A new report just published by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) highlights that pairing residential heat pump heating and cooling systems with air sealing and insulation will reduce likely increases in customer costs and strain on the electric grid. The report’s message is timely as states prepare to implement two key programs of the Inflation Reduction Act and offer more than $9 billion in rebates for residential energy efficiency and electrification improvements.
Details »Insulation Institute Blog
Posts Categorized: Energy Efficiency
New Guide: Getting Your Home Heat Pump Ready
Heat pump technology is all the rage in the push for electrification and increased home energy efficiency, and with good reason: heat pumps are more efficient than electric resistance heating, reducing electricity needed for heating by up to 50 percent. However, there are several actions that homeowners should take before adding a heat pump so that the equipment operates optimally. These actions could help reduce the size of the equipment as well as the cost. NAIMA has produced a new guide, Getting Your Home Heat Pump Ready, that details the actions homeowners should undertake before adding a heat pump to improve their home’s overall energy efficiency.
Details »North Carolina Builder: Energy Efficiency Isn’t a Bad Word
If you follow building energy efficiency code development and implementation at all, then you know that builders in North Carolina oppose efforts to modernize the state’s outdated energy efficiency code. That code is largely unchanged from the 2009 IECC, and the North Carolina Home Builders Association is fighting to keep it that way.
Details »2021 IECC Mandate Proposed for FHA/USDA Mortgages
The White House today announced a proposal that new homes purchased using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mortgages must be built to the standards of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Current FHA/USDA mortgage standards require compliance with the 2009 IECC. This proposed standard update is a giant step forward in improving the energy performance of new residential construction in the United States. About 170,000 homes are purchased each year using these government mortgage products, which means 170,000 families will buying homes that are potentially 35 percent more important efficient than the status quo.
Details »Realtor Report Shows Energy Efficiency Gets Noticed
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has just released its 2023 REALTORS and Sustainability Report – Residential which shows that the majority of these real estate professionals (63 percent) find promoting a home’s energy efficiency very or somewhat valuable. More than 2,000 realtors participated in the survey, and their opinions of energy efficiency are driven largely by consumer interests in sustainability, according to Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research.
Details »Providence Homes Wins Sustained Excellence Award
Jacksonville area home builder Providence Homes was recently awarded the ENERGY STAR partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the seventh time.
Details »DOE Issues RFP for Community-Based Retrofit Teams
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building America Program, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) issued a request for proposal (RFP) for multi-disciplinary expert teams to address the technical challenges of decarbonizing the U.S. residential housing stock.
Details »Trading Efficiency for Lower Initial Costs
While the federal government is ramping up measures that increase building energy efficiency, home builders in a handful of states, including North Carolina, are pushing back against more stringent building energy efficiency measures. But what is in the best interest of homeowners?
Details »Time to Optimize Thermal Performance in 100M Homes
America has more than 100 million leaky homes that are prime for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, including air sealing and insulation. Without serious engagement by utilities and contractors to address the issue of thermal leakage, the lofty goals the Biden Administration has set for carbon reduction and electrification will not be achieved, says Rick Barnett, a green builder and remodeling contractor. Barnett has been an advocate for thermal envelope efficiency and green building for more than 30 years.
Details »Webinar: How 3E Plus Can Help Schools Apply for Retrofit Grants
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs has issued a grant funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for public K-12 schools. These grants are available to make energy improvements that result in direct reduction to school energy costs, increase energy efficiency, and lead to improvements in teacher and student health, including indoor air quality. Applicants must submit a baseline energy needs assessment to qualify.
Details »