diisocyanates in the workplace can cause asthma." SPFA has long contended that California’s own CDC data (p. 104) tracking all of the sources of Occupational Asthma, indicates the incorrectness of their statement.
"The SPFA is pleased that these critical changes were completed to these public documents, as the facts put forth in the initial documents were grossly incorrect and have caused irreparable harm to our members and the building industry in the state of California," said Kurt Riesenberg, executive director of the SPFA. "However, the SPFA and its members believe that spray polyurethane foam was unjustly selected for the Safer Consumer Products Initiative because it is not a consumer product, but rather a professionally installed product, and because the information used by the DTSC in the selection process was so faulty. Furthermore, any safety concern surrounding the installation of SPF is a worker issue and is already being addressed by US OSHA under the Isocyanates National Emphasis Program. It is for these reasons that the SPFA believes it should be de-listed from the DTSC Priority Products Initiative process altogether."
Next steps in the Department’s Priority Products evaluation process include the establishment of the Final Priority Product List, an Alternatives Analysis and a Regulatory Response (which could range among a number of rules and regulations regarding the use of SPF in California). The SPFA will actively participate in the process at all stages on behalf of its member constituents and the spray polyurethane foam industry at-large.
"Our members in California continue to face unwarranted scrutiny because of the inclusion of SPF in the Priority Products Initiative and the SPFA will continue to fight to have it removed," added Riesenberg. "The process has not only damaged the business of our California members, but it has called into question the state of California’s ability to achieve its stated net-zero energy goal by 2020. Spray polyurethane foam outperforms competing building materials in energy efficiency, but is being simultaneously promoted and persecuted by two sides of the same state that needs it to achieve this aggressive energy goal."
>>SPFA Forms Marketing Committee
SPFA formed a Marketing Committee -- co-chaired by Mac Sheldon and Ridge Stockdale -- and there are opportunities for SPFA members to be involved. If you would like to be involved in promoting, protecting and growing the SPF industry, and helping SPFA do the same, please reach out to Kurt Riesenberg, SPFA Executive Director.
Some of the initial goals of the committee are to:
• Provide input to SPFA’s SPRAYFOAM Professional magazine & bi-weekly newsletter for future articles, topics, authors, new areas
• Consider/establish consistent industry messaging for various audiences – architects, specifiers, builders, general contractors, code officials
• Establish regular informational webinars on SPF (safety, PPE, OSHA, fire testing, introduction to foam, decoding thermal and ignition barriers, building science, troubleshooting, etc)
• Utilize SPFA’s deep list of previously-submitted projects (Annual Awards Program) to construct dozens of success stories and promotional material
>>SPFA's Board Members
SPFA's Board of Directors for the 2014-2016 term include:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President: Mr. Dennis Vandewater, Sadler Coating Systems (IA)
Vice President: Mr. John Achille, Coastal Insulation (NJ)
Treasurer: Mr. Richard Spiess, Innovative Insulation Solutions (IL)
Immediate Past President: Mr. Robert (Bob) Duke, Carolina Comfort Foam
BOARD MEMBERS
Contractor Officer Seats (6):
Ms. Bonnie Strickler, Puff Inc. (VA)
Mr. Ron Winkle, Western Pacific Roofing (CA)
Mr. Larry Ash, United Thermal Systems (NY)
Mr. Tyler Fiske, Anchor Insulation (RI)
Mr. Bryan Heldreth, RPC (VA)
Ms. Tiffiny Flaim, Biofoam Inc. (IL)
Non-Contractor Officer Seats (6):
Mr. Joe Stockdale, Bayer Material Science (TX)
Ms. Mary Bogdan, Honeywell (NY)
Mr. Mitch Clifton, NCFI (NC)
Mr. Mac Sheldon, Demilec Inc. (TX)
Mr. Nick Pagano, Graco Inc. (MN)
Mr. Tom Sojak, Gaco Western (WI)
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>>Navigating Code Changes: Survey Deadline Is Dec. 19 (Extended!)
Insulation professionals are asking for your help in navigating code changes. High Performance Insulation Professionals (HPIP), Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA), Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) have banded together to collect information on what issues you face and how we can help you address them. Please take a moment to complete this survey, so that we may tailor code tools to your needs. Results will be available to members of all participating associations. The deadline to participate in the survey is Friday, December 19. Click here to take the 5-minute survey.
>>Sens. Shaheen and Portman Introduce a Shorter Version of Their Efficiency Bill
Source: PublicPower.org / Jeannine Anderson
On Dec. 3, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, introduced a shorter version of their bipartisan energy efficiency bill. The bill, S. 2971, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014, is identical in content and title to H.R. 2126, which passed the House on March 3, 2014, by a vote of 375-36. The bill stalled in the Senate last May when it failed to get enough votes (60) to avoid a filibuster.
Whether the Senate will take up the bill in the remaining days of the 113th Congress is an open question, but by re-introducing a bill that is identical to one that has already passed the House, Sens. Shaheen and Portman appear to have boosted the measure's chances of passage. Read more here.
>>Recipients of Technology Awards Announced by ASHRAE
Source: ashrae.org
Buildings designed for a range of occupant types and uses -- including penguins, patients, skaters, students, government employees and water testers -- are being recognized for innovative design with ASHRAE Technology Awards. The awards recognize outstanding achievements by ASHRAE members and building owners who have successfully applied innovative building design. First place awards are presented at the ASHRAE 2015 Winter Conference, Jan. 24-28, Chicago, Ill. Read more here.
>>Maximizing the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge, Webinar Dec. 16, 3 p.m.
Source: energyfuturecoalition.org
Rebuilding America is organizing a one-hour webinar at 3 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Dec. 16 to discuss how smaller cities can take advantage of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge. The discussion will revolve around the importance of energy efficiency contractors to success in the Better Building Challenge; the successes of big cities like Atlanta through the Better Buildings Challenge and the lessons they can impart to smaller cities; and what smaller cities like Portland, Maine have achieved and what more engagement with the Better Building Challenge might be able to provide. The speakers will be:
-Dennis Creech, Executive Director of Southface
-Ian Houseal, Assistant to the City Manager of Portland, Maine
-Maria Vargas, Director of the Better Building Challenge, U.S. Department of Energy
>>U.S. EPA Takes Action on Ethylene Glycol Ethers
Source: epa.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to protect the public from seven ethylene glycol ethers or glymes chemicals that can cause health effects including birth defects and blood toxicity. Some of these chemicals are currently used in consumer products, including paints, inks, and glues. The final rule will allow EPA to review any proposed new uses of these chemicals to ensure that human health and the environment are protected. EPA believes that new uses of these chemicals should not be allowed without an opportunity for review and, if necessary, place restrictions on these chemicals, as warranted. A complete list of these chemicals and additional information about the Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) on ethylene glycol ethers (glymes) can be found here.
>>Research for Real-World Results: Dec. 17 Webinar
Source: energy.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America program will host a free webinar on Dec. 17 from 3-4:30 p.m. (EST) that will offer information about the latest advances in residential building technologies and practices. The webinar, Building America: Research for Real-World Results, is being presented by Join Eric Werling, Building America Program Coordinator, and Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect of the DOE Building Technologies Office. They will also discuss exciting new developments in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program and the 2015 Race to Zero Student Design Competition. The presentation will be followed by an interactive question and answer session. For details, contact Heather Stafford or to register click here.
>>Low-GWP Refrigerants Roadmap
Source: energy.gov
The current generation of refrigerants, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), have significant global warming potential (GWP) when released to the atmosphere. This research and development (R&D) roadmap for next-generation low-GWP refrigerants provides recommendations to the Building Technologies Office (BTO) on R&D activities that will help accelerate the transition to low-GWP refrigerants across the entire HVAC&R industry. Read more here or click here to view roadmap. >>2015 Energy Codes Conference Returning in 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is holding an energy codes conference for the first time since 2011. This conference, scheduled for March 24-26, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee, will be solely dedicated to energy codes. A major theme will be achieving compliance but sessions will cover development, adoption, policy and research. An agenda will be available soon. Click here to register.
>>House Passes Bill to Limit EPA 'Secret Science'
Source: thehill.com
The House passed legislation in November to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing new regulations unless it provides the scientific data to justify them. Passage of the measure, H.R. 4012, the "Secret Science Reform Act," fell largely along party lines with a vote of 237-190. Read more here.
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>Membership News & Numbers
>Industry Updates
>Manufacturers Study Health and Safety Guidance for Application of SPF
>OSHA Completes Year One of Its National Emphasis Program on Isocyanates
>>Search for specific keywords or phrases.
>>Flag favorite articles.
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If you do not receive SPRAYFOAM Professional in the mail or via email and would like to be on future distribution lists, click here to sign up.
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>>Deadline to Take Part in Survey on Code Changes Is Dec. 19
Insulation professionals across the U.S. are asking for help in navigating code changes. SPFA, HPIP, ICAA, and NAIMA have banded together to collect information on what issues you face, and how we can help you address them.
Please take a moment to complete this survey, so that we may tailor code tools to your needs. Results will be available to members of all participating associations. Please complete the survey by December 19. Thank you for taking time to participate.
Click here to take 5-minute survey. 
>>2014-15 SPFA Membership Directory and Buyers' Guide Available Online
Members in good standing are listed in this publication, which is mailed out every September. This directory is also available in a digital format The convenient digital format allows users to navigate and access the directory's content quickly and easily, on the road or in the office. Use the information provided to contact fellow SPFA members and industry partners throughout the year to share ideas, ask questions, or just stay in touch.
>>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.
Available on the SPFA website, the SPFA Membership Brochure highlights some of the various benefits of membership and activities of the organization as it pursues its mission to represent SPF professionals in areas of technical and environmental leadership, government advocacy, professional certification, industry promotion and outreach, and delivery of a world-class convention and expo. Please check out the brochure if you have been considering joining SPFA and support our mission to serve you. For more information or to access the application to join, please click here.
 >>Sprayfoam 2014 Coverage
Coverage of some of the Sprayfoam 2014 sessions and events has been included in the SPFA magazine, SPRAYFOAM Professional. In addition, speakers at the highest-attended break-out sessions have been summarizing some of their material in the magazine. Also, many of the slides from the presentations are available here.
-See more details on the session "OSHA Is at My Jobsite -- What Do I Do?" by Joseph E. Bolduc, MBA, CSP in the Summer 2014 issue.
-See more details on the session "Intumescent Coatings and SPF" by Roger V. Morrison, PE, RRC, Deer Ridge Consulting, Inc. in the Fall 2014 issue.
-See more details on the session "Recoating and Renewing SPF Roofing Systems" by Bruce Schenke, Premium Spray Products, in the Winter 2014 issue.
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>>Certification Opportunities in Albuquerque!
Make the most of your time at Sprayfoam 2015 in Albuquerque by taking advantage of everything that SPFA PCP has to offer. It is the "one stop shop" for most of your certification requirements. There are savings for taking more than one written exam or field exam -- it is a great opportunity! Go to www.sprayfoam.org for details.
Exam Prep Courses: Monday-Tuesday, January 26-27, 2015
- Insulation Installer: Tuesday, January 27
- Roofing Installer: Tuesday, January 27
- Insulation Master Installer: Monday, January 26
- Roofing Master Installer: Monday, January 26
- Insulation Project Manager: Tuesday, January 27
- Roofing Project Manager: Tuesday, January 27
- Field Examiner: Monday, January 26
*Assistant Exam Prep Course is now available online, so you can attend other courses, take a written exam or participate in a Field Exam.
It does not matter the order in which you take the exam prep courses or the order in which you take the exams, you just need to meet the requirements for each level in order to become certified. See applicable Handbook at www.sprayfoam.org for details.
NOTE: A separate registration is required for Written Exams.
Field Examinations: Monday-Tuesday, January 26-27, 2015
Master Installer candidates can take the Field Exams in Albuquerque. You do not need to have the other requirements completed in order to take the Field Exam. If you are an experienced sprayer, take advantage of the opportunity to complete the field exam and then work on the other requirements at your convenience. You won’t earn your certification until all the requirements are met – but it doesn’t matter in which order you meet the requirements. In other words, you can start with the Field Exam and then take the written exams after you have prepared for them.
Written Examinations: Monday-Thursday, January 26-29, 2015
All written exams are available during the Sprayfoam 2015 convention. The Assistant, Installer and Master Installer level written exams are available in Spanish and English.
NOTE: The SPFA PCP does not require attendance in courses. Certification candidates must meet all the requirements, some of which include passing written examinations. The Exam Prep Courses are designed to prepare you for these exams. If you are an experienced SPF professional, doing "self-study" may be the option for you. This can be done by purchasing the applicable Study Guide and after you have reviewed the Exam Preparatory material, you can take the appropriate written exam at your convenience during Sprayfoam 2015. Please be sure to allow 2 hours for written exams. (4 hours for Supplier Rep combined exam).
>>SPFA PCP Exam Prep Courses and Exams
New locations are frequently added for SPFA PCP Exam Preparatory Courses, Written Examinations and Field Examinations, so be sure to check www.sprayfoam.org Certification Calendar of Events for the most complete list.
January 26-27, 2015 -- Albuquerque, NM
Hosted by SPFA
Ongoing -- Webinar SPFA PCP Refresher Courses for Previously Trained SPF Professional
Hosted by Gaco Western
Contact Karen Wolfenberger at kwolfenberger@gaco.com
More details for each location are available on our website – www.sprayfoam.org. If you would like more information on the PCP, please contact Kelly Marcavage, SPFA PCP Certification Director, at kmarcavage@sprayfoam.org.
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>>CPI Requests Papers and Posters for Polyurethane Industry Conference
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council has issued a call for papers and posters to be presented at the 2015 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, which will take place October 5-7, 2015, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Each year, the conference addresses the latest in breakthrough technology through its paper and poster program. Paper abstracts are due February 2, 2015. Submission instructions and guidelines for development of papers and posters can be found here. Poster abstracts are due August 3, 2015. Read more here.
>>EPA Invites Chemical Manufacturers to Submit Info on Safer Chemicals for DfE SCIL
Source: epa.gov
The EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) announced an initiative to expand the Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) with chemicals in new and existing functional component classes. They are inviting chemical manufacturers to submit information on their safer chemicals to EPA for review and listing on the SCIL. The SCIL contains chemicals that meet DfE’s rigorous safer chemical criteria and are eligible for use in the DfE Safer Product Labelling program. To date, SCIL-listed chemicals have been primarily used in cleaning and detergent products. The SCIL currently contains chemicals from the ingredient classes typically found in cleaners and detergents (surfactants, solvents, chelants, colorants, etc.). EPA has posted a "Steps to SCIL Listing" document on the web (at www.epa.gov/dfe/howtoscil) to guide chemical manufacturers through the process. The Agency is asking manufacturers with candidate chemicals to work with a DfE-qualified third party to prepare a profile on the chemical, based on the program’s safer chemical criteria. Read more here.
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When it comes to insulation, says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, money truly can buy happiness. "It's the wisest way to invest that I know of," he says. "A well-insulated house will make you more comfortable in every season. And it's quieter, too."
Whether it's thick blankets of fiberglass batts, meringue like mounds of sprayfoam (Tom's favorite), or layers of seaweed (discovered under the floors of the first TOH project), all insulation works the same way: by trapping tiny air pockets that slow the movement of heat out of a house in winter and into a house in summer. Its effectiveness at resisting this movement is called its R-value; the higher the value, the lower your energy bills.
But to achieve its rated R-value, insulation must be installed correctly. In fact, a bad job can actually make matters worse. Read more here.
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>>Navigating Code Changes: Survey Deadline Is Dec. 19 (Extended!)
Insulation professionals are asking for your help in navigating code changes. High Performance Insulation Professionals (HPIP), Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA), Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) have banded together to collect information on what issues you face and how we can help you address them. Please take a moment to complete this survey, so that we may tailor code tools to your needs. Results will be available to members of all participating associations. The deadline to participate in the survey is Friday, December 19. Click here to take the 5-minute survey.
>>2014 Green Building Standard Now Available from ASHRAE/USGBC/IES
Source: ashrae.org
New requirements to further reduce energy and environmental impacts of buildings are contained in the 2014 version of the green building standard from ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Illuminating Engineering Society.
ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, addresses the areas of site sustainability; water-use efficiency; energy efficiency; indoor environmental quality; and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. Read more here.
>>DOE Issues Preliminary Determination of Energy Savings for Residential Buildings
Source: energycodes.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Notice of Preliminary Determination for the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), preliminarily affirming that the updated code will result in energy savings in residential buildings. DOE analysis indicates that buildings meeting the 2015 IECC (as compared with buildings meeting the 2012 IECC) would result in national energy savings of approximately 1.12 percent of residential building energy consumption, as regulated by the IECC. If this determination is finalized, each state would be required by statute to certify that it has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency, and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the 2015 IECC.
The DOE Building Energy Codes Program encourages increased energy efficiency through building codes and standards. DOE is required to review published editions of model codes, including the IECC and Standard 90.1, and issue a determination as to whether the updated edition is expected to result in energy savings in residential and commercial buildings, respectively. Through its support for building energy codes, DOE helps states and local governments realize significant energy savings, resulting in cost savings for U.S. home and business owners, and associated environmental benefits due to avoided greenhouse gas emissions. Read more here.
>>Building Codes Assistance Project Updates on Building Energy Codes
Source: energycodesocean.org
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 from the BCAP Code Alerts released 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. Topics addressed in the current issue include:
* Ongoing General Alerts *
DOE - Save the Date for 2015 Energy Codes Conference
DOE - Comment Period Extended Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial HVAC Equipment
* New State and Local Alerts *
Vermont - Becomes the First State to Adopt an Energy Code Based on the 2015 IECC
* Ongoing State and Local Alerts *
Colorado - Public Utilities Commission Considers Changes to the Energy Benchmarking Rule
Denver, CO - Comments on the 2015 I-Codes Due Next Friday
Pennsylvania - Public Hearings on the 2015 I-Codes Adoption
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>>Updates from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Source: energy.gov
The December issue of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Update newsletter is now available. Read this issue to learn about:
-The Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation Funding Opportunity and December 12 deadline for Concept Papers
-Exciting news about the 2015 Race to Zero Student Design Competition
-The December 17 webinar, Building America: Research for Real-World Homes -An overview of the Building America research teams—industry partnerships essential to the program’s success
-Residential success stories targeting energy savings in multifamily buildings
-Zero Energy Ready Home technical training in December
-Building America in the news
-The latest publications from Building America: measure guidelines, case studies for new and existing homes and technologies, and more!
Click here to access the most current Building America Update. Learn more about the Building America program.
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Jan. 26-27, 2015 -- SPFA PCP Exam Prep Course and/or Exam hosted by SPFA, Albuquerque, N.M.
Ongoing -- SPFA PCP Refresher Courses for Previously Trained SPF Professional hosted by Gaco Western, webinar, contact Karen Wolfenberger
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>>If Disaster Strikes, Will Your Company Survive?
Source: agc.org / Jeffrey Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU
The wildfires across the West earlier in the year should be a reality check for businesses all over America. They underscore the need for appropriate insurance coverage and limits, and for having a basic disaster recovery plan. In the event your office lost power or was totally destroyed during a wildfire, hurricane, tornado or other type of natural disaster, how prepared would you be? Have you identified alternative premises to set up operations? Would your employees know who to call or where to go? Read more here.
>>Marketing 101: A Guide to Winning Customers (Online Course)
Source: sba.org
Learn what marketing is and why it is vital to growth. The course covers how to conduct market research and developing marketing strategies while providing marketing resources for small business owners. Read more here.
>>Year-End Bonuses & Taxes: What You Should Know
Source: sba.org / Barbara Weltman
If your business can afford it and you want to reward employees, year-end cash bonuses may be the way to go. In providing this additional compensation, understand what it means from a tax perspective. Read more here.
>>Hashtags Matter
Source: bpi.org / Kevin Homer
The # sign, a symbol that for years was called simply a "pound sign" and has historically stood for "number," has recently undergone a drastic transformation. The #hashtag has taken on a far more valuable role in the lives of anyone active on social media. Although most recognize the symbol, many don't fully grasp when or how to release its power. Read more here.
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