  >>Sprayfoam 2015 App
Be sure to
download the SPFA Sprayfoam 2015 Convention App while you are at the show!
Search "Sprayfoam 2015" in the App Store or Google Play Store.
>>Debut of Expo Conference Daily eNewsletter -- Sign Up Now
Want to be sure you make the most of your time at Sprayfoam 2015? A good start would be to check your inbox every morning during the show, as that is when our Conference Daily eNewsletter will be released. There will also be pre- and post-show issues. To sign up for the eNewsletter, click here. If you are signed up to receive SPFA's bi-weekly eNewsletter, you will automatically receive our Conference Daily eNewsletter.
>>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 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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>>SPFA Technical Director to Be Speaker at IBS, Jan. 20
SPFA's Technical Director Dr. Richard S. Duncan will be one of the speakers at a session at IBS 2015, the NAHB International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. Along with C.R. Herro of Meritage Homes and Martins Pecholcs of Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Duncan will be discussing the topic "Insulation: From Spec Through Inspection, Steps to a Versatile High Performance Solution" on Jan. 20. The moderator will be Justin Koscher of the American Chemistry Council and Spray Foam Coalition. Read more here.
For a FREE 3-day Exhibits Only Pass to the International Builder's Show, compliments of Gaco Western, here.
>>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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>>Home Performance Industry Predictions for 2015
Source: energycircle.com / Peter Troast
A few of the experts in the industry share their take on what 2015 has in store. From economic and political trends, to the impact technology will have on our day to day business, this is a full view of what to expect in the year to come. Some of the topics include: Instrumentation and Technology Working Together, Adjusting to Changing Priorities, Investments in Large-scale Residential, Expanding Market with Access to Financing, Defining Our Terminology To Cut Through the Confusion, Sales & Marketing Skills to the Fore, Technology Will Power the Industry, Important Consumer Upgrades, and more! Read more here.
>>2014 TRI National Conference Presentation Slides Now Available
Source: epa.gov
The presentation slides from the May conference of the Toxics Release Inventory and Environmental Conditions in Communities are now available. Presentations include:
- Toxics Release Inventory: A Major Building Block of the Environmental Justice Movement
- Using TRI Data to Identify Patterns of Pollution in Metro Atlanta
- TRI Community Engagement: Four New EPA Pilot Projects Challenge Us to Communicate More Effectively with Communities
- Erasing the Refinery: Industry and Air Pollution as Hidden Environmental Stressors
Click here for slides. Session recordings are coming soon.
>>EPA Takes Action Related to Toluene Diisocyanates (TDI)
Source: epa.gov
EPA’s proposed action, a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would require manufacturers (including importers) to notify EPA at least 90 days before starting or resuming these new uses in consumer products. EPA would then have the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of the chemicals and, if necessary, take action to prohibit or limit the activity.
These chemicals are currently widely used in residual amounts in the production of polyurethanes and consumer products, such as coatings, elastomers, adhesives, and sealants and can be found in products used in and around homes or schools. Diisocyanates are well known dermal and inhalation sensitizers in the workplace and can cause asthma, lung damage, and in severe cases, death. Details on the proposed SNUR on TDI and related compounds and how to provide comments can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/index.html
>>Moving in the Right Direction
Source: agc.org / Sheryl S. Jackson
While the economic recovery following the Great Recession is characterized by slower growth than expected - averaging well below the historical average at only 2 percent per year - there are positive indicators for the construction industry in 2015. Read more here. Reprinted with permission from Constructor, January/February 2015, a publication of the Associated General Contractors of America.
>>Energy Codes for Ultra-Low-Energy Buildings: A Critical Pathway to Zero Net Energy Buildings
Source: aceee.org / Jennifer Thorne Amann
Research Report A1403, "Energy Codes for Ultra-Low-Energy Buildings: A Critical Pathway to Zero Net Energy Buildings", was released Dec. 17. A zero net energy (ZNE) building is a home or commercial building that on average produces as much energy as it uses, achieved through energy efficiency and renewable technologies. Building energy codes can help us transition to ZNE construction for new residential and commercial buildings by 2030. We will need to expand the scope of codes to capture all building energy uses, address whole building systems instead of focusing on individual components, and shift our focus from building design to actual building energy use by adopting outcome-based codes. We should also ensure ZNE performance post-occupancy by considering the impact of building occupants and operators and by incorporating future-proofing measures. By addressing these areas, we can establish the foundation for ZNE by 2030 while providing energy savings and related benefits in the interim. Complementary policies, targeted research, market transformation, and the coordination of efforts and advocacy will help us achieve these goals. Read more here.
>>Working for a Living
Source: agc.org / Amy Drew Thompson
For decades, the industry's image suffered as college became the go-to goal for career success. Now, as the products of information age struggle to find work, construction firms battle to find qualified labor. The tipping point, many believe, has finally arrived. Read more here. Reprinted with permission from Constructor, January/February 2015, a publication of the Associated General Contractors of America.
>>Advancing Energy Efficient Buildings: From the Lab to Your Neighborhood
Source: ase.org
Accounting for about 40 percent of American energy use and about $400 billion in annual energy costs, buildings are fertile grounds for money-saving and pollution-preventing energy efficiency improvements. U.S. buildings offer hundreds of billions of dollars of investment opportunity that can yield as much as a trillion dollars in energy savings in the next decade. 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.
>>Make notes in the margins.
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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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>>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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Tips:
1) Always flush the gun FIRST.
2) Only break down the gun monthly for inspection of wear or as a last effort to resolve a flow problem. (The gun is engineered and designed to access the impingement ports without breaking it down.)
Steps to Access Ports:
FLUSH - CHECK SCREENS - UNSCREW FLUID FRONT END - PUSH MIX CHAMBER FORWARD & CLEAR PORTS - REINSTALL - SPRAY FOAM ...
The internal parts love where they're at. Each time parts are removed it causes unnecessary wear or damage of the rubber parts, opening new doors for leaky guns plus reducing the 6 months of life on your O-rings. Spend your money on vacation NOT replacing O-rings!
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>>Do You Want to Become a Certified SPF Master Installer?
If you want to become an SPFA PCP Certified Master Installer, the Field Exams are a required part of getting certified. They aren’t available on a regular basis all throughout the year, and when they are available there are additional materials, equipment and down-labor costs along with lost production. The Field Exams at the SPFA convention are completed with donated equipment and material. The down-time is already there for people because they are away from the business and improving or bettering themselves at the show, which is valuable to them and us.
I encourage you to sign up and complete the Field Exam in Albuquerque on either Monday or Tuesday, January 26-27, in Albuquerque, N.M., at the 2015 Sprayfoam Convention and Expo. There are even greater savings if more than one person from your company completes the Field Exam. You only need to block out 4 hours to complete a Field Exam, which allows for time to do other many other things while in Albuquerque!
There are also opportunities to attend other PCP Exam Preparatory Courses and take PCP Written Exams at the SPFA Convention -- so make the most of your time and take advantage of these offerings!
Space is limited, so sign up today!
Click here for more Attendee Brochure on the Sprayfoam 2015 Convention and Expo. Click here for Schedule of Events at Sprayfoam 2015.
Click here for SPFA Certification Info.
Click on the tab at the top of the Certification for either Roofing or Insulation and the other program details that apply to you.
If you have any questions about the Field Exams or Certification Exam Prep Courses or Written Exams in Albuquerque, please contact SPFA PCP Certification Director Kelly Marcavage.
If you need to check the status of your Certification or what you have already taken and what you may be lacking, contact: admin@spfapcp.org.
Thank you and I hope to see you in Albuquerque!
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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PMC is so confident in the AP-2 spray gun that they are offering this limited time trial to contractors currently spraying with a competitive gun. This amazing program offers a great opportunity to experience the benefits of the leading gun on the market without any obligation. After the trial period ends, simply return the gun to your Authorized PMC Distributor unless you are sold on the innovative features of the AP-2 Spray Gun such as:
- A lightweight, compact design
- Short trigger stroke to reduce operator fatigue
- Check valves designed for maximum gun block performance
- Purge air check valve to prevent chemical from entering the air passages of the gun
- Advanced design for pattern development and mixing
The very short stroke makes the gun extremely responsive. The pattern and forward velocity is such that you can spray very close to the substrate without producing overspray, which is virtually impossible to do with other spray guns. If the benefits are too great to be without after using the gun for 30 days, simply keep it and your Authorized PMC Distributor will subtract $200 OFF the selling price and bill you accordingly.
"Spray Before You Pay + $200" is a limited time offer, available now through February 28, 2015. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to experience the AP-2 spray gun first hand.
For details, call 732-415-4400 or visit www.polymac-usa.com. This special promotion is offered to contractors who are located in the U.S. and Canada only. Some restrictions apply.
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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.
>>DOE Seeks Input on Definition for Zero Energy Buildings, Due Feb. 20
On January 6, in an effort to help the private sector and regulators to agree on standards for zero-energy buildings, the Department of Energy published a notice in the Federal Register asking the public for input on potential definitions of Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs), nomenclature, and implementation guidelines related to the proposed zero energy definitions. DOE has funded the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to assess various potential definitions and propose draft definitions with input from a number of subject matter experts and stakeholder organizations. The public comment period is now open and will end on February 20, 2015. DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing any relevant comments and information. Interested persons can submit comments via:
1. Email: ZEB2014BLDG0050@ee.doe.gov. Include EERE-2014-BT-BLDG-0050 in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number.
>>ASHRAE Announces Next Energy Modeling Conference, Call for Presenters
Source: ashrae.org
ASHRAE has announced that its next "Energy Modeling Conference: Tools for Designing High Performance Buildings" will take place September 30 to October 2, 2015, in Atlanta. ASHRAE seeks presenters who can speak specifically about the use of modeling to design, construct, commission, operate and maintain new and existing buildings to improve a building's energy performance and indoor environmental quality while reducing the cost to operate and maintain them. The conference will focus on the tools, step-by-step processes, best practices and workflows for the application of single or multiple modeling techniques. 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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>>BPI's Home Energy Auditing Standard Published as ANSI Standard
Source: homeenergy.gov / Mike Kandel
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) announced that BPI-1100-T-2014: Home Energy Auditing Standard has been published as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard. The Home Energy Auditing Standard defines the requirements for a building science-based evaluation, or audit, of existing detached single-family dwellings and townhouses that meet specific criteria detailed in the scope of the standard. Read more here.
>>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. Click here to register and here for more information.
>>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:
* New General Alerts *
DOE - Seeks Input on Definition for Zero Energy Buildings
* Ongoing General Alerts *
ASHRAE - Comments Due Jan. 19 on the Proposal to Add New Climate Zone for 90.1 Standard
DOE - Register for the DOE National Energy Codes Conference 2015: Energy Codes In Action!
* New State and Local Alerts *
South Carolina – Requests Comments Concerning the Adoption of 2015 I-Codes
* Ongoing State and Local Alerts *
Baltimore, MD - Adopts the 2012 IgCC for Commercial Construction
Colorado - Public Utilities Commission Considers Changes to the Energy Benchmarking Rule
Denver, CO – Comments Due Today Jan 9 on the 2015 I-Codes
New York - New Commercial Code Becomes Effective on January 1, 2015
Pennsylvania - Public Hearings on the 2015 I-Codes Adoption on Jan. 14 & Feb. 11
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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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For the past eight years, the ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard has measured the progress of state policies and programs that save energy while also benefiting the environment and promoting economic growth. Using data vetted by state energy officials, ACEEE ranked states in six categories — utility programs, transportation, building energy codes, combined heat and power, state initiatives, and appliance standards. In this eighth edition of the State Scorecard, Massachusetts secured the top spot for the fourth year in a row. Joining Massachusetts in the top five were California, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Vermont. The most-improved states in 2014 were Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Indiana and Ohio, meanwhile, fell the furthest in the rankings due to decisions by legislators in both states to roll back energy savings targets. Despite setbacks in these states, energy efficiency has remained a key resource, with utilities budgeting more than $7.7 billion in 2013 for efficiency programs across the country. To download the report or for more information, click here.
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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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>>Getting Your Small Business Website Right
Source: sba.org
Did you know that 97% of consumers search online for products and services, but one of every two small businesses isn't there? If your website is up and running or you’re in the planning stages, check in and see if you’re web presence plans are on the right track to being found and making sales. Read more here.
>>4 Smart Marketing Resolutions for 2015
Source: sba.org
Have you resolved to take your small business to bigger and better heights in 2015? Then one of the best moves you can make is to upgrade your marketing. Here are four marketing resolutions that every small business owner should consider making for 2015. Read more here.
>>Offering Energy Efficient Financing: A Path to Closing More Jobs, Increasing Sales and Making Customers Happy!
Source: bpi.org / Andrew Isaacs
You could say there are two types of contractors in the marketplace today, those who offer financing at the point of sale and those who don't. Savvy contractors help empower their customers by offering a choice to pay out of pocket or choose financing to pay for improvements. These contractors focus on the monthly payment rather than the total job cost, not only to reduce sticker shock but also to add measures to a job that will increase efficiency and comfort. Long term, competitively priced financing means expanded work scopes for contractors and greater home performance benefits for consumers. Read more here.
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