construction efficiency opportunities: setting the...
TRANSCRIPT
ISS Institute IncDECEMBER 2012 ©
Construction Efficiency Opportunities: Setting the Foundation for Net-Zero Energy Homes in Australia
Tomi Winfree2009 International Building and Construction Fellowship
Fellowship funded by Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC)
Published by International Specialised Skills Institute, Melbourne
Extract published on www.issinstitute.org.au
© Copyright ISS Institute December 2012
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Whilst this report has been accepted by ISS Institute, ISS Institute cannot provide expert peer review of the report, and except as may be required by law no responsibility can be accepted by ISS Institute for the content of the report or any links therein, or omissions, typographical, print or photographic errors, or inaccuracies that may occur after publication or otherwise. ISS Institute do not accept responsibility for the consequences of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any person as a consequence of anything contained in, or omitted from, this report.
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Executive Summary
Australia will begin to meet the government’s emission reduction targets, in part, when builders and tradespeople construct high performance buildings to energy efficient design specifications based on proven construction techniques, tested products and technology solutions leading to net-zero energy homes. Designers, builders and tradespeople have an opportunity to significantly contribute to high-efficiency construction through design construction methods and technological solutions, while reducing builders’ costs through material and labour efficiency. These efficiencies are gained by:
• Understanding and applying systems and life cycle thinking
• Understanding and implementing building science methods to increase construction and resource efficiency while decreasing operational energy demand and securing structural durability, as well as ensuring the health and safety of the construction team and the occupants
• Fully valuing the necessary add-on high technology solutions that harness natural resources to complete net-zero energy buildings.
A number of the key strategic training areas are currently being developed, revised, or are in need of development and revision, across industry sectors as a result of changes in government policy and regulations. This offers an opportunity for training to be developed to support a consistent long-term approach using industry standards that bridge the built environment from design, construction to the performance testing buildings post-construction.
In Australia, there are few peak bodies providing training in the area of sustainable or green building with even fewer offering domestic green building training specific to tradespeople, project and site managers, builders, and developers. The most closely related national training standard is ‘Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures’, which is a great introduction to passive design, home sustainability approaches and material selection. This training could be broadened to meet industry needs with a further integration of building science principles and practices with a systems approach to construction. Although, additional accredited training for new and/or existing homes also requires integrated project management and trade specific knowledge and skills supporting technology integration for energy efficiency and net-zero energy homes, and lastly post-construction home performance assessments.
Existing building practitioners and the next generation of practitioners require knowledge and skills to build airtight, high-efficiency homes with adequate air exchanges through ventilation to avoid future liability suits, increased health risks and deterioration of our building stock due to inadequate moisture management. We must look at going beyond the current design and introductory levels of building resource efficiency and expand into high-efficiency construction through building science practices to mitigate our local and global risks. Our building practitioners currently require foundation and advanced-level building science knowledge and skills with hands-on training delivery to meet the expectations of industry, government and, most importantly, our homeowners in the immediate future.
This Fellowship report highlights American programs, training and practices that could further advance Australia into the next generation of net-zero energy homes through collaboration and support across:
• Government policy and incentives
• Research and workforce development
• Education and demonstration projects
• Industry standards, metrics, certification, and public recognition of best practice.
Table of Contents
i Abbreviations/Acronyms
iii Definitions
1 Acknowledgements1 Awarding Body – International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute) 2 Fellowship Supporter2 Fellowship Sponsor2 Supporters
7 About the Fellow
9 Aims of the Fellowship Program
11 The Australian Context16 SWOT Analysis
19 IdentifyingtheSkillsDeficiencies20 Benefits to Australia22 Industry Drivers
25 The International Experience25 Thinking Big: A New Community Development27 Greyfield Land: Community Re-development29 Working Together: Researchers, Industry, Educators and Government35 National Green Building Standard40 Building Science45 University Led Continuing Professional Development47 Industry Led Continuing Professional Development55 Living Hazards: Indoor Air Quality57 Industry Energy Authorities: Technical and Consumer Support for High Performance Homes60 Awarding Best Practice62 Tracking Progress Nationally
65 Knowledge Transfer: Applying the Outcomes
67 Recommendations67 Education, Training and Mentoring Recommendations71 Integrated Design75 Industry and Professional Associations Recommendations79 Government Recommendations82 Community Recommendation82 ISS Institute – Further Research
85 References91 Additional Resources
i
Abbreviations/Acronyms
ACH Air Changes per Hour
AIA American Institute of Architects (USA)
ASID American Society of Interior Designers (USA)
BASIX Building Sustainability Index
CA California
CAT Customer Advanced Technologies (SMUD)
CES Continuing Education Systems (USA)
CGP NAHB Certified Green Professional (USA)
CO2 Carbon dioxide
COAG Council of Australian Governments
COTE Committee on the Environment (USA)
CPDA Canal Park Development Association, Inc. (USA)
CPSISC Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
D.C. District of Columbia
DEEWR Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
DIISRTE Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE)
EEBA Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (USA)
EE-Oz ElectroComms and Energy Utilities Industry Skills Council
EER Energy Efficiency Ratio
E-Scale EnergySmart Home Scale (USA)
EVHA EnergyValue Housing Awards (USA)
HERS Home Energy Rating System (USA)
HIA Housing Industry Association
ILO International Labour Organization
ITUC International Trade Union Confederation
JD Juris Doctor (professional graduate law degree) (USA)
LCA Life Cycle Assessment
LEED Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (USA)
LEED AP LEED Accredited Professionals (USA)
MASCO American manufacturer of home improvement and new home construction materials
93 Attachments94 Attachment 1: Builder’s Challenge Dual Certification Overview96 Attachment 2: NGBS Scoring for New Construction Overview98 Attachment 3: Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 1 Community College
(Similar to VET)100 Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 2102 Example 3104 Attachment 4: Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University Overview
Table of Contents
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Abbreviations/Acronyms Definitions
Advanced framing
System of engineering for house framing developed in the 1960s by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and currently used to reduce the amount of wood and labour requirements, thereby reducing construction costs, while increasing thermal efficiency and maintaining structural integrity through highly levels of insulation and reduced thermal bridging (note: also referred to as ‘optimal value engineering’). 1
Air barrier
Layer applied to the building envelope to separate the internal air from the external air, creating a barrier, to support control of the internal environment within a building, often combined with a vapour barrier.
Brownfield(USA)
Underutilised commercial or industrial land often contaminated, requiring an environmental cleanup of hazardous waste and pollutants before being redeveloped.
Previously used land or sectons of industrial or commercial facilities which require re-development.
Building envelope, shell, enclosure
The exterior components of a building’s construction, being walls, windows, roof, floor….everything that separates ‘inside’ from ‘outside’. 2
Building science
The method of assembling building materials and systems in such a way that the enclosure controls the heat, air, and moisture so that a durable and energy efficient building is created without an excess usage of materials (even when using natural materials that may have lower performance than substitutes).
Building sciences
A collection of scientific knowledge, including the analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings and analysis of building materials and building envelope systems 3 or simply the flow of three things [to support a building], being heat, air, and moisture. 4
Charrette
Generally referred to as a ‘design charrette’ and consists of an intense period of design activity.
Greyfield(USA)
Underutilised land.
MBAV Master Builders Association Victoria
MMBtu Million Metric British Thermal Units
MSA Manufacturing Skills Australia (Industry Skills Council)
NABERS National Australian Built Environment Rating System
NAHB National Association of Home Builders (USA)
NFEE National Framework for Energy Efficiency
NCS National Centre for Sustainability
PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company (USA)
RAIA Royal Australian Institute of Architects
RESNET Residential Energy Services Network (USA)
RMIT Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
SEER Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (USA)
SMUD Sacramento Municipal Utility District (USA)
SOMO Sonoma Mountain Village (USA)
sq. ft. Square foot
SIP Structural Insulated Panel
SSU Sonoma State University (USA)
SUT Swinburne Institute of Technology
SV Sustainability Victoria
TVET Technical Vocational Education and Training
UNESCO United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization
US United States (of America)
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
US DOE United States Department of Energy
US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
USGBC United States Green Building Council (USA)
WFEO World Federation of Engineering Organizations
WHO World Health Organization
ZEH Zero energy homes
viv
Definitions Definitions
High performance homes
Buildings that are designed, constructed and used in efficient ways based on a variety of metrics related to resource consumption and costs, especially energy, while maintaining the safety, health and integrity of the structure (note: often referred to as energy efficient buildings).
Indoorairquality(IAQ)
Maintaining or improving the standard of IAQ or Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) focused on eliminating or minimising indoor air pollutants to reduce short-term and long-term health related effects on occupants and improving comfort. Opportunities include source control, filtration and ventilation to improve the air quality within a building envelope.
Innovation
Creating and meeting new needs with new technical and design styles [New realities of lifestyle]. 5
Integratedprojectdelivery(management)
Collaboration across various disciplines, such as design, engineering, construction and operations during the planning stage to optimise the project delivery outcomes based on the priorities of the client, such as green building or energy efficiency (note: sometimes referred to as a ‘design charrette’).
Net-zero energy home
A home with greatly reduced energy needs firstly through efficiency gains with the remaining energy supplied by renewable energy on an annual basis. 6 The energy supplied is on-site and the usage is averaged over the year.
Passive solar
Passive solar refers to a design technique, not a certification. Any house that takes advantage of sunlight to warm the house is in some way a passive solar house. That said, most people think of homes with a lot of windows and steep roof overhangs when they think of passive solar. These homes are designed to absorb as much heat as possible in the winter, but have a roof that deflects summer sunshine that would overheat the house. 7
Passivhaus
Passivhaus design takes advantage of passive solar strategies, but goes further. It also requires very stringent air infiltration (tightness) scores, and dictates exactly how much energy can be committed to heating and cooling. Basically, Passivhaus designers take passive solar design and add it to a stable of energy saving strategies. 8
R value
Measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry.
Sustainability
The ISS Institute follows the United Nations NGO on sustainability, “Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” 9
Vapour barrier or retarder
A coating, membrane or sheet material eliminating or diffusing the movement of vapour through the building envelope, typically by means of diffusion or air/heat transfer. A vapour barrier may not be required in some conditions or, if it is required, needs to be applied internally or externally based on climatic conditions.
Whole systems thinking related to buildings
A method of thinking about buildings as an integrated system that operates as a whole dependent on the design and function of the components within it, the external factors impacting on the structure and the way in which the system is utilised by the inhabitants (note also referred to as ‘the house as a system’).
1
Acknowledgements
Tomi Winfree would like to thank the following individuals and organisations who gave generously of their time and their expertise to assist, advise and guide her throughout the Fellowship program.
Awarding Body – International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute)The International Specialised Skills Institute Inc is an independent, national organisation that for over two decades has worked with Australian governments, industry and education institutions to enable individuals to gain enhanced skills and experience in traditional trades, professions and leading-edge technologies.
At the heart of the ISS Institute are our Fellows. Under the Overseas Applied Research Fellowship Program the Fellows travel overseas. Upon their return, they are required to pass on what they have learnt by:
1. Preparing a detailed report for distribution to government departments, industry and educational institutions.
2. Recommending improvements to accredited educational courses.
3. Delivering training activities including workshops, conferences and forums.
Over 200 Australians have received Fellowships, across many industry sectors. In addition, recognised experts from overseas conduct training activities and events. To date, 22 leaders in their field have shared their expertise in Australia.
According to Skills Australia’s ‘Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy 2010’:
Australia requires a highly skilled population to maintain and improve our economic position in the face of increasing global competition, and to have the skills to adapt to the introduction of new technology and rapid change.
International and Australian research indicates we need a deeper level of skills than currently exists in the Australian labour market to lift productivity. We need a workforce in which more people have skills, but also multiple and higher level skills and qualifications. Deepening skills across all occupations is crucial to achieving long-term productivity growth. It also reflects the recent trend for jobs to become more complex and the consequent increased demand for higher level skills. This trend is projected to continue regardless of whether we experience strong or weak economic growth in the future. Future environmental challenges will also create demand for more sustainability related skills across a range of industries and occupations.10
In this context, the ISS Institute works with Fellows, industry and government to identify specific skills in Australia that require enhancing, where accredited courses are not available through Australian higher education institutions or other Registered Training Organisations. The Fellows’ overseas experience sees them broadening and deepening their own professional practice, which they then share with their peers, industry and government upon their return. This is the focus of the ISS Institute’s work.
For further information on our Fellows and our work see http://www.issinstitute.org.au.
Patron in Chief Lady Primrose Potter AC
Patrons Mr James MacKenzie Mr Tony Schiavello
Founder/Board Member Sir James Gobbo AC, CVO
Chairman Mr Mark Bennetts
Board Members Mr John Baker Ms Julie Belle Ms Sue Christophers
Mr Franco Fiorentini Mr Jack O’Connell AO Mr David Wittner AM
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Fellowship SponsorConstruction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC)
SupportersThe following Australian mentors provided Fellowship support:
• Dr Phil Alviano, Sustainability Manager, Master Builders Association Victoria (MBAV).
• Professor John Fien, Professor of Sustainability in the Innovation Leadership Programme, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University.
• Heath Levy, Carpenter, Leathal Carpentry.
• Dr Sue Lewis, Sustainability Catalyst, National Centre of Sustainability (NCS), Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).
• Dr Garry McDonald, Former Director, NCS, SUT.
• Dr Peter Newton, Professor, Institute for Social Research, Sustainable Urbanism, SUT and NCS Board Member.
• Professor Alan Pears, Senior Lecturer, Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University, and Director of Sustainable Solutions.
Additional Australian Contributors:
• Nick Alsop, Project Manager, Built Environment, Sustainability Victoria (SV).
• Blair Freeman, Green Living Trainer, MBAV and Energy Leaks.
• Anna Henderson, Executive Officer, Business Skills Victoria.
• Fiona Joynes, General Manager, GreenSmart, Housing Industry Association (HIA).
• David Magee, Senior Project Manager and Deputy CEO, Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC).
• Val McGregor, Training Manager, SV.
• Alan Ross, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CPSISC.
• Janine Strachan, Former General Manager, GreenSmart, HIA.
• Joan Whelan, Skills Coordinator and Project Manager, CPSISC.
UnitedStatesContributors:
• Courtney Baker, Manager, Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) Homes Residential Operations, United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, District of Columbia (D.C).
• Thom Banks, Deputy Executive Director, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), DC.
• Andrew C. Burr, Program Manager, Institute for Market Transformation, D.C.
• Angela Conley, Director, Member Services, Northstate Building Industry Association, California (CA).
• Michelle Desiderio, Director, Green Building Programs and National Green Building Standard, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, Maryland.
• E-House and Solar Display, Energy & Technology Center, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), CA.
• Dan Geiger, Executive Director, Northern California Chapter (NCC), USGBC, CA.
• Patty Green, GreenHome Inc., D.C.
• Robert L. Hill, Director, Laboratory Sciences and Certification Programs, (NAHB) Research Center, Maryland.
• Alex Hinds, Director, Centre for Sustainable Communities and Environmental Technology Center, Sonoma State University (SSU), CA.
• Timonie X Hood, Green Building Coordinator, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), CA.
• George James, Existing Homes, Building America Program, ENERGY STAR for Homes, Residential Technology Programs and Incentives, Building Technologies Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy (US DOE), D.C.
• Sonal Kemkar, Technical Program Manager, Institute for Market Transformation, DC.
• Terry Logee, Zero Energy Homes, Building America Program, ENERGY STAR for Homes, Residential Technology Programs and Incentives, Building Technologies Program, US DOE, D.C.
• Alla Orlova, Director, Continuous Education (Distance Education), American Institute of Architects (AIA), D.C.
• Jennifer Owens, Manager, LEED Homes Residential Education Programs, USGBC, CA.
• Kelly Pickard, Instructional Designer and Trainer, AIA, D.C.
• Lew Pratsch, New Homes, Building America Program, ENERGY STAR for Homes, Residential Technology Programs and Incentives, Building Technologies Program, US DOE, D.C.
• Rocky Rohwedder, Professor, Department of Environmental Studies and Planning, SSU, CA.
• Ryan Sakata, Development Assistant and Sustainability Project Assistant, Sonoma Mountain Village (SOMO), Codding Enterprises, CA.
• John Shurtz, Professor, Lead Instructor, Green Building Program, SSU, CA.
• Alex Spilger, Principal, LEED AP Homes, GreenStep and Sustainable Building Advisor Program, CA.
• Janet Stephenson, AIA, D.C.
• Christopher VanArsdale, Executive Director, Canal Park Development Association, Inc. (CPDA), D.C.
• Saskia van Gendt, Environmental Protection Specialist, Green Buildings, US EPA, CA.
• Stephanie Vierra, Researcher, Technical Editor, and Curriculum Specialist, AIA, D.C.
• Marlene Vogelsang, Technical Librarian, The Pacific Energy Center: Energy Resource Center, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), CA.
• Justin Wilson, Building Science Trainer, Houses That Work Training, Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and Building Performance Solutions.
• Amber Wood, Program Manager, Energy Efficiency, NAHB Research Center, Maryland.
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Australian Organisations Impacted by Fellowship Findings:Government
• Federal, State and Territory Government
- Building and Plumbing Commissions (each state and territory)
- Department Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
• Built Environment Industry Innovation Council
- Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
• National Framework for Energy Efficiency Training Committee
- Environmental Protection Agency (equivalent for each state and territory)
- Department of Housing
- Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
- Development Agencies (e.g. Places Victoria/VicUrban)
- Local Government including Planning and Environment Departments
Education and Training
• Industry continuing professional development programs (e.g. Engineers Australia, Points Build NSW, Sustainability House SA, Association of Building Sustainability Assessors)
• Industry Skills Councils (e.g. CPSISC, EEoz, MSA)
• Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• Registered Training Organisations (RTOs, private training providers and TAFEs)
• State and territory training authorities (e.g. TAFE NSW, Higher Education and Skills Group, Skills Victoria, Department of Education and Communities NSW)
• Universities
• Research Centres e.g. (Cooperative Research Centre for the Built Environment)
Industry Practitioners
• Energy or sustainability auditors/consultants
• Inspectors, surveyors
• Builders
• Construction and project managers
• Specialty professionals and tradespeople (e.g. carpenters, plumbers, electricians, insulation installers, designers, engineers, estimators, quantity surveyors)
• Mortgage/lending brokers
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
• Property developers
• Real estate brokers
• Property valuers
Industry & Professional Associations
• Large volume builders (e.g. Henley Homes, Burbank Homes, Dennis Family Homes, National Builders)
• Manufacturers (e.g. CSR, Boral)
• Suppliers (e.g. Bunnings, Mitre10, Masters)
• Building Associations (e.g. HIA, MBA, MPMSAA, Green Plumbers, Climate Change Action Centre)
• Standards Australia
• Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association
• Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
• The Energy Efficiency Council
• Professional Associations (e.g. Australian Institute of Architects, Building Designers Association of Australia)
• Specialty Associations (e.g. Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Association of Building Sustainability Assessors)
• Unions (e.g. Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Communications Electrical Plumbing Union)
Community
• Home owners/consumers
• Owner builders
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About the Fellow
NameTomi Winfree
EmploymentProject Manager, National Centre for Sustainability (NES) at Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).
Qualifications• BS Anthropology: Minors Asian Studies & Archaeology, Middle Tennessee State University11,
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA, 2001.
• Carbon Accounting12, Swinburne University of Technology, 2009.
Memberships• International Young Professionals Foundation13, Australia
• Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society14, USA
• SustainUS Young Professionals15, USA 2001–2004
• TakingITGlobal16.
Tomi Winfree is currently the Knowledge and Skills for Sustainability Project Manager at the NCS at SUT. She is responsible for the management of a range of international, national and ground level research and consultation projects in the area of sustainability knowledge and (green) skills across industry sectors. She has supported the integration of sustainability and energy efficiency into training packages, informed education policy and supported innovative training delivery through industry, government and community research and consultations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Cultural Anthropology and has undertaken Master’s level coursework in International Policy Studies with an emphasis in environmental policy and human rights from Monterey Institute of International Studies, CA.
Since 2006, consultation and project management outcomes have included:
• Review of Energy Efficiency Skills Demands and Training Provision Across the Trades and Professions (DIISRTE, 2012), the Fellow contributed to a team from NCS and Allen Consulting Group, drawing together expertise in research, consultation, government policy and energy efficiency to carry out the baseline mapping to inform education policy Element 1 of the Commonwealth Clean Energy and Other Skills Package.
• Skills for Carbon Abatement (Victorian Skills Commission, 2011), the Fellow contributed to a team from NCS and Allen Consulting Group, drawing together expertise in research, consultation, government policy and carbon abatement to inform education policy in Victoria.
• Jobs and Skills Transition for the Latrobe Valley, Phase 1: Benchmark occupations and skill sets (DEEWR, 2012), the Fellow contributed to a benchmark study of the roles and skills in the Latrobe Valley power generation and mining sectors to inform education policy with a team of researchers from NCS and RMIT University’s Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work.
• Green Skills Strategy and Implementation Plan for Swinburne University of Technology TAFE to 2015 (Swinburne, 2009), the Fellow drafted a plan based on research and consultations across the five schools including Creative and Service Industries, Health and Community, Business, Engineering Technology and Trades, and Sustainable Futures to integrate sustainability into courses to meet future student demand.
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Aims of the Fellowship Program
• Sustainability Standards in Road Transport and Warehousing (DEEWR, 2009), the Fellow managed national research and consultations across industry and stakeholder groups to evaluate training opportunities and develop recommendations to integrate sustainability in the road transport and warehousing training packages for the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council.
• Knowledge and Skills for Sustainability - KSS (2006 – current), the Fellow has and is currently involved in:
- Integration of energy efficiency knowledge and skills into national training packages.
- Development, delivery and management of energy efficiency education resources and trial delivery and evaluation.
- Integration of the Guideline Competency Standards for Sustainability (GCSS) across national industry training packages in the Vocational Education and Training sector, directly involved in the customisation of units in the Construction and Business Services Training Packages.
- Development of guideline briefs, industry-specific briefs to support integration of the national GCSS for Industry Skills Councils, such as CPSISC, IBSA, and MSA.
- Managed and developed learner and trainer resources for nine customised environmental sustainability units of competency and the training pilots for six of nine units across business, plumbing, construction, manufacturing, and seafood services training standards.
KSS project stakeholders included:
• Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Community
• Sustainability Victoria
• Department of Sustainability and Environment (Vic)
• NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
• Victorian Building Commission
• CPSISC
• MSA
• Innovation and Business Services Australia (IBSA)
• Seafood Services Australia
• Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Australia, Green Plumbers
Rapid developments in the area of sustainable building are occurring across the globe resulting in many industries taking the leap into investment in green jobs and skills development. This International Building and Construction Fellowship opportunity has opened the door to further the Fellow’s level of knowledge and skills at an international level, giving her the opportunity to specialise in project management for green domestic building education. This research is also directly aligned to her current job role, researching the jobs and skills aligned with low-cost carbon abatement opportunities in Australia and potential transitional strategies. She continues to support national training development, building training providers’ capabilities and encouraging government policy and industry partnerships to develop our future workforce and stimulate our economy through strategy and implementation opportunities.
The overarching aim of this International Building and Construction Fellowship is to contribute to the effective development and renovation of the next generation of high-efficiency and beyond zero energy homes in Australia through research and recommendations for knowledge and skills development to support national training. The outcomes of the research will contribute to training development in a key strategic area in Australia and globally to support mitigation of our carbon emissions and adaptation to climate change in the coming years.
If Australia is going to meet carbon reduction targets, the training sector needs to ensure the upskilling of existing workers, new job entrants and VET practitioners to develop expertise in zero energy homes and efficient building practices to support future standards. These recommendations will assist Industry Skills Councils, training providers, government agencies and professional/industry associations in the development and delivery of new and/or improved training at various levels, from apprentices/traineeships to existing trades people and industry professionals. The research recommendations are relevant to the fields of property, construction, manufacturing and business services to support Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The specific research aims of the Fellowship were to:
• Investigate and establish an in-depth understanding of whole system approaches (i.e. sustainability principles, cost benefits analysis) and emerging trends and technology use in sustainable housing design, construction, and end use.
• Identify effective implementation strategies, products and services to mitigate and adapt to climate change using innovative complementary technologies for next generation carbon positive homes.
• Determine the knowledge and skills needed to support effective project management in the sustainable building and property development industry.
• Document international strategies for sustainable communities based on government policy, action and incentives for domestic housing.
• Identify any other key training areas for vocational education and training in construction and property sectors to review in the future.
The strategies carried out to meet the aims of the Fellowship:
• Engaged with practising institutions (educators, tradespeople, professionals and associations) to investigate and record world best practice examples and case studies based on whole system approaches and emerging trends in sustainable (economic, social and environmental) housing to reduce the environmental footprint of the existing housing stock and new home markets.
• Identified the management skill sets required to successfully apply the concepts of a whole system approach for sustainability, incorporating cost benefit analysis to effectively reduce the environmental footprint of existing and new homes.
• Identified trade and professional knowledge and skills required to assess and incorporate whole system approaches to sustainable housing using leading-edge technology.
• Recorded government policy and strategies to support sustainable community development.
• Analysed and reported findings for recommendation to training developers and providers, government agencies and individuals to support the development of sustainable communities across Australia.
About the Fellow
1110
The Australian Context
For our residential building sector to have effective and efficient housing for a low-carbon economy, we must ensure we have supportive government policy, consistent language and the appropriate knowledge and skills across trades and professions to support a combined approach to sustainable development. This would include:
• Home assessments post construction (sustainability, energy, carbon)
• Planning for design, construction, deconstruction, re-use and/or re-design based on building science
• Project and site management using an industry green building standard based on sustainability standards and building science
• Appropriately trained tradespeople and professionals with building science fundamentals
• Effective technology selection, application and use, using building science principles
• Consumer awareness and education on the efficient construction, operation and maintenance of a home.
Outcomes and Target AudienceThe Fellowship recommendations need to be reviewed by a variety of industry stakeholders through analysis of this report, further research and presentation of the findings to inform industry stakeholders of the knowledge, skills sets and implementation strategies based on world best practice in sustainable whole system approaches to high performance domestic building.
Industry stakeholders may include training developers and providers, government agencies, industry and professional associations, building practitioners, property developers, manufacturers, suppliers, researchers and individuals supporting the development of high performance homes and sustainable communities across Australia.
Aims of the Fellowship Program
ISS Institute follows the BrundtlandDefinition, this definition of sustainable development that is now generally recognised. As agreed by the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) and adopted by the United Nations, the Brundtland Definition states:
“Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". 17
The Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories have negotiated a National Green Skills Agreement. The Green Skills Agreement states:
“Skills for sustainability, also known as green skills, are the technical skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed in the workforce to develop and support sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in business, industry and the community. The Agreement is a statement of the commitment of the Australian and State and Territory Governments to work collaboratively with employer and employee representatives, the VET sector and community organisations to ensure that training in, and the delivery of, skills for sustainability is an integral part of all vocational education and training and is relevant to the needs of industry,” 18 as endorsed in 2009.
Government Policy in AustraliaA number of the key strategic training areas are currently being developed, revised or are in need of development and revision across industry sectors as a result of changes in government policy and regulations. There are still countless opportunities to improve best practice, regulations, and the education sectors that support these areas. The outcomes of this Fellowship offer an opportunity for training to be developed to support a consistent long-term approach using industry standards that bridge the built environment from design, construction to the performance testing at the point of occupation.
A range of policy measures have been established to support energy efficiency in the built environment. These are few, but not all of the Commonwealth examples,
• National Framework for Energy Efficiency (NFEE)
• Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program,
• the Energy Efficiency Exchange (EEX),
• the National House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), and
• the National Hot Water Strategy and a revised Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) high efficiency systems strategy.
In the last few years, government and education departments, research institutes, and professional bodies have released countless reports, case studies and launched initiatives on the current key training areas with a heavy focus on green buildings and skill needs. A summary of the most relevant international, national and state reports and initiatives are as follows:
• Review of Energy Efficiency Skills Demands and Training Provision Across the Trades and Professions 2012, DIISRTE, baseline mapping to inform education policy, Element 1 of the Commonwealth Clean Energy and Other Skills Package (NCS and Allen Consulting Group).
• Skills for Carbon Abatement 2011, Victorian Skills Commission, to inform education policy in Victoria (NCS & Allen Consulting). 19
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The Australian ContextThe Australian Context
• Jobs and Skills Transition for the Latrobe Valley, Phase 1: Benchmark occupations and skill sets 2012, DEEWR, research into power generation and mining sectors to inform education policy (NCS and RMIT University’s Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work).
• Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia 2010 and Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia 2011 update by ClimateWorks Australia, identifies residential new builds and retrofits as profitable and low-cost abatement opportunities with a specific focus on efficiency gains related to the building envelop. 20
• Victoria's Greenhouse Opportunity Set: New Growth Prospects in a Carbon Constrained World 2009 by the Allen Consulting Group, commissioned by the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development. An assessment of the commercial opportunities arising for Victoria as a result of climate change, and the ability of industry to capitalise on them. 21
• National VET Sector Policy and Action Plan 2010–2015, endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) on 12 June 2009 and released by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
• Environmental sustainability: an industry response, a paper prepared by the eleven national Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) as a collective response, as well as individual responses from each ISC.
• Victoria – the Green Jobs State: Seizing the opportunities, released by Environment Victoria.
• Growing the Green Collar Economy: Skills and labour challenges in reducing our greenhouse emissions and national environmental footprint, released by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Dusseldorp Foundation
• Green Gold Rush, released by the Australian Conservation Foundation.
• The Green Jobs Initiative, a joint initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organisation of Employers and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). 22
• UNEP Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world, released in 2008 by the International Labour Organisation.
• Labour and the Environment: A Natural Synergy, released jointly by the UNEP, ILO, the World Health Organization (WHO), workers and trade unions through the ITUC, and the International Labour Foundation for Sustainable Development (Sustainlabour).
• Integrating Sustainable Development TVET Curriculum, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), online forum.
The Australian Building Codes Board has also addressed energy efficiency:
• Refined the existing Building Code of Australia energy-efficiency measures and assisted with input into Council of Australian Governments (COAG) processes, announcing on 30 April 2009 that this process will result in an increase in the Building Code of Australia energy efficiency stringency levels. Since then 6-star minimum standards have been introduced in most jurisdictions.
• Reviewed the capacity of the Building Code of Australia to adapt to climate change, following earlier requests by COAG for the board to consider such matters.
CurrentEnergyEfficiencyRegulations
• Section J National Construction Code
- Energy efficiency requirements for homes, such as:
- Lighting,
- Windows,
- Hot water, and
• ENERGY STAR Standards (computer modelling) for residential building envelope design.
In most states and territories, current government regulations require a minimum 6-Star Standard for all new houses. Builders of course have the option to surpass this minimum energy rating and some companies, such as Burbank Homes and Henley Homes have showcased an 8-star home and offer upgrades from the 6-star requirements for new homebuyers. Beyond an 8-star rating is a 10-star, which is a Zero Emission Home. The CSIRO has developed a Zero Emission Home currently undergoing occupant research for 12 months to determine actual performance.
Green Home Loans and Green Start 23
Home sustainability assessments were originally carried out to support the now discontinued Commonwealth Green Loans initiative that was to transition into the Green Start program. The aim of the programs was to improve energy and water efficiency in existing homes. During the program over 600,000 assessments were carried out with demand for assessment much higher than anticipated. Unfortunately, the program required additional foresight and the Commonwealth concluded that the risks were too great to proceed with the Green Start program and discontinued the Green Loans program in 2011.
If this type of assessment program were to continue, oversight is required to ensure that the recommendations are effectively understood and interpreted by skilled people or that skilled people undertake the assessments, and are ideally the same individuals implementing the sustainability recommendations. A similar assessment program focused on plumbing opportunities has already been established and incorporated into the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) Green Plumbing program.
The home assessments require individuals trained in a whole systems approach to buildings to undertake assessments and carry out the improvements; otherwise we run the risk of funding fragmented strategies that have an ineffective end result that can be hazardous to the workers and occupants. For example, when an assessment includes recommendations to seal and insulate a home but only the insulation is installed, the house will not be as energy efficient as it could be if it was also sealed properly to prevent warm and cool air from leaking in/out of the home. On the contrary, when a home is insulated properly and also sealed, hazards have the potential to develop in relation to combustion, indoor air quality, condensation, etc., leading to additional health and safety issues for the occupants and building deterioration. Therefore, training must support a whole system and Building Science approach to sustainable housing in Australia to ensure tradespeople and professionals can mitigate the risks before they arise. CPSISC has supported the home assessment training to become a nationally accredited training program.
Mandatory Disclosure
Although this policy is not currently being carried out, the Commonwealth of Australia worked toward establishing a mandatory disclosure program to be carried out by states and territories for all residential buildings focusing on energy efficiency, greenhouse emissions and water performance at the time of sale or lease. Mandatory disclosure further supports the need for a common language, understanding and effective assessment, and application of green building strategies for existing and new housing stock. As previously recommended, the assessors, tradespeople and professionals must have training in whole system and building science approaches to green building to effectively make and carry out recommendations on behalf of stakeholders to reduce impacts and increase the home's
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The Australian Context The Australian Context
efficiency without increasing risk to the health and safety of occupants related to moisture issues and deterioration of the building. This process also needs to ensure post-construction assessments of the building are taken to ensure the home is actually built to the energy efficiency design modelling specifications with safe levels of ventilation.
Tracking Progress and Communication
Lastly, Australia has the opportunity to set national goals, benchmark progress and work toward future improvements for the housing industry through government and industry strategies and future policy. Australian homeowners need to be key participants in this process in addition to builders, developers, tradespeople and industry professionals. We all have a part to play and should be updated on our progress toward these common goals.
Opportunities are also available to benchmark Australia internationally, through the C40 Cities (a group of cities working to reduce urban carbon emissions and to adapt to climate change. Melbourne is already taking part through the Clinton Climate Initiative, supporting the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable city. 24
Existing Australian TrainingExamples of related training are outlined in this section, including accredited, non-accredited and additional resources.
Accredited Training
Vocational Education and Training (VET), Nationally Accredited Training Units of Competency managed by CPSISC:
1. Work effectively and sustainably in the construction industry
2. Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
3. Develop policies and procedures for environmental sustainability
4. Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures
5. Plan for a sustainable business
6. Plan and manage a sustainable business
7. Build the commitment of the workforce to sustainable practices
8. Operate and market a business that supports sustainable practices
9. Operate an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable business
10. Prevent ozone depleting substance and synthetic greenhouse gas emissions
11. Develop team understanding and commitment to sustainability
12. Cost and quote sustainable service provision
13. Communicate and market sustainable living solutions
14. Contribute to sustainable solutions over a building’s life cycle
Industry-led examples of accredited short course training for domestic builders:
1. Master Builders Association of Victoria (VET-based training)
• Green Living Building - Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures (2-day training course)
• Certificate IV Building and Construction (Environmental Management)
2. Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia – Green Skills for Plumbers (VET-based training)
University examples:
1. Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program, Technical Design Portfolio: Whole System Design Suite: Elements of Applying a Whole Systems Design Approach (1-10)25, for the purposes of this research, specifically Units 4 & 5 (July 2007). Complementary training is offered from an engineering and design approach using a very thorough example of systems theory and application as developed for training application across industry sectors. Funding for this project was provided by the Australian Federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) under the Education for Sustainability Grants Program. The publication has been co-published by The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) and Earthscan in association with UNESCO and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).
2. Curtin University, ‘Building Sciences 201’ training offers a 2-hour course.
3. The RMIT Sustainable Built Environment Programme aims to reduce the environmental impacts of the built environment through development of tools, strategies, advisory services and professional development courses, such as the Life Cycle Assessment short course. It addresses a range of environmental issues from energy efficiency and water conservation through to environmentally preferable materials and waste avoidance during construction.
Non-accredited training for builders
VET Non-accredited short course:
1. Gordon Institute of TAFE, Air Barrier Technologies, includes building science, blower door air leakage testing and other technologies to support energy efficiency testing for residential buildings.
Industry led short courses:
1. HIA – Green Smart Building (2-day training course)
2. Green Building Council Australia – only commercial and multi-unit residential
3. Ecospecifier offers a few training options:
• Executive Directions – Developing Intelligence in Green Building Solutions is an in-house program with a number of flexible delivery options to rapidly improve green building intelligence across a whole organisation.
• Deliver Materials Intelligence Yourself – Building Green is a series of 28 modules, divided into 4 core units, complete with PowerPoint presentations, eco-priority guides and reference texts. An ideal education solution for a firm on how to apply new knowledge in product, materials and technology selection for building design, specification and construction.
• Educational PowerPoint presentations – various PowerPoint presentations presented by David Baggs, Technical Director for Ecospecifier, are available for purchase.
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The Australian Context The Australian Context
Resources to support green residential building
1. Your home – a suite of consumer and technical guide materials and tools supported by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts.
2. RMIT Sustainable Materials Program
3. A range of energy rating standards and tools, including Green Star, Building Sustainability Index (BASIX), The National Construction Code, NABERS and, are turning these drivers into tangible measuring tools in the marketplace.
4. Environmental Design Guide published by Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) on behalf of a coalition of building design professionals
In summary, the lowest level national sustainability training, being Certificate I–II, offers an introduction to sustainable work practices and is currently the only requirement in the construction sector. Again, this doesn’t target the whole house (systems) approach to sustainability, but targets day-to-day work activities and resource efficiency in relation to work practices and site management. The unit titled ‘Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures’ could be updated from the perspective of the builder/project manager to include more aspects of building science and a systems approach. The related tradespeople must also have building science and systems thinking in addition to specific training requirements directly related to tasks being carried out to ensure the building is built sustainably, conserves energy and is also energy efficient. A major priority area is the immediate need for a consistent language, concepts and training approach to be used across the sectors from design through to consumer education. This consistent use of language, theory and application will support a more efficient and successful transition from concept design stages, energy analysis, structural and landscape design, construction, post-construction performance testing and comparison through to occupant use.
Although accredited sustainability training for the built environment, including specific units of competency, exist at the national level, at this stage there is not a consistent whole systems approach to sustainability across the industry sectors based on building science theory and application. Therefore, the project management role could be the most logical role, ideally bridging the divide between design, construction, occupation, and follow-up post-construction energy performance testing. The builders or project managers must be supported by tradespeople in order to build a high-efficiency building; therefore, the builders or project managers would require the appropriate knowledge and skills to apply to the construction process based on their area of responsibility. In addition, an as-built post-construction energy performance rating system could be used by building practitioners to test the actual performance of the building and then used as a consistent benchmarking system to communicate the energy performance of these quality homes to the wider community.
SWOT analysis of Australian building industry training for energy efficiency and sustainability:Strengths• Most of the national industry training for the built environment related to these concepts is developed
and managed by one group, CPSISC.
• Australian experts are available to guide training development and delivery.
• Industry has accepted resource efficiency and sustainable practices as business as usual.
• Industry is beginning to recognise that energy efficiency is becoming a market opportunity
• Government has a bi-partisan agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with buildings being one of the biggest opportunities.
• Manufacturers are freely producing technical manuals and videos to increase awareness, to up skill practitioners and demonstrate application techniques.
Weaknesses• Variations in energy ratings, product availability, construction methods, costs, etc., are resulting in
fragmented training and confusion across Australia.
• A lack of accredited training and support resources to support the development of knowledge and skills, such as:
- Integrated project delivery based on a whole systems approach
- Building science
- On-site mentoring for tradespeople to learn on the job
- Demonstration projects or display centres
- Post-construction performance testing.
• A lack of flexible industry training to support a foundation-level understanding of energy efficiency principles and practices through building science and whole systems approaches and cost benefit analysis. These are critical training components required to meet reductions in energy demand management, integrated design and application of complementary technologies.
• Lack of an industry guide, standard, or strategy to support zero-energy residential construction through product selection, cost benefit analysis, and improved construction techniques.
Opportunities• Continuing professional development drivers in both government and industry to support training.
• Potential to build on existing CPSISC training for the emerging workforce.
• These training opportunities support the practitioners’ businesses by reducing risk, increasing market advantage, and reducing business costs through efficiency gains.
• A large industry with positive returns on investment for efficiency gains through improved construction methods.
• Development of flexible or alternative training delivery or professional development methods for industry practitioners who are time poor.
• Recognition of practitioners with the required knowledge and skills to perform job requirements to reduce energy demand and increase energy efficiency.
• Construction of safe, healthy and durable high-efficiency and zero-energy homes by using knowledge and skills based on:
- Whole systems
- Energy efficiency principles and practices based on building science
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The Australian Context
- Techniques and material selection to construct tight building envelopes to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions
- Indoor air quality standards to ensure adequate ventilation to protect workers’ and occupants’ health by minimising exposure to harmful contaminates
- Best practice selection and application of high-efficiency/green products and services.
- International best practice industry standards and training
- Opportunities to go beyond current industry regulations, instead of being unprepared and lagging behind competitors
• Tradespeople, builders, and assessors can educate consumers on reduced running costs through construction opportunities.
Threats• Lack of industry metrics, benchmarks and improvement targets to meet the demand for high
performance homes and future demand for zero-energy housing, ensuring opportunities are executed as common practice to support safe, healthy, durable and high-efficiency homes and recognition of building best practices based on post-construction building performance.
• Lack of an industry accreditation system for building practitioners, resulting in an increasing number of inappropriately trained practitioners installing new technology without effective enforcement, certification, accreditation or verification, leading to faulty installations and inefficient systems.
• Low continuing professional development (CPD) participation, a lack of participant demand for face-to-face training due to time restraints, lack of requirements/incentives/resources to support CPD in the building industry.
• A lack of take up of integrated project delivery opportunities at the design stage resulting in below optimal efficiency gains due to a lack of contributions from builders and tradespeople during design to plan for practical strategies and solutions for energy efficiency.
• Given the low number of education practitioners in this area, there is a shortage of qualified trainers to train current and future trades and builders to support efficiency opportunities.
• Lack of post-construction building performance testing, reporting and verification to ensure homes are being built to high efficiency standards
• Government initiatives in this industry may be seen as high risk for building practitioners due to past national program failures related to green buildings or energy efficiency opportunities.
• Lack of awareness and return on investment related to reduced energy demand opportunities and energy efficiency gains among homeowners, renters, mortgage lenders, valuation experts, and real estate agents.
Identifying the Skills Deficiencies
The current skills deficiencies on which this particular research is focused are outlined in this section to offer industry stakeholders insight into why the research is being undertaken leading to the research conclusions and recommendations. In Australia, there are a few peak bodies providing training in the area of high performance sustainable building with even fewer offering domestic green building training specific to tradespeople, project and site managers, builders and developers, and energy specialists. The most closely related training is based on the unit of competency, ‘Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures’, which could meet demand with a further integration of building science. Currently, the training is an introduction to passive design, home sustainability approaches and material selection. What is required is accredited training for the domestic construction sector to support a whole systems approach to sustainable housing using building science as a foundation and integrated project management, including trade specific knowledge and skills, supporting technology integration for energy efficiency and net zero energy and, lastly, post construction home assessments.
Industry practitioners could be supported through an industry led standard to support and improve on the current minimum energy efficiency standards regulated by the ABCB for a consistent approach toward high performance and zero energy housing. Although, in order to determine if a home is actually performing as designed, post construction performance testing needs to be carried out as a monitoring method to determine if efficiency gain will be met through reduced energy demand.
Building practitioners need the required knowledge and skills to construct buildings with a tight building envelope that are energy efficient with the correct level of ventilation to avoid future liability suits, increased health risks and deterioration of our building stock. We must look at going beyond the design and introductory levels of building resource efficiency and ensure our buildings are actually constructed using methods proven to reduce energy demand and that technology is appropriately selected designed and installed, improving the overall efficiency of the structure.
1. Investigate whole system approaches and emerging trends in sustainable housing design, building, and use.
• Research, interview and observe practising institutions to investigate, analyse and record world best practice examples and case studies based on whole system approaches and emerging trends in sustainable (economic, social and environmental) housing to reduce the carbon footprint of the existing housing stock and new home markets.
Aim: To become more knowledgeable about whole system approaches using sustainability principles, cost benefit analysis and emerging trends to mitigate and adapt to climate change using innovative complementary technologies for next generation carbon positive homes.
2. Identify management skills to support sustainably built environments for renovating existing homes and building new houses.
• Collect, record and analyse project management skills and strategies for application across building and property services to support effective home sustainability audits and application of recommendations:
• Cost benefit analysis of sustainable practices and technology.
• Cost effective sustainable/passive design, product/technology selection and installation.
• Involving and upskilling tradespeople and effective end-user education.
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Identifying the Skills Deficiencies
Aim: To gain the necessary sustainability knowledge and skills for effective project management in the building and property industry to support efficient building practices and support user education of next generation homes.
3. Identify trade and professional skills required to assess and incorporate whole system approaches to sustainable housing using leading edge technology.
• Educators, tradespeople and professionals will be interviewed to identify the skill sets required to successfully apply the concepts of a whole system approach to sustainability and incorporating cost benefit analysis to cost effectively, reduce the carbon footprint of existing and new homes. The skills would include a combination of:
• Sustainable design principles understood by building practitioners
• Product selection criteria used by building practitioners
• Leading edge technological approaches applied by building practitioners, to ensure appropriately trained individuals conduct and install home sustainability and energy recommendations.
Aim: To identify potential key training areas for Vocational Education and Training in construction and property sectors to support the next generation of sustainable home renovations and the next generation of domestic building to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
4. Collect government strategies to support sustainable development.
• Collect data and information regarding government strategies supporting sustainable building and construction development based on stimulus supporting sustainable building standards.
Aim: To understand international strategies for sustainable communities based on government policy, action and incentives around domestic housing renovations and building new homes.
5. Analyseandreportfindingsrelatedtotrainingdevelopersandproviders,governmentagencies and individuals to support the development of sustainable built environments.
• Identify and differentiate the skill sets and implementation strategies based on world best practice regarding sustainable whole system approaches to domestic building.
Aim: To develop recommendations to assist the Industry Skills Councils, training providers, government agencies and professional associations to improve training relevant to property and construction services to support Australia’s transition to a low carbon economy.
Benefits to AustraliaWorkforce DevelopmentIn the recent past, Australia taught building science theory and application to building practitioners, even the concept of advanced framing or optimal value engineering highlighted in this report is not a new concept. American researchers have dated the practice to 1858 when William Bell documented these techniques. A Building Science Forum of Australia aims to work across industry practitioners to support building science theory and practice, but only the Canberra, ACT chapter is currently active.
Given the current ground swell of reports and government and industry initiatives focused on sustainability and energy efficiency, CPSISC is working to ensure training packages have the most up to date industry training standards. This report highlights the future opportunities to strategically align our training policy, regulations, and industry standards to move Australian housing into the
Identifying the Skills Deficiencies
immediate future. Currently the peak Australian body, the Green Building Council of Australia, does not offer training for the domestic green housing market, except for multi-unit residential. The Australian Government supports this market with certain resources, including a website titled Your home and technical manual for buying, renovating, and building a sustainable home, but this website is mainly directed at individuals. This is an opportunity for the national training sector to establish a standard based on world best practice skill sets capturing the competitive advantage in Australia and overseas.
In order for the Australian building sector to construct efficient housing for a low carbon economy, we must reduce confusion, make it easy and useful for our building practitioners and support industry best practice recognition. Therefore, we must work to develop partnerships across Australia to establish and implement a national strategy and/or standard to support high efficiency and zero energy housing using consistent industry language to communicate building science and efficiency principles and practices across the professional and trade sectors. This type of national green building strategy or standard would continue to strengthen and unify this sector, similar to the recent progress to nationalise the construction code and licensing. If a green building standard or strategy was developed and delivered through training it should support consistent practices across the industry. This would include:
• Designers (architecture, engineering, interior, landscape)
• Management (project, site)
• Surveyors (quantity, building, including inspectors)
• Associated tradespeople and professionals (builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, communications, etc.)
• Occupational, Health, Safety and Environmental Management
• Consultants, auditors and assessors (energy, sustainability)
• Manufacturers and suppliers
• Government agencies (planners, analysts, researchers, administrators, etc.)
• Local Government (environmental and town planning, design and re-design)
• Consumers
• Property (developers, sales and marketing).
Ideally this will support a more sustainably built housing market, through efficient whole systems design and construction, supporting the implementation of building science theory into the construction process. This would also support more effective technology and material selection and application, through the use of consistent theory, language and application allowing Australia to construct safe, durable, resource efficient, comfortable, and healthy housing.
In relation to areas of skill shortages in the building industry, these types of green jobs may attract young people and women into the sector by offering new entrants an added opportunity to positively contribute to the long term future of our economy and community. It may also provide new roles for mature tradespeople who can no longer cope with the physical demands of traditional trades, but who have extensive practical experience or those transitioning into active retirement. In addition, this field may also attract individuals who enjoy learning about and engaging in the use of new leading-edge technology.
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Indoor Air Quality: Build Tight, Vent RightThe international training delivered by the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), Houses That Work is an introduction to building science offering insight into whole systems thinking. All existing or new home developments must meet energy efficiency requirements without compromising indoor air quality or reducing the durability of the building structure, including proper techniques focused on insulation, air-sealing around windows and doors and selecting, sizing, installing and maintaining manual/mechanical ventilation systems. Techniques employed in any of these areas can have positive or negative effects on a building dependent on the selected materials, how they are applied or installed and maintained.
Understanding that a house is a system means that the whole house needs to be considered when designing and constructing a high efficiency home. If one aspect or element is changed, it will affect other areas of the house. Designers, builders, tradespeople, salespeople and consumers must understand how to select and install products most appropriate to the individual building to support:
• Tight construction
• Improved insulation opportunities
• High performance windows
• Properly designed and efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Mechanical ventilation
• Duct work in conditioned spaces and tested for leaks
• Efficient lights, water heating and appliances
• Renewable energy sources.
Industry DriversEconomic and Market IncentivesSimply stated by Jeff Melvin in the May 2008 the Building Science Corporation Newsletter:
"Sooner or later, clients are going to start paying attention. If you are designing or constructing a building you can safely assume the following: given the choice to pay more or less to the utility companies each month, most customers will choose less. As their agent, assume it is you job to get them the lowest cost possible each month. It is ok to assume this I promise you.....I would even go so far as to state that being an agent known for making these types of assumptions about clients will bring you more clients not less. And that is a good thing. Right?” 26
A recent American, Earth Advantage, study reported that, “homes with a [third-party] certification sold for more than their non-certified counterparts, both in the new home and existing home markets. New homes in the six county Portland region sold for 18% more, while existing homes with a certification sold for 23% more”. 27 Australian Bureau of Statistics survey in ACT showed each half star added approximately $4,500 USD to the sale price of an existing house (over a base price $365,000 USD). 28
Insurance Costs and Call BacksSimilarly to Australia, insurance premiums are on the rise in the USA. Homeowners insurance is not the only insurance on the rise, but liability insurance for builders and tradespeople is also increasing due to tighter building enclosures to increase energy efficiency without proper ventilation. Building science offers the opportunity for designers and practitioners to understand the issues and learn from current and past mistakes to reduce condensation issues, water leakage, mould growth, etc., leading to a
Identifying the Skills Deficiencies
more durable and comfortable home and reducing the need for call backs and insurance claims while still increasing energy efficiency.
In the USA, due to inefficient building codes and the effects of natural disasters over the last decade, insurance companies are influencing the development of building codes to support efficient and durable homes. To aid in the development of these codes, the US Department of Energy provides research opportunities related to residential housing and ongoing regional issues, such as air barriers and moisture levels related to climatic regions.
Building science offers insight and an understanding of common issues related to risk management, allowing practitioners the opportunity to mitigate or avoid common pit falls related to high performance buildings, especially those related to moisture management. The Fellow recommends much of the information published by the Building Science Corporation, often written by Joseph Lstiburek, Ph.D., P. Eng., Principal of Building Science Corporation, USA. Lstiburek has tremendous expertise in building science and the Building Science Corporation team of building science experts are sought after by the US DOE to support the Building Technologies program. The following article was published in Fine Home Building Magazine in the December 2006/January 2007 edition and is available on the Building Science Corporation website. It highlights some of the most relevant issues currently facing both the American building industry and the Australian building industry. Lstiburek’s brief six-page article titled, The Mold Explosion, Why Now?, states:
“Water can attack a house from many directions, but typically being four major sources:
• Plumbing:
- supply or waste pipes on the exterior walls
- clothes washer or water heaters on the upstairs floor
• Rain:
- poorly detailed valleys, chimneys, and roof to wall interfaces
- poorly flashed windows and doors
- no drainage plane on outside wall
- poor deck-to-wall flashing
• Surface and ground water:
- ground sloped toward house
- gutter downspouts not directed away from house
- bad footing drain details
• Interior moisture:
- vapour barrier and vinyl wall coverings
- no [or inadequate] exhaust fan in kitchen and bathroom
- poor interior ventilation
- oversized air conditioning unit.” 29
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The International Experience
This Fellowship is a great example of national collaboration across government, peak bodies and education institutions sharing information and resources and providing vital feedback to support future progress. The Fellow travelled to San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC. The Fellow’s site visits and the objectives and outcomes of these visits are listed below.
Thinking Big: A New Community DevelopmentDestination:
Site visit to SOMO: "A 200-acre, mixed-use, solar-powered, zero-waste community under development by Codding. One of the greenest neighbourhoods in the world, SOMO is the first North American community, and only the fourth in the world, endorsed by the prestigious international One Planet Communities program”. 31
Contact:
• Ryan Sakata, LEED AP, Development Assistant, Sustainability Project Assistant Codding Enterprises, Rohnert Park, CA, USA.
Objective:
The objective of this site visit was for the Fellow to meet with Sakata for a presentation and tour of the Sustainable Manufacturing Center (within the development), the Sustainable Business Cluster, Event Center, and the future development site for the mixed use residential and business community to gain insight into a world best practice green neighbourhood, including trends and opportunities.
Outcomes:
The Fellow established a comprehensive understanding of a mixed-use community development. The development provides a space where residents can live, their children can be educated, they can do their shopping, exercise and leisure activities, enjoy various forms of entertainment, community gardening, community development and work across a variety of fields, within less than one square kilometre or within five minutes of the home. The community offers many options of residential housing, all environmentally friendly, highly efficient and currently also contains a business cluster spurring the development of new products and services to advance society towards sustainability.
“The 1,694 homes will be a mix of 951 apartments and condominiums, and 743 single-family homes. The home types will be varied to include single-family (with and without granny units over garages), rowhouses, affordable-by-design homes (same design and construction, yet smaller square footages), townhouses, multi-family condos, lofts, flats and luxury homes. All will feature full amenities, energy saving designs, top-notch quality and attention to detail regardless of the price, size or style. Square footages range from 600 sq. ft. up to 4,500 sq. ft. with many choices in between. Based on 2008 market prices, homes will range from $300,000 USD upward to $3 million USD, again with many choices in between.
All new construction will utilise recycled steel framing from Sonoma Mountain Village's on-site factory, Genesis Steel Frame Solutions. The technology allows building a 2,000-sq.-ft. home with recycled steel from 6 SUVs, rather than 40 trees.” 32
Another innovative opportunity offers residents shared community access to the centralised installation of solar technology on flat industrial and office buildings to support ease of installation and maintenance for distributing energy across the businesses and homes.
“Sonoma Mountain Village continues to breathe new life into a vacated commercial business campus. Plans include 839,000 square feet of commercial, office and retail space, and the creation of 4,400 jobs. In fact, the community has already generated more than 700 jobs.” 33
He continues by stating:
"And please, don't blame mold and indoor-air quality problems on energy conservation. Yes, if houses were leaky, we wouldn't have these problems, but the answer isn't to take out the insulation and make the house leaky. The answer is to understand what went wrong, get past this issue, and build even higher-performing buildings. As a society, we can't afford to build disposable structures. People aren't disposable, and buildings shouldn't be disposable, either." 30
As this example emphasises, these issues are not only related to design, but also construction planning and quality, which vary from job to job based on the tradespeople, managers, and builders employed.
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The International Experience
The tour of SOMO offered a better understanding of the amazing example of the possibilities of a well planned community allowing individuals and families to live and work within a reasonable distance no matter their occupation. The development offers opportunities for individuals to work across a range of occupations from stage one of the development, including manufacturing, construction, professional services, technology and events. As development progresses, government offices, education centres, retail, and transportation will be developed within the community, including a light rail system to San Francisco and an entertainment precinct.
While touring the SOMO, a brief opportunity arose to speak with Michael Newell, Executive Officer of the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster and a fellow Australian. 34 The organisation’s mission is:
"To create high value jobs in the North Bay by enabling and accelerating the success of technology startups within a dynamic sustainable and synergistic environment. The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster (SMBC) is a non-profit business incubator specialising in sustainable resources and socially-relevant technologies. Its function is to assist entrepreneurs and startup companies in achieving success through provision of:
• mentoring and coaching
• a supportive service network
• an intellectual and entrepreneurial environment
• educational and networking events
• contact to investment capital
• an affordable full-featured physical infrastructure." 35
In comparison, some Australian communities have schools, shopping, public transport and services within walking distance, although it is often increasingly more difficult to work close to home. One of the most effective ways of reducing an individual’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is by living within a close proximity to work. Reduced travel time to and from work also has a positive social impact for social, leisure and sport activities, entertainment and the opportunity to contribute time to the local community.
In relation, a majority of professional services, education and government jobs are located in the central business districts of Australian capital cities or jobs are isolated in industrial and manufacturing centres. The tour of SOMO offered insight into alternatives. For example, if employees can’t live closer to their employers, the employers can support flexible work hours, such as a four day work week, utilisation of technology allowing more opportunities to work closer to home or at home. This continues to become a growing concern as young people struggle to enter the housing market and can often only afford homes in the outer suburbs. This is also the time these young people begin to start a family, which places additional undue pressure on families, especially with two working parents. Through urban and community planning opportunities within local government in conjunction with state and regional development and strong relationships with local business networks or attracting new enterprises, as well as community engagement, Australia could build capacity to create more sustainable long term opportunities.
A comparable Australian development is the Barangaroo Development Authority being developed by Lend Lease in New South Wales. 36 It is a similar revitalisation project and is the only one in Australia and one of only 10 globally-recognised projects endorsed internationally by One Planet Communities. 37 It is a vacant 22-hectare former industrial site on Sydney Harbour that will become a climate-positive community. The project has begun with an opportunity to support “employment and training, through a green skilling and labour program, [and] includes programs that exceed government targets for indigenous, long-term unemployed and youth". 38
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Greyfield Land: Community RedevelopmentDestination:
CPDA, Capital Riverfront, one of the largest American developments, focused on the redevelopment of Washington’s Canal Park, Washington, DC. 39 40
Canal Park Development Association oversees the re-development of “The Capitol Riverfront, this is the first new mixed-use neighbourhood emerging from the larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, a partnership between the District of Columbia and federal agencies to revitalise neighbourhoods, enhance and protect parks, improve water quality, and increase access to Washington's Anacostia River. The Capitol Riverfront neighbourhood forms the core of this emerging urban waterfront” 41
Contact:
• Christopher VanArsdale, JD, LEED AP, Executive Director, CPDA.
Objective:
The objective of this site visit was for the Fellow to meet with VanArsdale to gain insight into a developer’s perspective of whole systems theory and approaches to sustainable housing, as well as government policy, incentives and industry influences in the area of green building, this included where the market is going and the knowledge and skills required to meet industry expectations. VanArsdale oversees the re-development of the Washington Canal Park. He is a mayoral appointee to the Sustainable Energy Utility Advisory Board and a D.C. Council appointee to the Green Building Advisory Council, overseeing DC’s new Sustainable Energy Utility and Green Building Act, respectively. Prior to joining CPDA, VanArsdale developed multi-unit residential buildings with a focus on energy and resource efficiency, healthy interiors, and renewable energy systems.
Outcomes:
A much appreciated discussion with VanArsdale, offered an overview of the revitalisation of Canal Park, being an opportunity to re-develop existing underutilised areas in Washington, D.C. often referred to as ‘greyfields’ or ‘brownfields’. In the USA, Greyfields are underutilised areas of land; brownfields are specifically underutilised commercial or industrial areas of land often contaminated, requiring an environmental cleanup of hazardous waste and pollutants before being redeveloped. The development is focused on pre-fabricated net zero energy homes, solar gain based design, a tight and well insulated building envelope, utilisation of the correct windows, the most suitable mechanical systems for heating and cooling, green plumbing technology and energy efficient lighting and appliances. In addition the development focuses on homeowner education and behavioural change.
Education: Hands-on Training
VanArsdale offered the Fellow a glimpse of insight into his extensive expertise and involvement in green building programs both personally and professionally. The Fellow and VanArsdale discussed the opportunities specific to residential builders offered by the Green Building Institute and Green Advantage. The Green Building Institute offers an education, training and certification program for contractors, builders and sub-contractors through hands-on activities. For example, current training is offered on the proper installation of insulation, alongside understanding and applying moisture barriers and ventilation.
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The Green Building Institute formed four years ago to support builders, contractors and energy raters in Maryland and D.C. They currently provide training on Building Performance and points based rating schemes using theories to plan buildings and identify opportunities based on specific questions, which they have found is often more useful for developers and designers.
VanArsdale emphasised that green building is not only dependent on good design based on the whole systems approach, but that it is also dependant upon an understanding of the impacts and opportunities of product selection and proper integration of the selected materials. It is also dependant on ensuring that contractors and tradespeople are supported through training and education. Training and education is crucial for tradespeople and professionals in the industry to ensure a solid understanding of the processes involved in a systems approach and integrated project management, ensuring tasks are completed in a specific order for the most optimal outcomes and effective implementation of the design. This often requires onsite training and communication between designers and building practitioners, but most importantly, the project manager and/or site manager must also be well versed in this methodology, all while ensuring the tradespeople involved increase their knowledge and skills on the job.
In terms of construction scheduling, in the USA the site construction process typically begins with the frame, then insulation, then mechanical installations, electrical installations and so on. Given the order, the insulation is often moved out of the way for the electrical and mechanical installations, leading to adverse outcomes. This type of scheduling typically comes at a cost to the homeowner due to a lack of tightness in the building envelope; this reduces the efficiency of the insulation and leads to inefficiency (in terms of energy efficiency) within the home. VanArsdale stated that all tradespeople should have an understanding of building science and a systems approach to building homes to ensure an efficient project with optimal results. He further explained that overall, the building system is interrelated and each trade has the potential to impact negatively, positively or neutrally on the system. But given that tradespeople are often only involved in their component, the impacts are more often negative than positive. Tradespeople and professionals need to fully understand the interrelationship of these components that make up the whole system to fully understand how their component has the potential
Above: Example of increased R value based on insulation type – NOTE this is a USA-based R value system, SMUD E-House.
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to impact on the entire house. In high-efficiency building, especially net zero energy, it is crucial to have a person across the project that understands the theory and how it must be applied to flag issues and ensure not only an efficient construction process, but also to achieve the most efficiency gains, typically through integrated project delivery.
Government Legislation and Incentives
VanArsdale concluded our discussion by elaborating on the way the American building industry has greatly improved in recent years with respect to improved energy efficiency and high performance or green buildings. VanArsdale explained that this is due to greening the building codes, providing incentives to industry, businesses, and homeowners, providing education and training programs and providing industry certification through a variety of methods.
Recommended Resources
1. Building Science Corporation 42
2. Passiv Haus Institute 43
3. Building Green 44
4. Green Building Institute 45
5. Building Performance Institute 46
Australian Opportunity
• Education and training for integrated project delivery, management and trades on building sciences and whole systems approach to high performance buildings.
• Hands-on training and mentoring on the job site.
• Building codes: reducing potential code barriers and increasing implementation through feedback loops.
Working Together: Researchers, Industry, Educators and GovernmentDestination:
US DOE, Washington, D.C.
Contacts:
The following contact that the Fellow met with during the Fellowship program were representatives from the Building Technologies Program, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Building America Program, US DOE, Washington, DC:
• George James (new homes)
• Terry Logee (existing homes)
• Lew Pratsch (zero-energy homes).
Objectives:
The Fellow met with US DOE to gain insights into current government policy and programs related to research, incentives and training opportunities with regard to residential housing and zero energy building programs:
• Building Technologies Program
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• Building America Program
• Builders Challenge, YouTube 47
• Net-Zero Energy Homes
• Zero Energy Homes, Solar Energy Technologies Program
• ENERGY STAR Products
• EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), YouTube 48
US DOE supports research on building science, energy innovation and efficiency opportunities with builders, engineers, energy and environmental experts:
“The US DOE's Building America Program provides tested opportunities to enhance energy performance in new and existing homes. This program assists builders to construct progressively more efficient homes leading to net-zero energy homes being constructed across the United States by 2020. The current energy efficiency government target is a home using half the energy of a mid-90s code home or approximately a HERS of 50 or lower” 49 without adding additional costs for the homeowner or developer.
The US DOE Government Policy to 2012 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program is working toward increasing the energy efficiency of existing and new homes as well as increasing the use of renewable energy to reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies. 50 The US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program supports the initiatives outlined in this section. 51 The US DOE Target 2020 for existing homes focuses on moisture issues in relation to sealing houses for energy efficiency gains.
Outcomes:
Government Policy and Incentives
The Fellow reviewed and discussed the DOE’s partnerships, supporting the National Building Technologies Programs through research, application, training, and incentives to support America’s transition from energy efficiency to zero energy homes. 52 Research programs use a system engineering approach to reducing energy consumption, first by conserving as much energy as possible through efficiency gains, then by selecting the appropriate technologies to complement the system. 53
The current program rolled out in 2010 by the US DOE, the Building Technologies Program, calls upon builders to support the US DOE Builders Challenge, an effort to build 220,000 high-performance homes by 2012. 54 The next step in the challenge is to support builders to build affordable zero-net energy homes through initiatives with other organisations and education and training as described in detail online.
Residential Building Programs and Incentives:
• "Building Technologies Program funds research and technology to reduce residential energy use.
• Better Buildings partners with states, local governments, and organizations who received funding to ramp-up energy efficiency building retrofits in their communities.
• Building America residential research works to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes. The goal is to reduce average housing energy use by 40% to 100%.
• Builders Challenge provides marketing and technical support to builders of energy performance homes.
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• Building Energy Codes Program provides information on national model energy codes for homes, promotes stronger building energy codes, and helps states adopt, implement, and enforce those codes.
• US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost effective, energy efficient, and attractive.
• Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
• [US ENERGY STAR] Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards develop test procedures and minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances." 55
US DOE Builders Challenge
How the Builders Challenge will transform the housing market:
• By providing Building America research results and marketing tools so builders can take the Challenge to build and sell cost-neutral, high-performance homes that are third-party qualified to ensure the best energy efficiency, comfort, construction, and indoor environmental quality on the market.
• By driving consumer demand through national outreach surrounding the E-Scale so all Americans can easily understand energy performance and costs when shopping for a new home.
• By partnering with programs, non-profit organizations, real estate organizations, lenders, utilities, and state and local governments to leverage and expand the existing green buildings infrastructure.
• By creating other mechanisms such as a design competition to increase the supply of high performance home plans.
• By recognizing and rewarding participants who contribute to a critical mass of high-performance homes, through awards. 56
“The Builders Challenge is helping to change the face of home energy efficiency by promoting the technical pathways to cost-effective, high performance home construction, and by recognizing the industry leaders who maximize home energy performance. National partnerships with leading green building programs, including NAHB's National Green Building Program™, USGBC's LEED for Homes program, and Masco's Environments for Living®, enable builders to easily get multiple certifications and the recognition and differentiation they deserve for building the most durable, comfortable, and highest performing homes on the market. Research programs and third-party verifiers, including [US] DOE's Building America, Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), and Southface ensure that the best whole-house energy solutions developed in the laboratory are translated and installed properly in the field. Real estate, utility, local government, financial, educational, manufacturing, and media partners create a network of locally available support to make it happen where it counts!” 57
Research
Building Technologies Program:
The US DOE currently has six national laboratories involved in extensive scientific and technical research and design encouraging building practitioners to contribute to support practical application of technologies and improved building practices. The principal laboratories involved in the Building Technologies Program's research and development are:
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• Argonne National Laboratory
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• National Energy Technology Laboratory
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Education
A consistent approach across the organisations the Fellow met with was education to support the workforce to have a solid understanding of building science principles. These essential principles and practical solutions allow industry practitioners to mitigate risks and attain efficiency gains, especially by applying techniques to ensure gains are attained through quality construction methods. The Building America program supporters building science education to ensure practitioners have the skills to design and construct high performance, healthy, and durable homes of the future. The US DOE website offers, “information about university-level curricula and other resources based on the latest advances in building science, including building science and engineering, construction management, and design/construction documentation”. 58
The US DOE Building America certification program supports training to certify builders’ residential buildings based on post-construction performance measurements and monitors targets aimed at increasing the efficiency of new homes.
The US DOE supports training providers such as the NAHB Research Center, USGBC and EEBA to provide training to industry practitioners, manufacturers, contractors, and others in the construction and sales supply chain. Most of these organisations offer online and face to face workshops for ½ day, 1 day and 2 day advanced training, as well as mentorships. In addition to training for builders, tradespeople and related industry partners, the US DOE also develops and supports ongoing training for RESNET US Home Energy Rating System (HERS) inspectors to inspect new and existing homes.
NAHB Research Center develops and delivers training to support the Green Building Program and rating scheme for building practitioners aligned with the US EPA ENERGY STAR Ratings for homes. They also support energy efficiency retrofits and new incentives, such as tax credits. They certify Home Inspection Auditors (not energy auditors), but there is currently a lack of certified professionals and more training is needed to meet the demand. (For additional information, please see the section on National Green Building Standard, page 35, NAHB Research Center within this section)
USGBC offer online modules for training inspectors specialising in LEED for homes. Typically the market also sets the cost for home inspections, which is usually $425 USD for energy modelling and a performance test for a US HERS rated home and typically $700 USD for custom-built homes. (For additional information, please see the section on Industry Led Continuing Professional Development, page 47, USGBC within this section)
EEBA offers training for new and existing homes on building science topics targeted across industry sectors, but mainly for builders, contractors and sub-contractors or tradespeople. (For additional information, please see the section on Building Science, page 40, EEBA ‘House that Work Section’ within this section)
The Building Performance Institute supports existing training through affiliates, such as community colleges, certifying energy measurement diagnostics, combustion heating, standards and accreditation to train others.
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Affordable Comfort Institute offers weatherisation programs for low-income housing and private market home performance support based on the EPA ENERGY STAR Standards and rating program and they also provide industry conferences and training programs.
Certification
The US HERS standards is a program to support confirmed or post-construction home energy ratings for comparison, supported by the US DOE through RESNET. 59
The HERS training supports a ‘train the trainers’ program to develop home energy assessors’ skills to identify homes that meet the national standards set out by the ENERGY STAR Program. The ENERGY STAR Program was established in 1995 focused on energy and water efficiency, and indoor air quality through a home certification and labelling opportunity.
A HERS index has been developed as a metric system to compare housing energy efficiency after construction or the confirmed rating:
“The HERS Index is a scoring system established by RESNET in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home's score, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.
Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20% more energy efficient.” 60
Above and left: Building Envelop testing tools, PG&E Lending Library
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E-Scale:
The EnergySmart Home Scale allows homes to be compared based on the HERS rating, as well as the potential annual home energy savings and a visual example of the amount of energy saving across the USA in relation to the bigger picture. In order to be certified as a Builders Challenge Home, a house must:
“Receive a rating of 70 or better on the E-Scale; build to a climate-appropriate Technology Information Package; or comply with a Challenge Partner Program-like the National Green Building Program - at a specified level… The E-Scale is an objective rating system to help buyers understand a particular home’s energy efficiency in comparison to others. A 70 on the E-Scale, for example, indicates that a home is 30% more energy efficient than a typical new home built to code. Builders place E-Scale labels on the power panels of qualifying Builders Challenge homes.” 61
Typically an existing home rates at 150, a HERS referenced home built to building codes rates at 100 and a home with a rating of 0 is classed as a Net Zero Energy Home. The interactive E-Scale tool is available online. 62
Collaboration
The US DOE collaborates with other government agencies, such as the US EPA, to create joint programs. For example:
• ENERGY STAR for Homes Program, focusing on energy efficiency and consumption. The program is based on a verification process completed through an ENERGY STAR inspection; inspectors are certified through the RESNET Standards training offered by accredited providers.
• Indoor airPLUS label for qualified homes is linked to the ENERGY STAR for Homes program. This program is based on a verification process completed during the ENERGY STAR inspection and inspectors learn how to inspect for air quality as part of the RESNET Standards training.
Noted Discussions during the site visit
• Moisture related issues and inadequate/oversized HVAC applications are ongoing
• Conditioned Services: ensuring services like AC and heating are in conditioned spaces like sealed and insulated attics and soybean spray foam insulations are increasing in demand.
• Mechanical air ventilation: controlled use of exhaust fans and circulated ventilation drawing air from the outdoors are also on the rise.
• Insulation: 4 inches of spray foam insulation is being applied to external walls, but in some regions this is increasing the moisture issues inside homes, which has become a new challenge.
• Rain barriers: increased focus on proper installation of windows, including placement, and flashing application inside and out, is a current industry challenge.
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Recommended Resources
• Building America (climate specific) Best Practice Series of handbooks for homeowners, managers, marketers, site planners, designers, site supervisors, and tradespeople to reach 30% or more in energy savings 63
• Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades 64
• Weatherization Program
• Existing Home Energy Upgrades
• Moisture Control Handbook
National Green Building StandardDestination:
NAHB Research Center, Upper Marlboro, MD
Contacts:
• Michelle Desiderio, Director of Green Building Programs, NAHB.
• Robert L. Hill, P.E., EQA, Director of Laboratory Sciences and Certification Programs, NAHB.
• Amber Wood, Program Manager, Energy Efficiency, NAHB.
Objective:
The Fellow met with the NAHB Research Center program coordinators to discuss the NAHB National Green Building Program including a national standard and training for builders and verifiers, including a tour of the research testing facility. The testing facility included a Wind-Blown Rain Chamber that tests:
• ASTM E283 – Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Difference
• ASTM E330 – Structural Performance Of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Pressure Difference
• ASTM E331 – Determining Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Pressure Difference’.
Right: Example of the contents and stakeholder groups included in the Building America Best Practice Series.
Right: Wind-Blown Rain Chamber
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Outcomes:
NAHB Research Center supports one third of their center to focus on market research with the other two thirds focusing on systems testing in a large laboratory setting. Their aim is to reduce barriers by holding focus groups and having visitors into the laboratory using an observation deck overlooking the lab, which is large enough to hold a two story home. It's equipped with cameras on all the building beams and on hard hats used by researchers. They conduct field-testing and communicate outcomes publicly.
In 2005, the NAHB Research Center developed a National Green Building Standard recognised by the International Code Council and the American National Standards Institute. The development was, and continues to be, guided by a consensus committee made up of 42 members with stakeholders from relevant government agencies and industry, such as the US DOE, US EPA, USGBC, and three builders. The development of the National Green Building Standard continues to be a fair and open process that is very transparent. In 2009, the members approved those sections of the standard which are mandatory, and since then, have continued to approve optional items, in comparison with the USGBC standard, LEED for homes, which has fewer requirements, but more of them are mandatory.
Research
The NAHB Research Center evaluated the costs and technical requirements of two sample code-compliant production houses in different climate zones in January of 2008 based on three different green building rating systems, being the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, the National Green Building Standard version 2, and LEED for Homes, the report is available online, titled Green Home Building Rating Systems - A Sample Comparison. 65
NAHB Research Center completed a study, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, released in February 2006 by the US DOE National Research Energy Laboratory. 66 This study assessed the potential impact of zero energy homes (ZEH) on the single family housing market and residential energy consumption through 2050 based on technology, market analysis supporting the penetration of ZEH, financial and tax incentives, and policy development. The study results identified that ZEH are currently technically feasible and in time, “if cost trends continue and research milestones are accomplished in solar and efficiency technologies, ZEH will eventually become economically competitive with conventional construction when utility costs are included in the cost of home ownership”. 67
Above: NAHB Research Center Laboratory overview from observation deck. Cameras are located at every angle, even on the hardhats, for demonstration purposes to view on displays screens.
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Education
The NAHB Research Center advised that in 2010, there were 380 verified inspectors in 49 states as part of the Green Verifier Program. Verifier training is an online demand-style training that takes a half day to complete with two pass/fail test opportunities. The training offered to verifiers does not provide green building science or residential construction training; participants are required to already have this knowledge. Once the online training is completed, individuals must pass the exam, then complete a Verifier Agreement and provide evidence of insurance before being fully accredited and authorised to conduct inspections. It then can take up to 90 days to become a certified verifier and the current cost is $125 USD for training and certification, including listing each verifier’s contact details online for one year.
Verifiers are also expected to renew their accreditation every 12 months. The renewal requires maintaining the appropriate insurance requirements, being current on continuing education requirements, submitting verification reports that meet expectations, and payment of the annual fee. 68
National course fees are determined by the NAHB:
• Green Building for Building Professionals Course Fees are $420 USD for members and $630 USD for non-members
• Business Management for Building Professionals Course Fees are $220 USD for members and $330 USD for non-members.
• Graduation Fees are $145 USD for members and $218 USD for non-members.
• Annual Renewal Fees are $55 USD for members and $83 USD for non-members.
Continuing Education Requirements:
To maintain a NAHB Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation, individuals are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education every three years from building industry related educational activities. A minimum of eight hours is required to come from green building industry related educational activities. 69
Available Training:
• Master Certified Green Professional Training: This training is exclusively for experienced builders and remodelers offering an in-depth study of green building science and methods.
• Advanced Green Building (Building Science): This is a two-day course for builders and remodelers using case studies, detailed construction drawings and resources from GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, NAHB, and BuildingGreen, LLC.
• Advanced Green Building (Project Management): This two-day course teaches builders and remodelers how to successfully integrate green building-related tasks and the green home certification process into their project management to create an effective, streamlined process. Using the whole-house approach to building, this course identifies important documents and methods of communication in order to clarify who does what and when.
• Green Building for Building Professionals: implementing cost-effective green building into construction practices begins with up-front planning that examines the whole house and the building science behind it. In this two-day course, individuals learn how to apply the ANSI-approved National Green Building Standard™ in the construction of a new home, remodel, site development or multifamily project. With a focus on flexibility and a sound knowledge base, the course provides the tools for a successful green project.
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Certification and Verification
NAHB Certified Green Professional (CGP)
In order to become a CGP, individuals must meet and continue to comply with the following requirements.
• Required Courses
• Green Building for Building Professionals Certificate
• Business Management for Building Professionals, or Basics of Building, or hold an National Home Builders designation
• Other Requirements
• Have a minimum of two years of building industry experience
• Submit a signed CGP Code of Ethics
• Complete and return the graduation application
The NAHB National Green Building Standard (GBS):
Builders and verifiers can utilise an online Green Scoring Tool prior to and during development to determine negative and positive contributions to the construction to support attainment of a certification post-construction. 70 Six categories making up a rating matrix including single, multi, land development, existing and new home and was developed based on the turbo tax software used by many Americans to file their annual taxes electronically. There is a major score reduction for any home over 4,000 square feet equivalent to about 370 square meters to deter unnecessarily large homes from being constructed.
Green certified homes are expected to incorporate green practices in six categories:
• Lot & Site Development
• Resource Efficiency
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Operation, Maintenance and Owner Education
(See Attachment 2: NGBS Scoring for New Construction Overview)
Ratings are typically higher if the builder has input into design, site layout and quality management systems in place to support high performance homes and to manage change efficiently, such as changes to the building codes, mandates, and best practice opportunities.
Once a project is scored using the Green Scoring Tool, the next step in the building certification process is to contact an approved verifier to enter into an agreement on fees and a scope of services. 71 The hired verifier discusses inspection and documentation needs, including a completed Designer Report home application. 72 This enforcement process ensures the building has been constructed using the Green Building Standard, as verified by a third-party assessor.
Performance testing can be conducted for any of the 4 levels. Cost is typically $200 – $500 USD per house for multiple homes plus $20 USD per unit. Reports are completed in Excel and printed for builders to review to correct mistakes to ensure all opportunities are carried out as construction progresses.
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Certifications levels include:
• Bronze = 222 points required (Potential alignment to the ENERGY STAR Label)
• Silver = 406 points required and must meet all mandatory checklist requirements
• Gold = 558 points required
• Emerald = 697 point required
Buildings are certified by an independent third-party verifier trained by the NAHB. Accredited verifiers conduct assessments through visual inspections, typically at two stages, at the end of the frame stage, but prior to the plaster being applied, and then upon construction completion.
Verifiers must remain independent of the building process, meaning they are not allowed to:
• conduct any work on the house
• be employed by anyone involved in work on the house
• supply any products used in the house
However, they can conduct assessments for multiple ratings using other tools, such as LEED for Homes and HERS ratings for certification of an US EPA ENERGY STAR.
Collaboration
Dual Certification: The NAHB also works with the US DOE offering a Dual Certification with the Builders Challenge program and the National Green Building Standard supporting the development of net-zero energy homes nationwide by 2030 by providing a standardised metric for whole-house energy performance to increase consumer understanding and builder credibility. 73 In 2011, over 5200 units and lots had been certified green. (See Attachment 1: Builders Challenge Dual Certification Overview.)
Awards
The NAHB in partnership with the US DOE reward and promote builders through an annual National Green Building Awards program, EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA). 74 (For additional information, please see section AWARDING BEST PRACTICE, Construction: NAHB and US DOE, EVHA see attachment 3)
Noted Discussions
The Fellow discussed the following with Desiderio, Wood and Hill during the site visit to the NAHB Research Center.
Areas easy to implement: energy and water efficiency are quantifiable and easy to measure, monitor and compare, therefore, easier to understand and integrate into current practice.
Industry challenges:
• Incentives and building codes in support of green building practices are still required to increase demand.
• Housing costs can often create barriers to the National Green Building Standard being used.
• Application of new technology is not widely done, unless it is well researched and builders trust it, due to liability and risks, which is the aim of the laboratory testing and certification facility onsite.
• Often poor site layouts are being selected prior to builders becoming involved in the project causing
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barriers to the certification process.
• Indoor air quality is an ongoing challenge, although it is becoming easier to meet the requirements as builders learn how to implement opportunities to support the ideal number of air changes per hour through working with contractors and incorporating mechanical ventilation systems.
Industry Barriers:
• Green building and standards have already become a standard practice; therefore, new targets will need to be set.
• Often the multitude of processes and different building standards makes it difficult to choose one, and is often overwhelming, labelled too hard or just too much to deal with, or considered too expensive.
• Availability of products and lack of options.
• The complexity of an integrated system can be a barrier if it is not fully understood.
Recommended Resources
• Online Green Scoring Tool.
• How to verify – to become familiar with the process.
• Approved products – to streamline product selection.
Australian Opportunity
If this type of standard was applied in Australia, it would sit nicely with the mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency, ENERGY STAR ratings and these inspections could be aligned to coincide with building surveyor inspections.
Building ScienceDestination:
EEBA, Sacramento, CA, USA
Objective:
Participate in two day training: Houses That Work – Building Sciences, with EEBA Trainer Justin Wilson: 75
A building science systems approach to domestic housing offered to anyone in the industry from tradespeople, developers, sales manufacturers, designers, etc. The Fellow participated in the training to gain insight into building science and the impacts of the flow of air, moisture and temperature when designing, installing and using various products and insulation, mechanical systems and energy, especially when high performance houses increase competition for air and people are spending more time indoors.
Outcomes:
EEBA’s Justin Wilson offered highly valuable training on building science in relation to residential housing, as well as an overview of the American housing market for high performance homes. The Fellow gained insights into why energy efficiency opportunities were undone due to skills gaps typically
Below: EEBA Logo.
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involving the improper installation, application and use of materials, or most often simply selecting the wrong materials for the job.
Opportunities to support a high performance building include:
• Advanced Framing Techniques: objective of using less wood materials while ensuring structural objectives and increasing the opportunities for insulation resulting in increased R values within the structure.
• Indoor air quality and mechanical ventilation: negative air pressure and indoor air quality issues are becoming a concern related to reduced air flow as building envelops are constructed with very little air leakage for efficiency gains. This building air tightness is leading to an increased requirement for mechanical ventilation systems to support adequate fresh air infiltration, improving indoor air quality.
• New materials: new materials such as spray foam insulation, insulated concrete forms or structural insulated panels (SIPs) are contributing to increased construction efficiency, increased operational efficiency, as well as being more durable over longer periods of time.
Above: Example of a two-stud corner and plasterboard clips to reduce typical cold spots by increasing insulation, SMUD E-House.
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Above: Icynene Insulation System, an example of a highly energy efficient spray foam insulation used to create a continuous air barrier, improving energy management due to an airtight building envelope.
Above: Example of a SIPs panel with wiring, SMUD E-House.
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Education
The following outline is from the two day EEBA Houses that Work™ training. It has been condensed from the original Curriculum Outline to highlight notable sections for the purpose of this report.
Curriculum Outline
Learning objectives
• House is a system
• What is the business case?
• Pathway to change
- Why a House That Works?
- What is a House That Works (HTW)?
• A home that’s: Safe, Durable, Healthy, Comfortable, Efficient
- Efficient to build
- Efficient use of resources
Basic Building Science
• Forces of nature
• Heat, features
• Air and Moisture
• The principles and strategies for a HTW
The Building Process
• Site
• The Enclosure – separating the inside from the outside:
- Foundation systems
- Creating a wall system using design, cost and performance
- Water management
- Window and door selection & installation
- Insulation
- Thermal Components of Walls
- Interior wall materials
• Putting it all together
- The Roof
- Thermal Enclosure Wrap up
- Mechanical Systems – providing comfortable indoor environments
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Recommended Resources
• EEBA Builder’s Guides – Various Climates 76
• Building Science Insights, BSI-016: Top Ten Issues in Residential Ventilation Design 77
Australian Opportunity
• All building practitioners should be required to attain an understanding and practical application of building science and systems thinking from pre-design, construction, though to commissioning.
• Integrate the following into all building related trade and professional qualifications and continuing professional development:
- Building Science
- Systems thinking
- Advanced Framing or Optimal Value Engineering
- Indoor Air or Environmental Quality
University Led Continuing Professional DevelopmentDestination:
Sonoma State University (SSU) Environmental Technology Center, Sonoma, CA
Contacts:
• Alex Hinds, Sonoma State University's Center Director for Sustainable Communities, Environmental Studies and Planning Department.Hinds oversees the University’s Green Building Program.
• John Shurtz, LEED AP, CGBP & Green Point Rater, President of Green Builders of Marin and a Lead Instructor the SSU Green Building Program. 78
- Indoor Air Quality
- Advanced framing
- Sustainability
- Process changes
• Developing your sales and marketing process
Noted Discussions
Key issues leading to air leakage and wasted energy are: forced air and ventilation ducts, walls, electrical outlet boxes, wiring, framing penetration, recessed lighting or down lights, plumbing pipes, bath tubs, stairwells and fireplaces.
• Air flow mechanisms include wind pressure, convection or stack effect and mechanical pressure.
• Heat flow mechanisms include conduction, radiation and convection.
• Moisture flow mechanisms include rain/gravity driven (liquids), capillary (wicking transport), air flow (moisture laden), and diffusion (vapour pressure). In the USA, 80% of construction litigation is moisture related.
Below: Example of combined air leakage, SMUD E-House.
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Above: Example of an insulated air duct as an alternative to locating air ducts in a conditioned space if it is not an option, SMUD E-House.
Left: Book cover of one of the resources published by EEBA and written by Building Science Corporation.
Above: Example of electrical boxes and insulation in the SMUD E-House.
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Objective:
Meet with Hinds, Shurtz, Rocky Rohwedder, and Angela Conely from the Department of Environmental Studies and Planning to tour their green building and discuss the Green Building Education program for university students and industry practitioners with their teaching staff and a sample of students.
Outcomes:
Toured and discussed the Center with staff and former students. Most of the feedback was that the manual systems were difficult to learn, manipulate and compile data for analysis. There was a big learning curve for sourcing and installing materials for construction, but overall, they are happy with the construction and integrated technology. (See Attachment 4: Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University Overview)
SSU Green Building Program 79
The Fellow discussed the continuing education certificate program for professional development in green building that runs over six months for industry professionals. Once the course is completed, the learner promotes themself as a green building advisor to assist owners, project managers, architects, engineers, builders, and subcontractors for a project to facilitate green building decision making, and to set out, monitor, and fulfil attainable objectives.
Target Audience:
• Architects
• Policymakers and Planners
• Structural, Mechanical, and Civil Engineers
• Construction and Financial Project Managers
• Building Industry Professionals
• Municipal Building Officials, Building Inspectors, and Plan Examiners
• Owner-Builders
• Those interested in the green economy
• Students
SSU Green Building Certificate Program Sessions
• Session 1: Overview of Sustainability and the Built Environment
• Session 2: Site Design and Water Efficient Practices
• Session 3: Energy - Sources, End Uses & Impacts
• Session 4: Energy & Building Performance
Caption: Example of integrated technology supporting the Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University.
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• Session 5: Green Materials Part One
• Session 6: Green Materials Part Two, Indoor Air Quality, Green Businesses
• Course Review
Graduates will be able to:
• Establish relevant project-specific goals and objectives
• Apply LEED, Green Points, and other relevant assessment criteria
• Analyse the costs and benefits of green building measures
• Work with the owner and design team to improve a building's overall energy performance
• Facilitate staff training in Green Building Guidelines and Practice
Australian Opportunity
• Given the increasing demand for project managers and individuals to support integrated project delivery, Australia has an opportunity to develop a similar program for Green Building Advisors to support those with a building background to up skill in green building and building science.
• An opportunity could also present itself for experienced building practitioners to upskill in this area to then mentor and deliver workplace training, especially those moving into active retirement.
Industry Led Continuing Professional DevelopmentDestination 1:
AIA Continuing Education Systems (CES) Provider Workshop
Contacts:
• Alla Orlova, Director of Continuing Education, AIA (Distance Education), Instructional Designer and Trainer.
• Janet Stephenson, LEED AP, AIA Seattle.
• Stephanie Vierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Researcher, Technical Editor, and Curriculum Specialist, Washington, DC.
Objective:
The Fellow engaged with the AIA through an industry led workshop for continuing education providers to support building practitioners to develop knowledge and skills in sustainable design and related areas. The Fellow explored the current continuing education guidelines, goals and practices to determine future opportunities between sustainable design and integrated project management for educators in Australia. Stakeholder Groups included AIA Members, AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), knowledge leaders, founding partners, consultants, AIA Advisory Committee, Manufacturers and Architecture 2030 a non-profit.
Outcomes:
AIA offers an ongoing Professional Series online as part of AIA 2030 80 which evolves on a continual basis. The AIA 2030 Initiative was promoted over an hour and a half and was thought to completely change the industry by breaking down boarders in local areas. The Program Goals, include:
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• Filling gaps and voids, immediate application
• A variety of learning methods
• Integrated needs requiring transformation
• Development of quality assurance and quality control tools for consistent delivery
• Recognition and promotion of expertise and strengths
• Creating a demand for other providers workshops designed for use by others to avoid market competition
• Highlighting various workshops offered by industry sectors, experts, and other providers for the common goal, being the AIA 2030 initiative.
AIA 50to50 – 50 strategies toward a 50% fossil fuel reduction in buildings presented in a ‘how to' resource for architects and the construction industry. 81
AIA Top 10 measures of Sustainable Design:
1. Design and Innovation
2. Regional and community design
3. Land use and site ecology
4. Bioclimatic design
5. Light and air
6. Water cycle
7. Energy flows and Energy future
8. Materials and construction
9. Long life, loose fit
10. Collective wisdom and feedback loops
AIA COTE was developed in 1990 and focuses on energy reduction targets. In December of 2005, the Sustainable Discussion Group (SDiG) formed to support the development of an overarching strategic group to advance the goals and practice of the organisation through curriculum, resources, and training.
Research
AIA Cincinnati, a chapter of the AIA, conducted research and compiled a report on Comparison of United States Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes First Edition 2008 and National Association of Home Builders’ National Green Building Standard, released in January 2010. 82 With regard to performance testing, the report states:
“For example, the LEED Performance Energy Path requires a post-construction HERS score meeting ENERGY STAR performance. NGBS does not require a post-construction test; it is an optional practice. Also, the LEED Prescriptive Energy Path requires an envelope leakage test and HVAC ductwork pressure test that meet ENERGY STAR minimum standards. NGBS does not mandate these site tests; they are optional practices. Again, it can be said that LEED is too restrictive in this requirement and NGBS is more flexible. However, in the opinion of the Committee, post-construction testing is imperative to ensure a minimum and effective level of proof.” 83
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Education
Training providers must be registered as a continuing education provider with both the AIA (members are typically designers) and the USGBC (broader member base consisting of 22 professions) to be an accredited provider. The AIA continuing professional development program requires that each member take 18 learning units of continuing education and of that, four learning units must be focused on sustainable design.
The AIA training development approach includes surveying potential participants to determine topic preferences, and then aligning with upcoming legislation and sourcing funds for resource development and training delivery. The topics that industry demanded most in 2010 were on sustainable design principles, green building practice, costs and benefits, re-design, and educators were requesting workshops on writing learning objectives.
Guidelines for Approving AIA/CES Sustainable Design
Guidelines for approving sustainable design programs are online for providers to qualify for an AIA professional development program and based on the AIA 50-50 strategy and the COTE Top 10 Measurements. 84 Manufacturers and suppliers can offer training, but must ensure the training provided supports the principles and values behind the development and application of the product as the focus, not just marketing a product. For example, why and how the glass used in the window to reduce or increase the energy efficiency of the house, instead of purchase this high efficiency glass to increase the energy efficiency of your building.
Future topics for exploration by AIA members:
• Net Zero Energy
• Building Science, including design, project hand over or commissioning, occupation, post-occupancy evaluations, and ongoing maintenance
• Integrated project delivery and how it relates to sustainable design through consultations with industry experts, plumbers, electricians, engineers, builders, etc., at the design stage
• Influencing the owner’s decision-making process based on LCA and the systems approach
• Water and energy consumption and reduction strategies will continue to develop
• Retrofitting for energy efficiency
• Brilliant Simplicity brings mentors and their mentees together
Left: Comparison of glass types for windows, PG&E Display Center.
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• Tools and Technology – Building Information Modelling (BIM), pre-fabrication
• Living Building Challenge
• Regenerative building
• Triple Bottom Line or People, Planet, Profit (PPP) is still evolving, overall the environmental metrics are secure, the social metrics are still grappling and the economic metrics are evolving, but are not quite stable at this stage.
• Biofelia, example company Sky Factory.
Needs assessments and evaluations are conducted annually through:
• A member survey to determine what members want to learn about, in 2010 the top suggestion was integrated project delivery.
• Networking with members and experts
• The Board of Directors retreat (in 2010, water efficiency was identified as a competitive advantage)
Awards
Top 10 designers are recognised annually through an awards program. 85
Recommended Resources
Using an integrated approach to carbon reduction, AIA focuses on truly collaborative delivery models with contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, in addition to architects, designers, engineers, etc. 86
• 2030 Sustainability Toolkit, a ‘how to’ resource for practitioners aligning the 237 strategies.
• Green Meeting Guidelines
• Continuing Education Requirements – Maintaining awareness and keeping up to date with rapid changes in response to the latest challenges and opportunities.
• Resource: 50to50 Strategy Online Resource, December 2007, 50 greatest opportunities to reduce impacts and move toward carbon neutrality
• Building Design Guide by the Institute of Building Sciences
Current industry challenges
• Housing for the ageing population
• Visual issues and limitations of new technologies
• Diversity of communities
• High number of environmental qualities.
The USA doesn’t have national industry training councils or bodies liaising between industry demand and education providers to develop standards to support continuing professional development like Australia. Considering this, AIA has a model Continuing Education System for providers recognising training provided by other industry associations, manufacturers, community colleges, universities, etc. in an effort to reduce competition in the market.
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Destination 2:
USGBC, Washington, DC and the Northern California Chapter (NCC)
Contacts:
• Courtney Baker, LEED AP Homes, USGBC Residential Operations Manager.
• Dan Geiger, Executive Director, USGBC NCC, San Francisco, CA.
• Jennifer Owen, Manager of Residential Education and Residential Market Development.
Objectives:
Meet with Courtney Baker and Jennifer Owens to develop a further understanding of the LEED for Homes program across America.
Meet with Dan Geiger to gain insights into variations between east and west coast policy and markets for green home building, including where the market is headed and what opportunities will help meet the industry’s goals.
Outcomes:
Industry Rating System LEED for Homes 87
LEED for Homes is a consensus-developed, third-party verified rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. LEED for Homes measures a home’s performance based on eight categories:
1. Site selection
2. Water efficiency
3. Materials & resources
4. Energy & atmosphere
5. Indoor environmental quality
6. Location & linkages
7. Awareness & education, and
8. Innovation.
Within each of these areas, projects earn points toward certification. Each LEED-certified home undergoes onsite inspections and thorough performance testing to ensure proper performance. LEED for Homes is applicable to single family and multifamily homes and is intended for both market-rate and affordable housing. Originally over 2000 builders were involved in the LEED for Homes pilot, which officially launched in 2008. Marketing and branding potential has broadened for builders using the US EPA ENERGY STAR label and LEED, currently with over 20,000 homes and 4,000 units rated. Green professionals are beginning to stand out in the market as a point of difference.
USGBC Northern California Chapter
NCC is working toward benchmarking high performance houses for comparison and improvements over time. Current government stimulus spending is spurring the retrofitting market for existing homes. Recurve has developed software by building contractors for building contractors "designed to speed up the process of auditing homes, crunching the numbers, and generating reports" at the job site to
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improve energy efficiency based on a variety of options. 88 It can run on any type of computer on or off line (Internet connection). Dan Geiger also highlighted the LEED for Neighbourhood design program as an emerging opportunity that is starting to gain interest.
Research
USGBC supports continuous quality assurance through a six-month review of coursework and review of the rating system every two years against market competitors.
Education
Knowledge of Building Science Basics: applicants must complete a minimum of four hours of education that comprehensively covers the listed topics, or submit a certificate of completion of applicable course or equivalent documentation. For example, certified HERS raters and Building Performance Institute Certified professionals would automatically meet this requirement. These are the training topics included in the Building Science Basics program:
• Building envelop (continuous & contiguous pressure & thermal boundaries that separate conditioned space from ambient or unconditioned spaces)
• Heat transfer (convection, radiation, conduction)
• Moisture transfer (diffusion, air-infiltration, capillarity, gravity)
• Air transfer (infiltration causes such as mechanical systems, wind, stack effect, reverse stack effect that create pressure differences across the building envelope, and holes that allow air to flow to areas of lower pressure).
New Homes Training Program: courses, which are offered as workshops, that are intended for residential design and construction professionals involved in implementing the LEED for Homes Rating System, as well as those pursuing the USGBS GBCI's LEED AP+ (Tier II) credential in residential design and construction. The training goes through the phases of a typical project, using case studies and implementation strategies throughout to reinforce learning while encouraging students to apply knowledge to real-life situations. World Green Building Council: USGBC offers courses across the United States in most major cities and online.
Learning Objectives – LEED for Homes is designed to prepare building professionals to facilitate the process for a LEED for New Homes project, including:
• Communicating the unique aspects of LEED for Homes
• Successfully using LEED for Homes assessment and verification tools
Left: Building envelope as defined at the PG&E Display Center.
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• Communicating the roles and responsibilities of various players in the LEED for Homes process
• Communicate to stakeholders specific details of LEED for Homes
• Identifying key green decisions throughout the process of earning LEED for Homes certification.
LEED Training Options:
• LEED 101: Green Building Basics & LEED
• LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies
LEED for Homes Training Options:
• HOMES 201: The Keys to Green Affordable Housing: A Guide for Existing Multi-Family Properties, Delivered by three, ninety minute webinars
• HOMES 251: LEED for Homes Program Review – Six, ninety minute online sessions on-demand
• HOMES 301: Implementing the LEED for Homes Rating System – full-day, instructor-led training (seven hours)
• HOMES 401: Green Rater Training – five hours of online self-guided learning modules, plus two full days of face to face instructor led training (14 hours).
In addition to the HOMES 401 Green Rater Training, mentioned above, to become a verified Green Rater, individuals must also meet initial qualification requirements, pass an exam after completing the training and complete the required components of the LEED for Homes Green Rater Mentorship program within 24 months of passing the exam.
Existing Homes Training Program: Renovations: REGREEN Residential Remodeling Guidelines developed by the USGBC and ASID offers guidelines, numerous case studies, educational offerings, a green strategy generator that specifies green measures based on project scope and goals, a Certificate of designation for green remodel professionals and much more.
The REGREEN online webinar series provides information and resources required to utilise the guidelines in a remodelling project.
The REGREEN online webinar series offers tools to:
• Understand the market demand for green remodelling
• Define the way REGREEN, as a guideline, can be accessed to help incorporate greening into remodelling projects
• Understand the key elements in maximising energy efficiency and greening kitchen and bathroom renovations
• Describe specific strategies for successful implementation of energy strategies on a remodelling project.
Existing Home Renovations Training Options:
• REGREEN 201: REGREEN Revolution Series
• REGREEN 251: Home Performance Audits
• REGREEN 301: Implementing Residential Remodeling
Training can be undertaking via a webinar that includes a 45-minute overview of the program and
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a series of five sections, totalling four-and-a-half hours of self-paced training. A variety of additional providers, vetted by the USGBC, offer other training opportunities, through online and face-to-face workshops.
Recommended Resources
• LEED for Homes 89
• Basic Operations Manual for home operations and maintenance to support educating the homeowner on proper use and maintenance Sample Manual and Project Team Instructions – updated 08/10/2010 90
Certification of Buildings
Cost: $375 USD plus costs of on-site inspections prior to certification by a LEED Provider and Green Rater verifier based on market price. 91
LEED for Homes supports a baseline points measurement as a requirement using checklists and points calculators and third-party verification by LEED accredited inspectors (Green Rater). USGBC offer 130 credits and 70 measures and open for optional extras like innovation and design, whereas, the USGBC representatives stated that the NAHB Green Building Standard (GBS) is similar to a series of checklists, which can be lengthy and linked closely to building codes. Additional points are offered for renewable energy installations and worker and occupant education.
Collaboration
USBGC NCC support an education provider approval process and point system for training based on the green point rated program. This supports recognition of training by various providers, such as the Build It Green program, National Association of Home Building Training and Certification program, Green Point Rated, based on these topics:
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Site Selection
• Site Development
• Materials Selection
• Residents' Awareness
• Innovation.
LEED for Homes is also aligned with the US EPA ENERGY STAR standard for new homes. They work closely with partners like AIA, CSI, NAHB, EPA, US DOE, etc.
New Technology: Geiger discussed a few of the new technologies becoming commonplace in northern California, such as:
• Heat and energy recovery systems for high-efficiency mechanical ventilation
• Geothermal systems, including a better understanding of when and where to implement effectively for increased efficiency (therefore becoming cheaper and more readily available in the market)
• LED lights
• Sensors for lighting
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• Low flow water fixtures
• Solar film for roofs
• Green walls and roofs
• Floor heating and cooling with ambient water
• Micro combined heat and power units (CHP).
Geiger also explained that Silicon Valley is heavily investing in window and drywall technology and that there is currently a huge demand for tank-less water heaters.
Resources
• A list of Frequently Asked Questions for Builders and Developers regarding LEED for Homes is located online. 92
• The 2008 LEED for Homes rating system. 93
Living Hazards: Indoor Air QualityDestination:
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office, San Francisco, CA
Contacts:
• Timonie Hood, LEED AP and Saskia van Gendt, LEED AP, both are Environmental Protection Specialists, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA.
Objective:
Meet with van Gendt and Hood to review the EPA's role in the domestic green building movement in the United States and to identify perceived gaps in industry knowledge, education and government policy.
Outcomes:
New Homes
The US EPA supports a number of initiatives related to domestic and commercial building. During the meeting, discussions focused on the US EPA Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications for new homes to support indoor air quality (IAQ). 94 They emphasised that indoor air quality is often overlooked, although it is a critical factor in both existing and new home development.
In reviewing the IAQ program led by the EPA, including the Indoor airPLUS Verification Checklist and Construction Specifications. The most notable issues and opportunities related to indoor air quality were:
• HVAC systems – ensuring sizing calculations are based on room-by-room design and planning for pressure drops, duct systems and testing the system for leakage after installation
• Ventilation – installing some or all of the following dependent on home requirements: mechanical whole-house ventilation systems and exhaust ventilation, energy recovery or heat recovery systems which support air exchanges to circulate fresh air into the home and remove contaminated air from indoors
• Use of air cleaning and filtration through purification systems
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• Combustion Pollutant Control – attached garage isolation and using exhaust fans in the space
• Elimination of toxic material or encouraging the use of no-emission or low-emission materials, including low-voc and no-voc products
• Communication with buyers – providing consumers with the checklist and IAQ features of the home.
Existing Home
Discussion extended to the US programs similar to the Australian insulation program aiming to increase the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock. The EPA representatives offered insight about the adverse air quality outcomes with regard to the government initiatives related to home energy upgrades, typically involving sealing and insulating a home. If carried out incorrectly, these programs can lead to increased levels of mildew, mould, lead and other toxins impacting on the occupant’s wellbeing, affecting overall public health and building deterioration.
Resources and training have been developed to support home assessors in existing homes, prior to any work being conducted or contractors undertaking the work. The US EPA website states, "The Protocols apply to single family and multi-family low-rise residential dwellings. These Protocols provide recommended minimum specifications and additional best practices for protection of occupant health and, together with better resources for contractors, [that] will facilitate increased home energy efficiency, improve the quality of the work performed, and reduce failures and call-backs for contractors”. 95
The US EPA produced a publication titled, Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades which aims to ensure indoor air quality is not adversely affected by home energy upgrades; encouraging contractors to minimise or improve the indoor air quality while improving the energy
Above: Example of the contributors of IAQ issues, such as Carbon Dioxide and Volatile Organic Compounds at the PG&E Display Center.
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efficiency of the home. 96 In most states, contractors must be trained, certified and participate in a shadowing program before being approved to carry out home energy upgrades in existing homes. Further information can be viewed on YouTube by searching ‘Builders: Building with Indoor airPLUS.’
Recommended Resources
• The US DOE has also developed a resource to complement the US EPA publication for contractors involved in home energy upgrades or retrofitting, see the US DOE Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades publication on the US DOE website. 97
• The most current Australian Government report, by the Department Of Public Health, related to indoor air quality was developed as an informative booklet over 10 years ago. In addition, the Victorian EPA doesn't assess or produce material associated with residential indoor air quality, although they report on air quality in general.
• Additional US EPA publications on green building and energy efficiency are available online. 98
Industry Energy Authorities: Technical and Consumer Support for High Performance HomesDestination 1:
The Pacific Energy Center: Energy Resource Center, PG&E, San Francisco, CA.
Contacts:
• Alex Spilger, LEED AP Principal, GreenStep & Sustainable Building Advisor Program, The Pacific Energy Center.
• Marlene Vogelsang, Technical Librarian, The Pacific Energy Center.
Objective:
Meet with Vogelsang and Spilger to review resources in the Pacific Energy Center: Energy Resource Center’s Technical Library and Display Center, as well as reviewing the training opportunities offered by the PG&E under the Sustainable Building Advisor Program.
Outcomes:
The Fellow toured the Technical Library, Display Center, and held discussions on resources and training opportunities with Vogelsang and Spilger. The Pacific Energy Center is an example of industry sectors, associations, practitioners, government agencies and consumers working together to support common goals for a better future through education.
Education
The Pacific Energy Center offers consumers and industry practitioners an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through a variety of methods in the following areas:
• Architecture resources
• Lighting
• HVAC.
The Center also supports classes and seminars and offers assistance through a Tool Lending Library, with training sessions enabling people to learn how to use the tools (building performance and commissioning), and a Resource Center that is open to the public and staffed by a very knowledgeable
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librarian. Training sessions run almost daily with multiple sessions on any given day for topics such as HVAC, lighting technology, building performance design and testing, renewable energy, zero net energy homes, regulatory compliance, etc. Examples of the training sessions by specialty area are highlighted in the PG&E Classes By Specialty Quick Reference guide. 99
The Fellow reviewed the National Sustainable Building Advisor Program in detail. 100 The program can be undertaken over a four- or nine-month period as a certification course designed to provide participants with the knowledge, tools and strategies to implement green building projects. The included sections are:
Unit Description
• Unit 1 Fundamentals of Sustainable Building
• Unit 2 Importance of Place
• Unit 3 Energy Efficiency and Lighting
• Unit 4 Green Materials Selection
• Unit 5 Indoor Environmental Quality and Health
• Unit 6 Water Conservation and Quality Protection
• Unit 7 Sustainable Job Site Operations
• Unit 8 Building Operations and Maintenance
• Unit 9 Group Project Presentation. 101
The PG&E Training Center in Stockton also offers a number of training sessions across industry, including realtors and appraisers.
Collaboration
A number of the training programs offered by the PG&E Training Center are recognised by other industry associations contributing towards annual requirements for continuing professional development, such as AIA.
Australian Opportunity:
Australian utility or electricity companies have an opportunity to develop this type of training and display centre open to the public, building and energy practitioners to support:
• Energy literacy
• New technology demonstrations
• Training and tool lending to support energy efficiency
• Training to support specialists consultants to undertake energy assessments or support the design and construction process of new homes and renovations.
Destination 2:
E-House, SMUD – Energy & Technology Center, Sacramento, CA.
Objectives:
Tour the Energy and Technology Center, specifically the E-House and Solar Display. 102 SMUD's
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E-House is a full-scale model of a high performance home, showcasing advanced framing, cool roofing, insulation and structural insulated panels, photovoltaics, and a display of selected sustainability product options, such as energy efficient windows, LED lighting, and water efficiency measures.
Outcomes:
The Fellow identified opportunities to further practical research and development of new high efficiency technologies and the use of public displays as an educational tool for consumers, home designers, building practitioners and other stakeholders. The SMUD programs offer insight into opportunities to engage with consumers to contribute to future technological improvements and advances and opportunities to engage with local communities and industry to advance appropriate selection and installation of high efficiency materials and new technologies to increase penetration into the market.
Research
"SMUD's Customer Advanced Technologies (CAT) is a research and development program designed
to encourage customers to use and evaluate new or underutilized technologies. Unlike many R & D programs, research is accomplished through implementing real-world demonstration projects (instead of laboratory testing). CAT provides funding for customers in exchange for a two-year monitoring agreement. Completed demonstration projects include lighting technologies, LED lights, building envelopes, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and a wide variety of other technologies.” 103
Above: SMUD E-House display center.
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Education
The Solar Path Display can assist practitioners and consumers to understand the way, the angle of the sun changes throughout the days and seasons, causing temperatures within homes to increase and decrease. The display shows the dynamics of the sun on a building in winter, spring, and summer, and enables understanding of seasonal external shading strategies to mitigate heat gain.
Reports describing the results for many of these projects are freely available on the SMUD’s CAT website. 104 The information, statements, representations, graphs and data presented in these reports are provided by SMUD as a public service, along with workshops. 105 Mention of any particular product or manufacturer should not be construed as an implied endorsement.
The most notable example of a broad spectrum learning tool is the SMUD E-House. This model house within the municipal building offers a broad overview of technological advancement over time and a comparison of efficiency opportunities dependent upon the materials or technology selected or applied, such as advanced framing. Being a tangible demonstration of a variety of efficiency opportunities, through construction methods, materials and technologies selected in a small model, it is a very effective tool to understanding these types of variations on a small scale relative to a number of stakeholders. In Australia, this opportunity would be a valuable tool for training new entrants and existing building practitioners as well as financial lenders/appraisers, investors, consumers, etc.
Awarding Best PracticeBy recognising industry leaders and innovators we learn from one another and information is rapidly disseminated.
Design: Living Building Challenge
“‘Living Building Challenge’ is a philosophy, advocacy tool and certification program that addresses
Above and Left: SMUD Solar Path Display.
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development at all scales. It is comprised of seven performance areas: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. These are subdivided into a total of 20 Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. The purpose of the Living Building Challenge is straightforward – it defines the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions. Whether your project is a single building, a park, a college campus or even a complete neighbourhood community, Living Building Challenge provides a framework for design, construction and the symbiotic relationship between people and all aspects of the built environment.” 106
Construction: NAHB and US DOE EVHA
In continuation of the information provided by the NAHB Research Center, the EVHA for residential home builders and remodelers recognises and rewards industry leaders and is used to measure and monitor progress towards national government targets. 107 These annual awards are supported in partnership by the NAHB Research Center, NAHB, US DOE Building America Program, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in addition to various industry sponsors. Award categories are based on a weight of scores with the most value given to energy, examining what makes the home more energy efficient, then building code requirements or other local home requirements. These homes are tested, verified, and also judged by an expert panel.
The builders and homes can easily be compared based on the construction costs, size of the home, years the practitioner has been in the industry, industry associations, average homes built per year, location and completion date. The plans are also included to allow others to visualise the simplicity and complexity of high performance design. The information below is an example of the energy efficiency construction methods reviewed to determine winners:
• Foundation: e.g. slab on grade with R-20 (R3.5 in Australia) 108 under slab and slab edge insulation.
• Wall Construction: e.g. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs).
Caption: Comparison of conventional verse advanced framing opportunities, SMUD E-house.
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• Wall Insulation: e.g. R-28 (R5 Aust) 109 total (R-23 dry-blown fiberglass + R-5 rigid foam sheathing).
• Rim Joist Insulation: e.g. SIPs or foam spray.
• Roof Construction: e.g. raised-heel trusses, vegetated roof.
• Ceiling Insulation: e.g. R-35 (R6.2 Aust) 110 unvented attic.
• Windows: e.g. Solar heat gain co-efficient 0.40, low e (emittance), gas filled double glazed, shaded 18in windows.
• HVAC: e.g. 20 SEER (5.55 Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) in Australia) 111, 8.6 Heating and Seasonal Performance Factor air source heat pump, energy recovery ventilator, zoned system.
• Ducts: e.g. 100% in conditioned space, mastic-sealed.
• Water Heating: e.g. Desuperheater and geothermal heat pump.
• Lighting: e.g. ENERGY STAR fixtures, 55% CFLs, LED under cabinet lighting.
• Appliances: e.g. ENERGY STAR appliances.
• Innovative Features: e.g. advanced framing techniques with 24in on centre framing, 2-stud corners or open corners, single king stud window framing, right sized headers, ladder blocking, raised-heel trusses, PEX Plumbing, Thermal mass tempering, right-sized heating and cooling.
• Duct Leakage Test: e.g. 0cfm to exterior/78 cfm total @ 25 Pa.
• Blower Door Test: e.g. 1.3 (ACH) Air Changes per Hour 50.
• HERS Index: e.g. typically 40-60, unless photovoltaic is included, then typically in the 30s (a zero HERS Index would be a net zero energy home score).
(See Attachment three: Two examples of the winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA.)
Tracking Progress NationallyThe US DOE is tracking progress to determine if government targets are being met, if the strategies are working, to determine if incentives are being taken up over time and to ensure that interested stakeholders are kept up to date. It is rewarding and reassuring to be able to review progress, especially for contributors, be it government employees, homeowners or practitioners. The US DOE tracks progress nationally using these simple example statistics:
Statistics
• Number of homes that meet the builders challenge
• Number of registered builders
• Number of manufacturer, program, resource, and verifier partners
• Total estimated annual energy savings (mmbtu/yr)
• Total estimated financial annual energy savings
• Annual estimated CO2 savings in tons.
Similar to the US DOE, Australia has an opportunity to track and communicate our progress against current targets in a simplified way for practitioners, homeowners, and government agencies.
The International Experience
In summary, the residential building sector has a significant opportunity to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through reduced energy demand, increasing our energy and resource efficiency to support a high performance housing market, and building net-zero energy homes.
Australia has made significant inroads into producing more energy efficient, resource efficient and sustainable homes through:
• Climate-specific design
• Passive solar heating and cooling through design
• Material selection, such as window, lighting and appliance selection
• Renewable energy add-ons to the structure, such as solar hot water and photovoltaic panels.
The next step for Australian practitioners to progress toward high performance and net-zero energy homes is to support a focus on the knowledge and skills required by our professionals and tradespeople in the construction sector to construct high performance homes. These individuals have an opportunity to positively or negatively contribute to the energy and resource efficiency of a structure specifically related to their actions to reduce energy demand and increase efficiency during planning, on-site trade installation techniques, material selection and application through management support. In an effort to ensure industry best practice, a whole systems approach to building must be understood with a high level of attention placed on the building envelope and duct systems based on an understanding of building science principles and methods. Inspections need to take place during construction and once the building is constructed, in addition to post-construction performance testing to measure and confirm performance. The building systems need to be tested for air leakage and inspectors must also verify that there is an adequate mechanical ventilation system in place to support efficient indoor air quality.
In the building sector, these opportunities can be achieved through:
• Reducing energy demand by ensuring our homes conserve as much energy as possible through knowledge of building science, whole systems approaches, integrated design and delivery and construction methods (advanced framing).
• Properly selecting and installing products to support the building envelop, HVAC and add-ons, like renewable energy and resource efficiency opportunities to harness and reuse energy and resources.
• Increases in industry best practice through an industry-led construction standard and professional accreditation system supported by training, education, and mentoring both new tradespeople and professionals entering the residential construction market and those already working in this sector.
• Supporting and training home energy performance assessors to conduct site inspections and test the performance of the structure post-construction to ensure there is minimal or no air leakage and adequate mechanical ventilation to support air exchanges for indoor air quality.
• Recording, benchmarking and communicating performance test results, building techniques, and materials used to rapidly disseminate opportunities through the industry.
Many sectors can assist to increase demand for high performance homes, through developing more incentives to reduce barriers and increase the development of net zero energy homes, through development and implementation of:
• An industry led green building standard and metric system for construction practitioners (builders and developers) to test and label homes for easy comparison by consumers
The International Experience
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The International Experience
• A builder’s challenge using a green building standard to up skill and support application of knowledge and skills to reduce energy demand, increase the energy efficiency while improving the indoor air quality of homes
• Free home sustainability assessments by trained professionals of existing homes to establish recommendations for home energy up-grades and measure improvements
• Home energy up-grades carried out by qualified trades people and professions with building science knowledge to ensure industry best practice and positive contributions to indoor air quality
• Monetary incentives, such as government rebates, subsidies, tax reductions, for both home owners and builders to integrate efficiency improvements into new and existing homes
• An industry-wide continuing professional development program using shared resources for building science training delivery through a variety of methods, including display centres, on-site, online and on-demand training for the existing workforce
• Funding the performance testing of homes to be utilised as a learning tool for industry practitioners to learn on the job
• Financial incentives for builders to test the performance of their buildings and communicate the outcomes through a benchmarking and labelling system located on the building, which can be related to the mandatory disclosure scheme or national progress tracking
• Streamlining and reducing the fees and processing times as an incentive for planning applications through local councils for high performing or net-zero energy homes to prioritise these types of applications
• Changes to the home lending sector, valuations and home sales that truly value the assets related to energy efficiency and reduced running costs to communicate with stakeholders, such as potential renters, investor, or buyers.
It is likely that different subsets of these aspects will be taught to different groups, recognising their different levels of expertise and activities. The key knowledge and skill areas requiring further national development in the construction services sectors to support sustainably built environments for renovating existing homes and building new houses include:
• Building science basics, principles, and fundamentals
• Integrated project management: whole systems project and site management with advanced building science (i.e. advanced building envelope or integrated technology)
• Specialised trade skills: building science advance knowledge and skills (i.e. advanced framing or optimal value engineering or moisture control methods and techniques), HVAC, and whole systems theory across trades and applicable only to specific trade areas.
Knowledge Transfer: Applying the Outcomes
A number of opportunities can be developed to support sharing these findings and developing future opportunities. A few are identified below:
Opportunity 1In the first six months of 2011, the Fellow delivered a presentation to the CPSISC Board to review findings and make recommendations on the research findings to support the development and revision of national construction training. Completed May 2011.
Opportunity 2During the early part of 2011, the Fellow delivered a workshop on the summary of findings to a group of Victorian vocational education and training stakeholders in the related industry sector. This workshop increased awareness of the international research findings, potential opportunities and insights to support integration of findings into practical training and resources to support the residential building industry and related sectors. Completed April 2011.
Opportunity 3In August 2011, the Fellow delivered a presentation at the National CPSISC industry conference on the research findings and highlight recommendations for discussions. She developed additional contacts to further the outcomes of the research findings to support the development and revision of national construction training, industry standards, home performance measurements and a potential benchmarking opportunity. Completed August 2011.
Opportunity 4When the opportunity presents, the Fellow will invite related industry participants to a workshop to present the research findings and work toward potential opportunities to develop a cyclical framework for energy efficiency and carbon abatement in the residential construction industry. The aim of this cyclical framework would be a closed loop system focused on international research, industry best practice standards, building science methods professional development, manufacturing and supplier education, post construction measurements with a metrics and benchmarking system, and feedback loops to remove potential barriers and spur new research in Australia.
For more information on these opportunities, please refer to the Recommendations Chapter of this report.
This opportunity would be supported by the education and training sector to up skill practitioners to increase the integration of high performance green homes into the market and begin working towards zero energy homes. This framework would ideally include the development and roll out of a green building standard challenge to measure and monitor progress by rewarding builders across Australia. This standard must have an underpinning post construction building performance testing program with metrics for comparison and benchmarking.
Stakeholders involved in the loop could include: researchers, homeowners, developers, designers, builders, trades people, energy raters/assessors and inspectors, manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations, unions, educators, and government agencies. Energy raters/assessors and building inspectors would ideally play the role of documenting and reporting on building performance in line with the point of sale or lease disclosure regulations. Government agencies, of course, need to support the development and roll out of these initiatives through supporting continuing professional development, onsite support and education, and positive incentives to encourage implementation, like an industry awards program based on the building standards challenge.
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This system would ideally aim to inform, set targets, monitor, improve and acknowledge participants in the domestic building industry based on their activities supporting carbon reduction and sustainably built environments related to industry best practice. Each organisation would be asked to develop and define their potential role in this type of opportunity to further benefit our communities through increasing industry best practice in our housing market leading to carbon reductions.
Potential stakeholders for the development of this opportunity include:
• Professional and Industry Associations (e.g. HIA: Green Smart, Master Builders Association: Green Living, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Association of Building Sustainability Assessors, Building Product Innovation Council)
• Unions (e.g. CFMEU, construction divisions, CEPU, plumbing division)
• Government (e.g. Building Commission, Building Practitioner Board, local councils, State/Federal Government Agencies)
• Development Groups (e.g. VicUrban)
• Building practitioners and tradespeople
• Suppliers (e.g. Sips Industries Ltd, Reece, Mitre10, Bunnings, Viridian, CSR)
• Educators (e.g. TAFE, private RTOs, Universities)
• Research Centres (e.g. CSIRO, Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre)
Opportunity 5During 2012 and 2013, with support from CPSISC, the fellow will contribute to the integration of Building Science into the National Construction Training Package where appropriate. This will include leading awareness raising workshops on an Introduction to Building Sciences and Energy Efficiency Opportunities for educators, associations and private industry. See Education and Training Recommendations.
Knowledge Transfer: Applying the Outcomes Recommendations
Skill deficiency:
Skill deficiency is where a demand for labour has not been recognised and where accredited courses are not available through Australian higher education institutions. This demand is met where skills and knowledge are acquired on-the-job, gleaned from published material, or from working and/or study overseas. 112
There may be individuals or individual firms that have these capabilities. However, individuals in the main do not share their capabilities, but rather keep the IP to themselves; and over time they retire and pass way. Firms likewise come and go.
In an effort to increase demand for high performance and sustainable homes, leading to potentially higher home sales to support return on investment, commonalities and metrics must be developed to effectively implement, measure, benchmark and communicate the energy efficiency and sustainability opportunities and achievements of retrofitted and new homes for sale and lease.
The American program with the most momentum in mainstream domestic building is often referred to as Building America or the Builders Challenge focused on building science. This program supports a number of industry led standards, such as the NAHB National Green Building Standard, the USGBC LEED for homes and the US EPA ENERGY STAR rating and labelling system. Climate specific manuals are used for training designers, builders, manufactures, trades people and sales people, developers and homeowners for the various climates in the US. These manuals were developed by the US DOE in partnership with many organisations, but most notably the Building Science Corporation. They assist stakeholders with the development and implementation of innovative building processes and technologies for energy efficiency and affordability through extensive theoretical research with engineers and practical techniques with builders on a job site. These innovations are said to not only save consumers’ money on energy costs, but also the builder’s costs through increasing construction efficiency. The program is described as an: “industry-led, cost-sharing partnership program [that] uses a systems engineering approach to reduce energy use, construction time, and construction waste”. 111
In Australia, the key knowledge and skill sets requiring further national development in the construction sector to support sustainable built environments for renovating existing homes and building new houses needs to be based on building science to construct high performance homes. This research Fellowship has re-enforced the identified need in Australia to develop and deliver the next stage of training to industry based on construction techniques and material selection by ensuring all new entrants and existing workers have an understanding of the basic and advanced concepts of building science, as appropriate, from a systems approach.
Education, Training and Mentoring RecommendationsThese recommendations support changes related to vocational education and training, higher education, continuing professional development, and opportunities for industry mentoring on construction sites, flexible delivery models or at industry led functions.
A general and in-depth understanding of the building science from a practitioner perspective would support a continued understanding of the language, concepts, issues, liabilities, and opportunities for high performance building. This knowledge and skill set could be supported through an industry led building standard to reduce energy demand and then implement the required additions through proper installation of energy efficient products, often referred to in manufactures’ technical specifications. The building industry must understand and apply these construction principles and techniques as a foundation for high performance building, leading to net-zero energy housing by firstly reducing our energy demand. Metrics must be determined to measure and monitor performance of as-built homes which can also be used as a learning tool on the job site for all practitioners.
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Overview of Integrated Education Opportunities
1. Building Science Basics: All practitioners involved the residential construction industry require an understanding of the Principles of Building Science (Basics), including the systems approach to ensure our buildings can perform to the highest efficiency standards.
2. Green Building Standard: Those managing the construction and those constructing buildings must understand how they can positively contribute to the system through guidance from an industry led construction standard to support ease of decision making, increased efficiency opportunities and verification by Home Energy Performance Assessors to ensure performance meets the highest sustainability standards.
3. BS Advanced: Practitioners involved in any process with potential to significantly impact on the building in positive and negative ways require advanced building science knowledge and skills to design, construct and measure the performance of a building. This broad spectrum of industry practitioners, supported by an integrated design approach, would extend from design to product selection, construction methods, energy performance measurements through to use, maintenance and effective re-use of our building stock.
4. HomeEnergyPerformanceVerification: In order to determine if we are achieving efficiency gains (for example by minimising air leakage), ensuring the health and safety of occupants (for example meeting a standard of 0.6 Air Changes per hour) and meeting our carbon reduction and sustainability targets, we must measure and compare our as-built housing stock using a standardised metric system measured by third party home energy performance assessors.
Education Recommendation: Building Science Basics – Skills shortage and deficiency
Target audience: new entrants and current practitioners (designers, tradespeople, builders, etc.)
Integrate building science basic principles and application techniques into training for individuals new to the building sector in professional or trade areas, most notably integrated systems theory at the basic level, proper installation, cause and effect related to negative and positive contributions to the housing system.
Education Recommendation: Building Science Advanced – Skills shortage and deficiency
Target audience: new entrants and current practitioners (designers, trades people, builders, etc.)
• Design – Integrate advanced building science training across the design and construction disciplines to ensure buildings are not only being constructed using these theories, but that they are also included at the design stage, especially systems engineering.
• Trades people and builders – Integrate advanced building science training across the design and construction disciplines to bridge the historical divide between designers and builders, which currently supports computer-based building information modelling from the design perspective. For actual carbon abatement to be realised, structures must be constructed to that design, using
1. Building Science (BS)Basics
3. BS Advanced
2. Green Building Standard
4. Home Energy PerformanceVerification
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product selection opportunities and proper application techniques based on underpinning building science theory. Specific trade and professional skills are required to assess and incorporate whole system approaches to sustainable housing using leading-edge technology through implementation of integrated design and incorporation of sustainability aspects (e.g. indoor air quality, energy and water conservation and resource efficiency) into everyday practices. HVAC and air/heat exchangers can improve energy efficiency and comfort if appropriately sized, insulated and installed properly, especially in conditioned spaces, and when used in conjunction with controlled ventilation like ceiling exhaust fans and whole house exhaust fans. This helps utilise all opportunities prior to using the heating and cooling. “A forced air system should be able to be pressure tested the same way a plumber pressure tests a plumbing system for leaks. Builders don’t accept leaky plumbing systems; they should not accept leaky duct systems.” 113
Often in a high performance home, dependent on the climatic conditions, a heat or air exchanger can support not only improved indoor air quality, but allow the user to potentially eliminate or reduce the heating or air conditioning unit size, leading to reduced energy demand and operational costs.
Above: SMUD E-house example of a whole house exhaust fan to remove hot air and bring cooler air into the house in the morning and evening.
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Education Recommendation: Develop and deliver education in whole systems project and site management and integrated delivery – skills shortage and deficiency
Target audience: project/site managers and trades people
Industry practitioners have identified a shortage of appropriately trained managers in the building industry, these individuals, as well as builders and tradespeople require:
• knowledge of building science and systems theory to effectively manage the implementation of home sustainability audit recommendations, home renovations and new houses using energy and resource efficiency products/technology, especially complementary technologies;
• an understanding of life cycle theory of products or services and the ability to apply life cycle analysis during the product and service selection process;
• a comprehensive understanding of triple bottom line principles and return on investment payback periods to make recommendations based on cost benefit analysis using the clients’ identified priorities;
• knowledge and skills to review technical specifications and engage/manage trades people to properly install selected materials or systems;
• knowledge and skills to make recommendations to clients to support awareness and education to incorporate sustainability opportunities based on the clients’ identified priorities;
• effective engagement with stakeholders to identify home performance priorities and the communication to support efficient use and maintenance of the building systems upon completion;
• support for stakeholders to educate and mentor one another, such as designers, manufacturers, trades people, professionals, clients, homeowners; and
• knowledge to engage in a new system as an alternative to the traditional system based on scheduling, new construction methods, encouraging and supporting on/off the job training and mentoring for trades people and professionals.
Develop a training approach for integrated project management to up skill the existing workforce. Resources are available online as part of the US DOE’s Building America Program, such as:
• the Building Science Corporation: Quality Control Checklist and Resource Appendix. 114
• US DOE Building America Challenge: Quality Assurance Roadmap for High Performance Residential Buildings. 115
• Building Science Corporation: Guides and Manuals 116
Integrated design was discussed as a high priority for the coming years in the USA by AIA and USGBC. It aims to extend the design planning stage to include builders and specialty trades, such as HVAC designers and installers, plumbers, and electricians. Although it is the Fellow’s view that it might be more appropriate to title it ‘integrated delivery’ or ‘integrated project management’ in the construction industry. This opportunity would support reduced costs, through selecting the best cost-benefit options and effective planning to deliver a highly efficient building schedule. This area wasn’t explored thoroughly as part of this Fellowship, but Jerry Yudelson explains the concept in his book, Green Building Through Integrated Design. 117
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Integrated DesignAlthough Jerry Yudelson’s book, Green Building Through Integrated Design, was written for the commercial building sector, it lends itself well to understanding opportunities in the residential sector in terms of integrated design and project management, as well as what the contractor’s role is in the process:
“As more projects start to move toward zero net energy and zero waste solutions, the architectural and engineering systems will need to become more adventurous; without active participation from the general contractor and key sub-contractors...these projects are not likely to work as well as they could. Since the general contractor spends more than 90% of the project budget in a typical building program, integrated design without the contractor’s active participation is likely to yield suboptimal results.” 118
It’s commonplace for builders, project managers and even trades people to complain that they don’t get paid for these pre-construction contributions and run the risk of not getting a tender or winning a job after they’ve put the time, research and expertise into the development of the design. William G (Bill) Reed is a Boston based architect, he and Yudelson further describe how contracts for participants’ time and contributions can be managed effectively. Bill explains that they’ve developed Part A and Part B contracts. The Part A contract includes provision for three days of research and a two-day design charrette followed by Part B which is the remainder of services to carry out the construction. They request proposals for both Part A and Part B of the contracts, but only commit to Part A. Part A includes provision for collaboration to discover opportunities to support the most efficient design and construction related to costs, construction efficiency and operational efficiency. The Part B proposal is a ballpark figure for the remainder of work. This process might include, landscape architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, energy modellers, architects, water systems people and often determines if you have the best people for the job or if you are missing expertise that would potentially benefit the project’s objectives. 119
Often in the residential sector, this process is under-utilised or historically avoided by designers, engineers, builders and sub-contractors. Imagine the opportunities of bringing these disciplines together for a common outcome based on their expertise to communicate and integrate ideas into a systematic approach to development. If this remains to be an impossible feat, an alternative option could be to train project managers in sustainability or to train sustainability experts in building project management to ensure opportunities are well researched, analysed, discussed and contributed to during the design stages, through construction and into the commissioning of a home.
Education Recommendation: Integrate basic and advanced building science, whole systems thinking and integrated delivery into the National Training Standards – CPSISC skills deficiency
Target Audience: designers, developers, builders, trades people, and associated professionals aimed at reducing costs through effective design, planning, management and construction techniques. If all trades people and professionals involved in the development or renovation of a home understand the building science principles, whole systems thinking and integrated delivery, they will be better prepared to positively contribute to the energy efficiency of the overall building.
As part of the Continuous Improvement for the Construction Training Package: Energy Efficiency and Greening, particularly with regard to building and associated trades and project management, it is recommended to integrate basic building science into low level training (AQF 2-3) and advanced building science concepts into higher level training (AQF 3-5). There is also an opportunity to review and revise existing units to integrate the concept of whole systems theory and application into construction methodologies ensuring the energy efficiency industry language used is consistent with emphasis on communicating the resource and energy efficiency opportunities to stakeholders.
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This recommendation would support the integration of basic and advanced building science theory and application techniques into current education and training models in relation to any associated trade and professional programs to support an educational foundation in energy efficiency with regard to the basic fundamentals of the building envelop and the house as system. Each individual can have a positive or negative impact on a building, which training in these areas could mitigate. In addition, by understanding these foundation principles and using consistent language, building practitioners would have the potential to not only select and install current technology effectively, but also easily adapt these knowledge and skills for future technology opportunities with or without additional training beyond a technical product manual.
Some example qualifications and units where these principles and techniques are applicable and should be integrated into current training:
Qualifications:
• Certificate III in Plumbing, Solid Plastering, Carpentry, Joinery, Wall and Ceiling Lining, Painting and Decorating, Roof Tiling, Roof Plumbing, Bricklaying/Blocklaying, Plumbing (Mechanical Services)
• Certificate IV and Diploma in Plumbing and Services
• Certificate II & III in Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
• Certificate III & IV Timber Truss and Frame Design and Manufacture
• Certificate IV in Design of Kitchens, Bathrooms and Interior Spaces
• Certificate IV & Diploma in Timber Truss and Frame Design
• Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction
• Diploma of Design (Drafting)
• Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Engineering, Architectural)
• Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration
• Advanced Diploma of Sustainable Building Design
• Vocational Graduate Certificate and Diploma of Building Design
• Vocational Graduate Certificate in Energy Efficient Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Design
• Cert IV and Diploma (Sustainable) Landscape Design
Skills Sets
• BSB07 Design Fundamentals Skill Set
Individual Units
• 91318NSW Building Thermal Performance Assessment (Residential)
• CPCCCM1012A Work effectively and sustainably in the construction industry
• CPPCMN3001B Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
• CPCSUS4001A Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
• CPCCBC4020A Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures
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• CPCCBC4001A Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for low rise building projects
• CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract
• CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects
• CPCCBC4005A Produce labour and material schedules for ordering
• CPCCBC4006A Select, procure and store construction materials for low rise projects
• CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work
• CPCCBC4008A Conduct on-site supervision of the building and construction project
• CPCCBC4010A Apply structural principles to residential low-rise constructions
• BSBSMB406A Manage finances
• CPCCBC4012A Read and interpret plans and specifications
• CPCCBC4018A Apply site surveys and set out procedures to building and construction projects
• CPCCSV5013A Apply principles of energy efficient design to buildings
• CPCCBC5004A Supervise and apply quality standards to the selection of building and construction materials
• CPCCBC5005A Select and manage building and construction contractors
• CPCCBC5007A Administer the legal obligations of a building and construction contract
• CPCCBC5009A Identify services layout and connection methods in medium rise construction projects
• CPPCMN5001A Plan for a sustainable business (asset and facilities management)
• PRMPFES43A Prevent ozone depleting substance and synthetic greenhouse gas emissions (fire protection)
• CPPCMN4012A Contribute to sustainable solutions over a building’s life cycle (operations).
Education Recommendation: Post-construction performance testing inspections
Development of accredited training for a potential new industry role, being third-party inspectors or assessors to support home assessments and post-construction energy performance inspections based on the ‘Air Barrier Technologies’ short course delivered by Gordon Institute of TAFE. Building science should be included or required as a pre-requisite for learners, as well as continuing education requirements.
For further information, including examples of post construction performance testing, please see USDOE, Certification, Working Together: Researchers, Industry, Educators and Government in The International Experience Chapter of this report (page 29).
Even in an ideal world when professionals and tradespeople have the knowledge, skills and capacity to apply building science techniques for truly high performance and zero energy buildings, we can only be sure the building is performing as designed and built, when we test it. See the description of the EVHA for residential home builders and remodelers. 120 These metrics are used to test home energy
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performance and compare homes.
• Duct Leakage Test: e.g. 0cfm to exterior/78 cfm total @ 25 Pa
• Blower Door Test: e.g. 1.3 (ACH) Air Changes per Hour 50
• HERS Index: e.g. typically 40-60, unless photovoltaic is included, then typically in the 30s (0 HERS Index would be a net-zero energy home score).
Mentoring Recommendation: Development of an industry mentoring program
Third-party inspectors could also act as green building consultants from the onset of new building project and follow through with the final assessment meeting both the regulatory requirements and mandatory disclosure or support recommendations for the improvement of a home for a renovation. As stated on the US EPA website, “Third-Party Verification with the help of independent Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, airtightness, and duct sealing details”. 121
Although inspectors or consultants are rarely viewed as mentors, if these individuals had the appropriate skills and were supported, they could assist with the up-skilling of industry practitioners on building sites given their expertise. As our workforce transitions into active retirement, this may become an opportunity for individuals to up-skill or re-skill to remain in the industry in an advisory role to support our current practitioners.
Training Recommendation: Development of an industry short course for green building professionals
This could also support components of Australian programs, such as mandatory disclosure, home sustainability assessors, home insulation safety programs based on the US standards and continuing education requirements (USGBC LEED for homes, AIA Sustainable Design, DOE Building America, NAHB National Green Building Standard verifiers, EEBA Houses that Work, RESNET), including aspects of:
• Basic and advanced building science
• Project management for integrated delivery
• The NGBS, SSU and the PG&E National Sustainable Advisor Programs.
Energy efficiency opportunities are lost when insulation is installed, but the building is not properly sealed leaving large areas prone to air leakage reducing the overall efficiency of the building. Alternatively, when an existing home has the air gaps identified to seal and install insulation, there is an extremely high potential impact on indoor air quality if mechanical ventilation is not incorporated into the home. This impact is not only prevalent in existing home renovations, but also when new homes are built with a tight building envelope, there are potential negative impacts resulting in poor indoor air quality and moisture related issues which can be minimised or eliminated through construction techniques and mechanical ventilation.
Training Recommendation: Integrate building science principles and energy efficiency into training – skills deficiency
Target Audience: building inspectors and surveyors.
There is an opportunity for building inspectors to up-skill in energy efficiency to support one additional inspection between the frame and plaster to ensure insulation is properly installed as well as house wrap or sheathing. These inspectors could double up as energy efficiency auditors similar to RESNET Home Energy Inspections and support an audit/verifier inspection for the purposes of a green building
Recommendations
standard inspection. Lastly, the final inspection conducted by the inspector could be complemented by a blower door test and/or thermal imaging as a last opportunity for improvement for high performance housing.
Education Recommendation: Resource development and dissemination
Target Audience: developers, builders, project and site managers, designers, sales people, trades people and homeowners.
In an effort to reduce market competition, similar to the AIA Continuing Professional Development program, it would be ideal to engage and partner with the Building America Program providers, the US DOE and the NAHB Research Center, to enhance our existing Home Technical Manual to incorporate building science and others aspects into the manual based on the climate specific American manuals for developers, builders, project and site managers, designers, sales, trades people and homeowners. Or, alternatively, develop a new manual for designers, practitioners, and sales people to expand scope.
Training resources should be developed in collaboration with industry groups and manufacturers for consistent industry language, principles and application techniques. They need to be made freely available for rapid dissemination to support training consistency and efficiency in a variety of delivery modes, paper, online, interactive, social media, smart phone applications or even iTunes U compatible with both PC and Mac computers, etc.
Training Recommendation: Training the trainers (RESNET) – skills deficiency
Target Audience: TAFE, higher educaton and industry trainers delivering training related to residential construction.
Support the integration of building science, systems theory, energy efficiency and a green building standard into current teaching practices. The USA RESNET program is a great example of a training network. Up-skilling based on these recommendations should be developed and supported for consistency. If a construction standard is developed or if home energy performance assessors’ or verifiers’ knowledge and skills increase in demand in the near future, training will be required to meet demand.
Industry and Professional Associations RecommendationsTarget Audience: building practitioners.
Industry organisations have a very large role in this market offering opportunities to lead and support industry while providing training and liaising with government on behalf of members. They are the key to moving the residential construction sector into a new period while increasing industry best practice and supporting members to excel as leaders during our transition to a low-carbon economy.
Industry Continuing Professional Development Recommendation: Building Science Basics and Advanced – skills deficiency
Target Audience: existing building practitioners (designers, specialty trades people, builders, managers).
Training is currently offered by both HIA and MBA as an introductory course on green building, although very crucial as an introduction to ongoing training, this current session is mainly focused on the pre-construction concepts such as design and alternative building materials. The supplementary material in both the training manual and the Home Technical Manual could offer more construction insight regarding material selection and application, recycling and reuse and energy efficiency.
TAFEs, private training providers, industry associations, organisations, and businesses have an opportunity to develop and deliver the next phase of green building training to builders and tradespeople
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focused on building science and project management based on energy efficiency. For example training needs to support:
• moisture control with drainage planes, rain screens, mechanical ventilation or forced air recovery systems;
• energy performance focusing on the building envelop (shell) and integrated technology;
• appropriately sized HVAC, improved ductwork in conditioned spaces with minimal air leakage; and
• indoor air quality.
These knowledge and skills areas will increase in importance, as our structures become more airtight to increase our energy efficiency. Manufacturers will be a key source of information based on technical application requirements of high-efficiency products, although knowledge on the underpinning principles and consistent language will need to be used across industry sectors for effective product selection and application. On review, the current industry training is informative and useful as a foundation to sustainably built environments, although not practical for application on a building site where quality and risk management would offer more opportunities for builder and trade contributions.
Please see the Education Recommendation: Building Science Basics Heading and the Education Recommendation: Building Science Advanced Heading for more information.
Continuing Professional Development Recommendation: Development and delivery on whole systems project and site management and integrated delivery – Skills shortage and deficiency
Target audience: project/site managers and trades people.
Please see the Education Recommendation: Develop and deliver education in whole systems project and site management and integrated delivery Heading for more information.
Industry or Government Recommendation: Develop and implement a national industry standard for green high performance construction
Target Audience: building practitioners.
In an effort to encourage industry best practice and support a national approach to high performance and sustainable homes, industry needs to develop a consistent language and approach to green building. This approach must be underpinned by building science and verified by third-party inspectors. The next step is post-construction performance testing based on the airtightness of the building envelop (shell), duct system and indoor air quality based on air exchanges per hour.
Left: Example of a blue rigid foam board for exterior thermal insulation and a black rain screen used as an air and vapour barrier with additional internal insulation within the frame of the structure, SMUD E-House.
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Similar to the US EPA ENERGY STAR program, USGBC LEED for homes or the NAHB National Green Building Standard, develop of a voluntary industry-led standard to provide guidance across the residential housing sector on building performance opportunities, with current BCA energy efficiency regulations as a baseline based on building science and integrated technology, material selection and installation standards to reduce confusion and support convergence skills across industry. The standard would easily align with ENERGY STAR ratings, building code inspections and mandatory disclosure complemented by building envelope performance tests. Similar to the US, this would be an opportunity to not only upskill practitioners in building science, but also add opportunities for energy efficiency standards and regulations to be assessed and signed off by regulators, like building inspectors or surveyors. If inspections and post-construction testing were integrated into the standard building process, it may also remove the barrier of additional paperwork that would otherwise need to be tracked and submitted by the builder. The training opportunity in building science may also prove useful to improve the current quality standards for high performance buildings related to moisture management and integrated technology leading in the longer term towards zero energy homes.
Please see the Education recommendation: Building science and post-construction performance testing inspections heading for more information.
Industry Recommendation: Building verification inspections
Target Audience: building regulators, inspectors, and surveyors.
In addition to the final building inspection to support regulatory requirements, there is an opportunity for an additional building inspection between the frame and plaster. This would offer building inspectors an opportunity to upskill in energy efficiency to ensure insulation is safely and properly installed, as well as air and vapour barriers or sheathing. As previously mentioned these inspectors could double up as home energy performance assessors or verifiers similar to the US RESNET Home Energy Inspections and support an audit/verifier inspection for the purposes of a green building standard inspection. There is also an opportunity for these inspectors to also conduct a blower door test for air leakage and adequate air exchanges upon final inspection.
Review legislation and Australian Building Codes to ensure all opportunities to increase home resource efficiency, financial incentives and public safety in the building industry have been exhausted. Also support a building codes feedback loop to reduce barriers in the building codes and challenges for builders, as well as incentives like streamlining planning application processes for high performance homes (DOE).
Industry Recommendation: Develop an industry-wide awards program based on a comparison of post-construction home performance testing metrics, materials selected, house size, costs and construction methods (NAHB & US DOE EVHA).
Target audience: builders.
In an effort to increase market penetration of new technologies and industry best practice, industry associations and other organisations have an opportunity to support builders while increasing our housing efficiency and reducing our emissions. The fact that typically, these builders are not only meeting energy efficiency regulatory requirements, but also often going beyond these measures to meet a variety of sustainability challenges should not only be rewarded, but also these builders should be looked at as examples of leaders in the industry and support should be given by promoting their homes through public awards. This would also offer industry practitioners and homeowners an opportunity to learn from one another, while measuring, benchmarking and continuously improving our new housing stock working toward our carbon abatement targets.
The awards must be easy to participate in, with standardised metrics, such as building performance
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testing at post-construction and support, sharing insight on design, the types of materials selected, the construction methods, etc. Additional points could be added if education, training or mentoring programs are used, especially sharing techniques with others as a mentor or increasing communication with homeowners.
VET Industry Recommendation: Train the Trainers on building science training and other training opportunities for building practitioners
Target audience: Vocational Education and Training (VET) practitioners.
Similar to the US DOE, an opportunity exists in Australia for government and industry leaders to work with educators to upskill our builders and related industries to increase sustainable building practices in the mainstream environment. Energy efficiency training through building science and systems theory is required to meet industry demands due to a rapidly changing building industry. If training is required as part of Professional and Building Licenses in the future, we must first ensure we have qualified trainers to deliver this training in every state and territory.
Industry Accreditation Recommendation: Development of an industry-wide accredited continuing education program for industry based on a provider program and member requirements
Target audience: designers, builders, trades people, contractors, trainers, educators and consultants.
Use the AIA Continuing Education Model to support members to undertake annual training related to sustainability and energy efficiency as a percentage of their annual requirements to be a sustainable builder. This process could be similar to the Victorian Building Practitioners Board Continuing Professional Development program in Australia, through a variety of informal or formal methods provided by vetted organisations and assessed on a points-based system annually. The methods might include face-to-face training, online (interactive, on-demand, live), magazine articles with follow-up questions for submission, all-day forums, short programs, conferences, award presentations, expos, or even keeping certification up to date by submitting annual data about sustainability application within the business or on-site application using new technology and sharing knowledge or application techniques with others through on-site demonstrations or mentoring.
This opportunity may be more attractive to industry members who have not identified a need for continuing education by assessment or career advancement through higher qualifications. Although a need still exists to ensure the equality of continuing professional development programs, it is important to ensure that they are consistent from one to another based on an industry standard. Lastly, consumer or employer distinctions based on knowledge and skills of green building are becoming more evident; therefore, there is an increasing demand for industry to attain an accredited industry recognised professional standing to distinguish themselves from others in the labour market. For example, an individual with a LEED Associate Professional standing for the LEED for Homes rating is given the title LEED AP Homes. 122 USGBC Education Delivery Partners and Faculty are the only educators available to training individuals within the USGBC rating systems and individuals must pass an exam before being given recognition as a LEED AP or a similar industry standing. 123 These individuals must also continue their education through prescriptive pathways to keep up to date with industry changes. 124
Education Recommendation: Resource development and dissemination
Target Audience: education and continuing professional development providers and building practitioners.
In an effort to reduce market competition, similar to the AIA Continuing Professional Development program, it would be ideal to engage and partner with the Building America Program providers, the US DOE and the NAHB Research Center, to enhance our existing Australian Home Technical Manual to incorporate building science and others aspects into the manual based on the climate specific
Recommendations
American manuals for developers, builders, project and site managers, designers, sales, tradespeople and homeowners. Or, alternatively, develop a new manual for designers, practitioners, and consumers.
Offer simple and easy to use benchmarking checklists for builders to submit based on individual projects throughout the year. This will help remind them of the opportunities and use what they have learnt in the training. Similar systems are in use in the USA as described in this report, including:
• Checklists – Build It Green: Green Point, NAHB National Green Building Standards, LEED for Homes
• Standards – LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR, NAHB National Green Building Standards
• House Labels – ENERGY STAR, EPA Indoor airPLUS, NAHB National Green Building Standards, LEED for Homes
Industry Recommendations: Homeowner education
Target Audience: builders and trades people.
Ensure homeowner’s manuals are developed and offered to occupants for instructions on effective use and ongoing maintenance of systems, appliances and services within the home for long-term efficiency. Develop and use contractual agreements between the developer, contractor, trades person, owners and/or tenants with regard to performance standards, payback period and financial investment to support accountability and liability specific to trades, services, and ongoing use and maintenance. This would support a checks and balance system ensuring tradespeople and contractors are responsible for call-backs due to incorrect installation or application reducing the energy efficiency of the structure.
Industry Recommendation: Develop education tools to support increase market entry of existing and new technologies
Target audience: building practitioners, homeowners, property and financial services practitioners, manufactures, utility companies, etc.
Work with industry to develop display and education hubs through the Local, State and Federal Government, education institutions, industry associations, utility companies, etc. These opportunities would a) educate the public and practitioners on practical demonstrations and techniques to support an understanding of energy use, supply, demand and energy efficiency, and b) increase the integration of new technologies into the market. An opportunity could be developed through utility companies or product manufacturers or suppliers to initiate a practical research and development program with consumers to install and evaluate new technologies to increase product entry into the market. (SMUD E-House and PG&E technical display center models).
Government RecommendationsAlthough this report focuses more on education and training aligned with government policy and incentives, it was not a review of government incentives. Incentives for builders, developers, homeowners, etc., could expedite Australia’s transition from building energy-efficient homes to net-zero energy homes. The US report conducted by the NAHB Research Center, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, offers insight into their research on policy incentives and opportunities in line with increasing net-zero energy buildings into the market.
Research Recommendation: Support research into the potential impact of zero energy homes in Australia
Target audience: State and Federal Government and related industry practitioners.
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Government needs to support a study on additional opportunities to encourage not only builders, but also homeowners to initiate and integrate zero energy homes into the mainstream marketplace. An Australian study, released in August of 2010 by Shauna Coffey 125, summarised US-based incentives by type, being taxation-based, rebates and subsidies, and procedural advantages. Further research into successful and robust policy needs to be considered in Australia, such as additional tax credits beyond the current norm for sustainable construction products, redistribution of Local Government levies and ‘green-door’ expedited development approvals, or financial lending incentives which all have significant potential to encourage the development of sustainable housing.
Strategy Recommendation: Set improvement targets, track progress and communicate outcomes
Target audience: building regulators, practitioners, State and Federal Government, property and financial services practitioners and homeowners.
Government and industry associations have the opportunity to work together to develop a goal for the housing industry in Australia, by setting targets, such as Net-Zero Energy Homes by 2030. Unlike the USGBC, the Green Building Council of Australia is not currently supporting detached single dwelling residential housing and has stated that the residential sector is being acted on by government and industry groups. State and Federal Governments also have a role to play in supporting the following opportunities:
• Challenge our builders and tradespeople to increase the quality of our homes while increasing the home’s energy efficiency and reducing our carbon emissions across Australia (US DOE) through the development of an industry standard, measurement and benchmarking system similar to the NAHB Research Center National Green Building Standard and EVHA program in partnership with the US DOE.
• Develop and use post-construction performance testing inspections and labelling systems to support targets and comparatively measure and benchmark building performance in the longer term at the national and, potentially, the international level. This opportunity aligns with mandatory disclosure and will create an opportunity for industry associations to award builders based on application of construction performance standards for increased energy and resource efficiency. This will support a government system to effectively measure, monitor and communicate reductions in carbon emissions. (See US DOE Builder’s Challenge).
• Support Continuing Professional Development. Our licensing agencies, such as the building commission or the Building Practitioners Board (BPB) can liaise with industry associations to support the development, delivery an ongoing professional development of our practitioners. Currently, there is little incentive for ongoing training across industry subjects in this area unless you are on the cutting edge. It is becoming more mainstream and an awards program that recognises the leading industry practitioners in this sector could support more industry integration of these practices. Our current industry led short course is only an abbreviated version of the depth required by industry professionals to support the demand for knowledge and skills required to develop high performance housing.
• Work with the US EPA to support development of an Australian version of the Indoor airPLUS Professional program and resources to support the associated building professionals and trades people to participate in on-site mentoring program as professional development training. 123 The building science basics training reviewed and recommended in this report would also offer a basic fundamental introduction to thermal enclosures and associated issues related to indoor air quality. Therefore, basic building science training could also support indoor air quality training for new job entrants in associated apprenticeship programs or onsite, alongside their mentor on the job. This opportunity would ideally ensure both the existing workforce and new entrants understand tight
Recommendations
building structures, thermal performance for energy efficiency and the related indoor air quality issues. An associated recommendation is then to also support an indoor air quality certification program in line with energy efficiency programs for new homes similar to those in the USA, ensuring our energy efficient homes are being built without additional adverse effects on the occupants.
Recommendation for existing homes and energy upgrades: Work with the US EPA to develop an Australian version of their publication to increase the energy efficiency of existing homes while ensuring the indoor air quality is not compromised.
This resource needs to be utilised during OHS training for anyone working on home energy upgrades or renovations, especially when sealing a home or installing insulation. There is an associated risk to the occupants’ health when homes are sealed and ventilation is not considered or actions are not taken to ensure air exchange can effectively occur to minimise the build-up of toxins within the home. See US EPA Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades. 126
Recommendation: Local Government
Target Audience: Local Government planning departments and business development.
Local Government councils can offer builders planning processing incentives to increase the efficiency of homes by streamlining the application process and moving those planning applications to the front of the queue.
As part of sustainable community development and business clusters, local councils also have an opportunity to develop Sustainable Business Clusters (for more information, including examples of Sustainable Business Clusters, please see section the Thinking Big: A New Community Development Heading in The International Experience Chapter of this report.). Local councils across Australia have an opportunity to work directly with businesses and industry to develop local business networks, or clusters, to attract people living in the local area to jobs, especially young people. Alternatively, councils could work toward attracting businesses to the area based on the qualifications and experience of the residents to support the development of a wider variety of job types within closer proximity to existing and developing communities. The outcomes would include reduced carbon emissions, reduced strain on the public transport systems and road congestion, as well as potential to increase community involvement, leisure activities and overall happiness in our communities.
Work needs to be undertaken across councils to support the growing Australian population, urban sprawl and increasing housing density, as a strategic planning approach. Planners need to work with a variety of stakeholders to support both the way the houses are developed and how communities are developed or re-developed as mixed-use areas to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, becoming more sustainable in the long term. Australia needs more opportunities for residents to work closer to home.
Research Recommendation: Support national research laboratories to develop practical and applied practices and new technology
Target Audience: researchers, building practitioners, government, educators, and homeowners.
This research would be dedicated to transitioning our building sector to a low-carbon economy focused on:
• Collaborative research across building practitioners such as engineering, design, builders, tradespeople, surveyors, and energy/resource efficiency experts to develop new opportunities that are cost neutral or have a positive return on investment.
• Building science and energy innovation and applied research with homeowners (DOE Research
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Laboratories and industry links for practical application, SMUD application and feedback of consumers with new technologies).
• Potential impacts and opportunities of zero energy homes and communities to develop incentives for future planning policy similar to the SOMO and Canal Park developments. Currently, SV is supporting Sustainable Precincts and Zero Emission Neighbourhoods in Victoria.
• New technology application and best practice techniques in collaboration with manufacturers, suppliers and building practitioners.
• Feedback loops between researchers, government and industry practitioners to remove barriers, such as building codes, develop new research strategies or opportunities and initiate new practical models for testing in a laboratory setting to inform new cost efficient opportunities.
Community RecommendationRaise awareness through local councils of the training opportunities to support reduced energy demand, increased energy efficiency through opportunities to renovate existing homes and links to increased home sales or lending opportunities in the area.
Develop and promote the use of technology display centres to inform industry practitioners, community members, and the property services sectors for consistency across the supply chain.
ISS Institute – Further ResearchRecommendation: Green Building Consultants or a National Sustainable Building Advisors Program
The Green Building Programs article, in the Fine Homebuilding magazine, states that, “green building consultants are typically brought in on the front end of the project to help with everything from site planning to the design of the mechanical systems to scheduling. While hiring consultants is not mandatory, it saves tremendous amounts of time and limits surprises when it comes to verification”. Teague, the author of the article, elaborates further by stating “the end result is a project that is more organised and successful. Not only do you start with a road map of the workflow for the entire project, but you also obtain an engineered plan ensuring that the home will function as a system”.
An opportunity may start to be realised for the development of green building consultants or a project manager role within the building process similar to the SSU Green Building Program or the PG&E National Green Building Advisor Program. This role would be required before the concept design stage and continue through to the occupant hand over. This roll would support a link between the homeowner, designer, builder, engineer, tradespeople, local council, developers, etc., enabling a smooth and cost-effective process ensuring all options and opportunities are weighed and planned at the onset of the project to ensure the most cost-effective and sustainable solutions are chosen based on the priorities of the developer and/or homeowner.
Similar to the other training recommended, this role would be supported by continuing professional development annually similar to the AIA (San Francisco Chapter) Continuing Education, USGBC Education Provider Program, and the PG&E – Pacific Energy Center advisor training.
Recommendation: Post-construction or as-built home energy performance assessors/verifiers
Individual houses have an opportunity for an as-built energy assessment to be conducted as a best practice opportunity, increasing the demand for accredited training, energy measurements and benchmarking. If a national green building standard and rating system including metrics is developed and implemented, this need will increase for assessors in the market.
Recommendations
Some of the training examples included:
• Post-Construction Energy Ratings
• Blower door testing
• Duct leakage testing
• Inspections during construction
• Metrics and benchmarking for comparison and continuous improvement.
Recommendation: Financial Lending
In an effort to see increased market changes more research and improvement needs to take place in the lending sector for home mortgages. The USA has two examples of mortgages linked to home improvements for energy efficiency or increasing the buying power of home buyers through changes to the appraisal process. The Australian market has not yet fully valued this opportunity, in part because there are no mechanisms in place for as-built performance measurements or metrics to measure one home against another to determine market value of efficiency gains.
Below is a list of USA websites offering insight on this opportunity from the lenders perspective, although to fully realise the potential we must recognise that there is a need for metrics and benchmarking of homes based on as built performance of energy and resource efficiency to enable us to compare. The two types of mortgages are:
1. Energy Improvement Mortgage
2. Energy Efficient Mortgage
List of USA websites:
• Federal Housing Authority’s Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) 127
• Energy Efficient Mortgages Factsheet 128
• RESNET Home Energy Ratings: A Primer, How the Mortgage Industry Works 129
• RESNET Home Energy Mortgage Information. 130
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References
Endnotes1 Sustainable Policies for a Dynamic Future, Carolynne Bourne AM, ISS Institute 2007.
Note: This is a reference to a manual report held on file by ISS Institute.
2 Ibid.
3 Directory of Opportunities. Specialised Courses with Italy. Part 1: Veneto Region, ISS Institute, 1991.Note: This is a reference to a manual report held on file by ISS Institute.
4 “The United Nations Non Government Organisation (NGO) has worked for many years to create a global buy-in on sustainability. Starting with the definition developed in 1987 this organisation is now working on many fronts to ensure that sustainability is understood and adopted by all sectors of Government, Industry, Education and the Community”.
The following web site link will enable connection to the activities of this UN NGO that are relevant to this report. <http://unngosustainability.org/>
5 Building Science Corporation, Info-201: Common Advanced Framing Details, viewed May 2009, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/information-sheet-common-advanced-framing-details>.
6 Energy and Technical Resource Center, PG&E, CA USA 2009.
7 Building Science, Wikipedia 2011, <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_science>.
8 Wilson, Justin, EEBA, Houses That Work training, Sacramento, CA, USA December 2009.
9 NAHB Research Center, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, Feb 2006, USA.
10 The Minne PHit House, Passivhaus vs. Passive Solar, <http://www.minnephithouse.com/?page_id=63>.
11 Skills Australia’s Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy 2010, pp. 1-2. <http://www.issinstitute.org.au/pdfs/WWF_strategy.pdf>
12 Middle Tennessee State University website, <http://www.mtsu.edu/>.
13 Swinburne University of Technology website, <http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ncs/Education/CarbonAcc.php>.
14 International Young Professionals Foundation website, <http://www.iypf.org/>.
15 Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society website, <http://www.pigammamu.org>.
16 SustainUS Young Professionals website, <http://www.sustainus.org>.
17 TakingITGlobal website, <http://www.tigweb.org/>.
18 World Commission on Environment and Development 1987, Our Common Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
19 COAG, Green Skills Agreement, 2009, p. 2, <http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Programs/WorkDevelop/ClimateChangeSustainability/Documents/GSAgreement.pdf>.
20 ClimateWorks Australia 2010, Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia 2010 and Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia 2011 update, ClimateWorks Australia website, viewed 2 May 2012, <http://www.climateworksaustralia.com/low_carbon_growth_plan.html>.
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References
21 Allen Consulting Group 2009, Victoria’s Greenhouse Opportunity Set: New Growth Prospects in a Carbon Constrained World, 2009, <http://www.allenconsult.com.au/publications/view.php?id=335>.
22 International Organisation of Employers website, viewed 2 May 2012, <http://www.ioe-emp.org/>.
23 Australian Government, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Green Home Loans and Green Start <http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/programs-and-rebates/green-loans.aspx>.
24 Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program, Technical Design Portfolio: Whole System Design Suite: Elements of Applying a Whole Systems Design Approach (1-10) <http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/Whole_System_Design.aspx>.
25 Melvin, Jeff, Building Science Corp Newsletter, May 2008 <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/newsletter/newsletter-2008-05-16-hollow-building/at_download/file> Oct. 2011.
26 Griffin, Ann, Earth Advantage Blog, August 30, 2010, <http://www.earthadvantage.org/blog/single/more-than-one-in-five-homes-achieve-a-sustainability-standard/>.
27 Commonwealth of Australia 2008, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, National Framework for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Rating and House Price in the ACT, <http://www.nathers.gov.au/about/publications/pubs/eer-house-price-act.pdf>.
28 Joseph Lstiburek, The Mold Explosion, Why Now?, Building Science Corporation, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/published-articles/pa-mold-explosion-why-now>.
29 Ibid.
30 SOMO Living®, One planet. One place., January 2010, <http://www.sonomamountainvillage.com/community/index.php>.
31 SOMO, SOMO Homes, May 2010 <http://www.sonomamountainvillage.com/homes/index.php>.
32 SOMO, Our Vision, February 2011<http://www.sonomamountainvillage.com/community/vision.php>.
33 Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster website, viewed 10 May 2012, <http://sonomamountainbusinesscluster.com/index.html>.
34 Sanoma Mountain Business Cluster, About Us & Our Mission, June 2010 <http://sonomamountainbusinesscluster.com/aboutus.html>.
35 Barangaroo Development Authority website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.barangaroo.com/index.cfm?menu_id=1>
36 One Planet Communities website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.oneplanetcommunities.org/communities/>.
37 Barangaroo, Key Facts, <http://www.barangaroo.com/keyfacts.cfm?menu_id=2>.
38 Canal Park Development Association website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.canalparkdc.org/park_developer.aspx>.
39 Washington’s Canal Park project information, Canal Park Development Association website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.canalparkdc.org/neighborhood.aspx>.
40 Washington Canal Park, The Neighborhood, viewed April 2010, <http://www.canalparkdc.org/
References
neighborhood.aspx>.
41 Building Science Corporation website, <http://www.buildingscience.com/>.
42 Passiv Haus Institute website, <http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PassiveHouseInfo.html>.
43 Building Green website, <http://www.buildinggreen.com/>.
44 Green Building Institute 2012, Green Building Institute website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.greenbuildinginstitute.org/>.
45 Building Performance Institute website, <http://www.bpi.org>.
46 YouTube, U.S. Dept. of Energy Builders Challenge - Glenbrook U video, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFugSei6ME>.
47 YouTube, EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale) video, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuDZ8SCmQA&feature=related>.
48 US DOE’s Building America Program, <http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/>.
49 US DOE, US Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/corporate/myp08overview_ch1.pdf>.
50 US DOE 2012, US DOE website, <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>.
51 US DOE 2012, US DOE website, Building Technologies Program page, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/plans_implementation_results.html>.
52 Refer to section on NAHB Research Center: Energy Efficiency, Building America U.S. Department of Energy: Research Toward Zero Energy Homes, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, <http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/casestudies/zehpotentialimpact.pdf>.
53 US DOE 2012, US DOE website, About the DOE Challenge Home page, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/about.html>.
54 US DOE 2012, US DOE website, Homes page, <http://www.eere.energy.gov/topics/homes.html>.
55 US DOE, About Builders Challenge, August 2010 <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/about.html>.
56 US DOE, Building Technologies Program, Builders Challenge, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/>.
57 US DOE, Building America – Resources for Energy Efficient Homes, Building Science Education, February 2011, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/education.html#University>.
58 RESNET 2012, RESNET website, viewed May 2012, <http://www.resnet.us/>.
59 RESNET, HERS Index - What is a Home Energy Rating?, viewed June 2010 <http://www.resnet.us/home-energy-ratings>.
60 US DOE, Dual Certification with the National Green Building Standard, Builders Challenge Technical Bulletin, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mar 2010, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/pdfs/DualCertwithNGBS071609.pdf>.
61 US DOE 2010, US DOE website, viewed May 2012, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/escale.html>.
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62 US DOE 2010, US DOE website, viewed May 2012, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/climate_specific_publications.html>.
63 Workforce guidelines for Home Energy Updates <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/pdfs/ workforce_guidelines_home_energy_upgrades.pdf>.
64 Green Home Building Rating Systems - A Sample Comparison <http://www.nahbgreen.org/ Content/pdf/GreenHomeRatingComparison.pdf>.
65 NAHB Research Center, 2006, NAHB Research Center, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, <http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/casestudies/zehpotentialimpact.pdf>.
66 US DOE and the NAHB Research Center, The Potential Impact of Zero Energy Homes, National Research Energy Laboratory, February 2006, Ibid
67 NAHB Research Center, Annual Verifier Accreditation Renewal, <http://verifiertraining.nahbrc.org/cart_builder.cfm?ProductID=30708>.
68 NAHB, How do I become a Certified Green Professional (CGP)?, March 2011, <http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=1420&genericContentID=88083>.
69 National Green Building Program website, 2011, Green Scoring Tool page, <http://www.nahbgreen.org/ScoringTool.aspx>.
70 National Green Building Program website, 2011, Certification Types & Fees page, <http://www.nahbgreen.org/Certification/certificationtypes.aspx>.
71 NAHB, National Green Building Standard, Find a Verifier, NAHBGreen: Educating Builders Advocating Green, <http://www.nahbgreen.org/Certification/findverifier.aspx>.
72 US DOE 2009, Builders Challenge Technical Bulletin, <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/pdfs/DualCertwithNGBS071609.pdf>.
73 NAHB 2012, NAHB website, EnergyValue Housing Award page, <http://www.nahbrc.com/evha/>.
74 The EEBA 2012 website, <http://www.eeba.org/housesthatwork/sessions/index.html>.
75 The EEBA 2012 website, <http://www.eeba.org/>.
76 Building science.com 2012, Building science.com website, Building Science Insights page, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-016-ventilation-top-ten-list?topic=doctypes/insights>.
77 Green Builders of Marin website, <http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/sustainability/greenbuilding/gbuild_index.cfm>.
78 SSU Green Building Program 2012, Sonoma State University website, <http://www.sonoma.edu/greenbuilding>.
79 AIA 2030 Initiative, AIA Seattle 2012, AIA Seattle website, <http://www.aiaseattle.org/aia2030>.
80 AIA 50 to 50 Strategy, AIA 2012, AIA website, <http://www.aia.org/practicing/groups/kc/ AIAS077430>.
81 AIA Cincinnati 2010, Comparison of United States Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes First Edition 2008 and National Association of Home Builders’ National Green Building Standard, viewed May 2012, <http://www.aiacincinnati.org/community/LEED_NAHB_Final.pdf>.
82 Ibid
References
83 AIA Continuing Education 2008, Guidelines For Approving AIA/CES Sustainable Design Courses document, viewed June 2012, <http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aias076887.pdf>.
84 Top 10 Designs, AIA 2012, AIA website, viewed June 2012, <http://www.aiatopten.org>.
85 AIA 2012, AIA website, 50to50 Wiki page, viewed <June 2012,http://wiki.aia.org>.
86 USGBC 2007, LEED for Homes Private Pilot document, viewed June 2012, <http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2267>.
87 Powered by Recurve 2012, Powered by Recurve website, viewed June 2012, <http://software.recurve.com/>.
88 USGBC 2012, US Green Building Council website, LEED for Homes page, viewed June 2012, <Council http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2135>.
89 USGBC Sample Manual and Project Team Instructions – updated 08/10/2010, <http://www.usgbcorg/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7667>.
90 USGBC, LEED® for Homes™ FAQ for Builders/Developers, June 2010 <http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3910>.
91 USGBC 2012, LEED® for Homes™ FAQ for Builders/Developers document, viewed June 2012, <http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3910>.
92 USGBC 2008, LEED® for Homes Rating System document, viewed June 2012, <http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3638>.
93 US EPA nd., Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications document, <http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/pdfs/construction_specifications.pdf>.
94 US EPA, Indoor Air Quality in Homes, November 2010, <http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/retrofits.html>.
95 US EPA n.d., Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades document,<http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/retrofits.html> or <http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html>.
96 USDOE Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/
pdfs/49397.pdf> or <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/retrofit_guidelines. html>.
97 US EPA 2009, EPA Green Building Publications listing, viewed June 2012, <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pdf/pubs/greenbldg_publist_final.pdf>.
98 PG&E n.d., Classes By Specialty Quick Reference guide, viewed June 2012, <http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/about/edusafety/training/stockton/quick_reference.pdf>.
99 Sustainable Building Advisor Program 2012, Sustainable Building Advisor Program website, viewed June 2012, <http://sbaprogram.com/schedule/>.
100 PG&E 2012, PG&E website, PG&E Energy Efficiency Classes page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/edusafety/training/pec/classes/>.
101 SMUD E-house and Solar Display <https://www.smud.org/en/video/cc-single-rebranded.html?bclid=769701255&bctid=25348478001>
102 SMUD n.d., SMUD Customer Advanced Technologies Frequently Asked Questions document, viewed June 2012, <https://www.smud.org/en/business/save-energy/energy-management-solutions/documents/FAQ%2011_17_06.pdf>.
References
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103 SMUD’s CAT <https://www.smud.org/en/business/save-energy/rebates-incentives-financing/customer-advanced-technologies.htm >.
104 SMUD Training <https://www.smud.org/en/residential/education-safety/workshops-and-training/>.
105 International Living Future Institute, Living Building Challenge, <https://ilbi.org/lbc/v2-0>.
106 EnergyValue Housing Awards 2012, EnergyValue Housing Awards website, viewed June 2012, http://www.nahbrc.com/evha/>
107 Alan Pears, Senior Lecturer, Global Studies, Social Science & Planning at RMIT University and Director of Sustainable Solutions
108 Ibid.
109 Ibid.
110 Ibid.
111 Lstiburek, Joseph, Builder’s Guide to Hot-Dry & Mixed –Dry Climates, Building Science Press, 2004, Introduction
112 Lstiburek, Joseph, Builder’s Guide to Hot-Dry & Mixed –Dry Climates, Building Science Press, 2004,p. 295
113 Building Science Corporation 2012, Guides and Manuals page, BSC Quality Control Checklist and Resource Appendix, viewed June 2012, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-building-america-quality-control-checklist/view?topic=doctypes/guides-and-manuals>.
114 Building Science Corporation 2012, Guides and Manuals page, Quality Assurance Roadmap for High Performance Residential Buildings, viewed June 2012, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-building-america-quality-assurance-roadmap/view?topic=doctypes/guides-and-manuals>.
115 Building science.com 2012, Guides and Manuals page, <http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals>.
116 Yudelson, Jerry, Green Building Through Integrated Design, 2009 McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
117 Yudelson, Jerry, Green Building Through Integrated Design, 2009 McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., p 12
118 Yudelson, Jerry, Green Building Through Integrated Design, 2009 McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., p 3
119 The EnergyValue Housing Award 2012, The EnergyValue Housing Award website, Top Stories page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.nahbrc.com/evha/>.
120 US EPA and US DOE, Features & Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes, Third-Party Verification <http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.nh_features>, August 2011
121 US Green Building Council 2011, US Green Building Council website, LEED Green Associate page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2191>.
122 US Green Building Council 2011, US Green Building Council website, Prescriptive Path for LEED APs Without Specialty page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2209>.
123 Ibid.
References
124 Coffey, Shauna, Sustainable residential development - preserving the project return, Your Building Prospering from Sustainable Returns, 25 Aug 2010, <http://yourbuilding.org/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=83&id=3528 http://yourbuilding.org/library/Coffey_2010_Preserving_the_Project_Return.pdf>.
125 US EPA 2012, US EPA website, Indoor airPLUS Building Professionals page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/building_professionals.html>.
126 <http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/epa_retrofit_protocols.pdf>.
127 Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency 2012, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency 2012 website, Federal Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US36F&re=1&ee=1>.
128 FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) Fact Sheet, viewed June 2012, <http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/bldrs_lenders_raters/EEM_Fact_Sheet.pdf>.
129 RESNET 2012, RESNET website, Home Energy Ratings: A Primer page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.resnet.us/ratings/HP09>.
130 RESNET 2012, RESNET website, Mortgage Information page, viewed June 2012, <http://www.resnet.us/ratings/mortgages>.
Additional Resources• US EPA Resources for Commercial Builders and Building Managers to further understand and
support effective energy efficiency and indoor air quality Resources in this sector.
• Building Science Corporation <http://www.buildingscience.com/index_html>
• buildingscience.com <http://www.buildingscience.com/index_html>
• Building Science Digests
• Building Science Insights
• Designs That Work
• Enclosures That Work
• Guides And Manuals
• Information Sheets
• Published Articles
• Research Reports
• National Institute of Building Sciences, Whole Building Design Guide including details of integrated design and project teams
• Build It Green
• Builder’s Guide and Green Point Checklist for new homes
• Website guides and checklists, e.g. Built It Green <http://www.builditgreen.org/guidelines--checklists/>, Green Home Guide <http://greenhomeguide.com/>
References
9392
• Housing and Urban Development has created a database of resources <http://toolbase.org/>
• The Green Building Educator’s Toolkit, <http://www.nahbgreen.org/Education/toolkit.aspx>, is an annotated bibliography for two- and four-year university programs in Residential Construction Management. It represents an assessment of—and response to—these types of institutions’ needs for instructional materials on sustainability and green building. It is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of all green building resources but rather a broad sampling. The Toolkit contains the following types of items:
- Annotated bibliography of resources
- Instructional aides
- Course syllabi
- Approaches to green curriculum
- The assessment of institutional needs was made by conducting four focus groups comprising 17 participants from 14 schools. The primary prompt was, “What do you most need in a Green-Curriculum Toolkit?” The response was to develop this Toolkit.
- The most relevant section for the purposes of this report is located in the Toolkit’s Appendix A: Green Building for Building Professionals, Appendix B: Jefferson State Community College Green Curriculum Development, and Appendix C: Purdue University Green Curriculum Development, specifically the Appendix A Outline.
References Attachments
The attached documents offer further insights into the programs and opportunities described in this report.
9594
Attachments
Attachment 1Builder’s Challenge Dual Certification Overview
Overview of Required NGBS Provisions to Meet the Builders Challenge
Builders Challenge Requirement (only mandatory provisions listed)
NGBSPractice(s) Notes
Energy performance requirement 702.2 Must obtain at least 60 points, exceeding 2006 International Energy Conservation Code by 30% or more.
Third-party verification 704.6.1 NGBS awards 5 points.
BCQC Requirement 1: Project Documentation 701.3
602.12
BCQC Requirement 2: Building Envelope Moisture Management
BCQC Requirement 23: Moisture Management Field Verification
602.3.1
602.3.2
602.6
602.9
602.12
903.2.1
903.2.2
Mandatory in NGBS.
NGBS awards 4 points.
Mandatory in NGBS.
Mandatory in NGBS.
NGBS awards 6 points.
Mandatory in NGBS.
NGBS awards 3 points.
BCQC Requirement 5: Space Conditioning Design 701.4.1.1
701.4.1.2
704.5.1
704.5.2
Mandatory in NGBS.
Mandatory in NGBS.
NGBS awards 1 point.
NGBS awards 1 point.
BCQC Requirement 10: ENERGY STAR® Windows 701.4.4.1 BCQC require that windows be labeled ENERGY STAR.
BCQC Requirement 11: Whole-Building Mechanical Ventilation I 902.2.1 NGBS awards 8 to 17 points, depending on system type.
BCQC Requirement 12: Kitchen Ventilation 902.1.1(3) NGBS awards 8 points.
BCQC Requirement 13: Bathroom Ventilation 902.1.1(1) Mandatory in NGBS.
BCQC Requirement 14: Clothes Dryer Venting 902.1.1(2) Mandatory in NGBS.
BCQC Requirement 15: Duct Leakage 704.6.2.2 NGBS awards up to 15 points.
BCQC Requirement 16: Air Barrier and Insulation Integrity 701.4.3.1
701.4.3.2
701.4.3.4
703.2.1
902.6
Mandatory in NGBS.
Mandatory in NGBS as applicable.
Mandatory in NGBS.
Third-party verification required.
NGBS awards up to 8 points.
BCQC Requirement 17: Filtration 902.2.3 NGBS awards 3 points.
BCQC Requirement 18: Combustion Safety 901.1.1
901.1.3
NGBS awards up to 10 points.
BCQC Requirement 19: Carbon Monoxide 901.12 NGBS awards 3 points.
BCQC Requirement 22: Air Handler Location 901.1.2 NGBS awards 5 points.
BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM | May 2009 www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge
For more information, go to www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge or www.nahbgreen.org
EERE Information Center
1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463www.eere.energy.gov
Attachments
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NGBS Scoring for New ConstructionICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard™
© 2010 NAHB Research Center, Inc.
Chapter Required Points Claimed PointsAdditional Claimed Points
Above BronzePoint Shortfall Mandatory Status
Chapter 5: Lot Design, Preparation, & Development 39 0 (39) N/AChapter 6: Resource Efficiency 45 0 (45) Not Met
Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency 30 0 (30) Not MetChapter 8: Water Efficiency 14 0 (14) N/A
Chapter 9: Indoor Environmental Quality 36 0 (36) Not MetChapter 10: Operation, Maintenance, & Building Owner Education 8 0 (8) Not Met
Section Totals 172 0 0 (172)Additional Points Above Bronze 50 0 (50)
Total Points 222 0 (222)
* Reach required Bronze score for each chapter* Reach required Additional Points for this project* Meet all mandatory items* For Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency:
~ Claim at least 30 points from Section 702 (Performance Path) or Section 703 (Prescriptive Path) and select a minimum of 2 items from Section 704, OR~ Choose the Alternative Bronze Compliance Path
Chapter Required Points Claimed PointsAdditional Claimed Points
Above SilverPoint Shortfall Mandatory Status
Chapter 5: Lot Design, Preparation, & Development 66 0 (66) N/AChapter 6: Resource Efficiency 79 0 (79) Not Met
Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency 60 0 (60) Not MetChapter 8: Water Efficiency 26 0 (26) N/A
Chapter 9: Indoor Environmental Quality 65 0 (65) Not MetChapter 10: Operation, Maintenance, & Building Owner Education 10 0 (10) Not Met
Section Totals 306 0 0 (306)Additional Points Above Silver 100 0 (100)
Total Points 406 0 (406)
* Reach required Silver score for each chapter* Reach required Additional Points for this project
To achieve Silver:
Revised December 23, 2010
This project has not met all the requirements for Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald.
All rights reserved. This document is protected by U.S. copyright law.
To achieve Bronze:
You have not met any energy path minimum points requirements yet.You have not met the minimum 2 required items from Section 704.
This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.
This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.* Reach required Additional Points for this project
* Meet all mandatory items* For Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency:
~ Claim at least 30 points from Section 702 (Performance Path) or Section 703 (Prescriptive Path)~ Select a minimum of 2 items from Section 704
This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.
You have not met the minimum 2 required items from Section 704.You have not met any energy path minimum points requirements yet.
NGBS Scoring for New ConstructionNational Green Building Certification
©2010 NAHB Research Center, Inc.All rights reserved. This document is protected by U.S. copyright law.
Scoring Analysis - Page 1
Attachments
Attachment 2NGBS Scoring for New Construction Overview
NGBS Scoring for New ConstructionICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard™
© 2010 NAHB Research Center, Inc.
Revised December 23, 2010
This project has not met all the requirements for Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald.
All rights reserved. This document is protected by U.S. copyright law.
Chapter Required Points Claimed Points
Additional Claimed Points Above Gold
Point Shortfall Mandatory Status
Chapter 5: Lot Design, Preparation, & Development 93 0 (93) N/AChapter 6: Resource Efficiency 113 0 (113) Not Met
Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency 100 0 (100) Not MetChapter 8: Water Efficiency 41 0 (41) N/A
Chapter 9: Indoor Environmental Quality 100 0 (100) Not MetChapter 10: Operation, Maintenance, & Building Owner Education 11 0 (11) Not Met
Section Totals 458 0 0 (458)Additional Points Above Gold 100 0 (100)
Total Points 558 0 (558)
* Reach required Gold score for each chapter* Reach required Additional Points for this project* Meet all mandatory items* Meet the requirements of 801.6 & 802.2: High Efficiency or Waterless Toilets* For Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency:
~ Claim at least 30 points from Section 702 (Performance Path) or Section 703 (Prescriptive Path)~ Select a minimum of 2 items from Section 704
Chapter Required Points Claimed PointsAdditional Claimed Points
Above EmeraldPoint Shortfall Mandatory Status
Chapter 5: Lot Design, Preparation, & Development 119 0 (119) N/AChapter 6: Resource Efficiency 146 0 (146) Not Met
Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency 120 0 (120) Not MetChapter 8: Water Efficiency 60 0 (60) N/A
Chapter 9: Indoor Environmental Quality 140 0 (140) Not MetChapter 10: Operation, Maintenance, & Building Owner Education 12 0 (12) Not Met
Section Totals 597 0 0 (597)Additional Points Above Emerald 100 0 (100)
Total Points 697 0 (697)
* Reach required Emerald score for each chapterTo achieve Emerald:
To achieve Gold:This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.
You have not met the minimum 2 required items from Section 704.
This requirement has not been met yet.
You have not met any energy path minimum points requirements yet.
This requirement has not been met yet.* Reach required Emerald score for each chapter* Reach required Additional Points for this project* Meet all mandatory items* Meet the requirements of 801.6 & 802.2: High Efficiency or Waterless Toilets* For Chapter 7: Energy Efficiency:
~ Claim at least 30 points from Section 702 (Performance Path)~ Select a minimum of 2 items from Section 704
Additional Points
According to Section 601.1, a dwelling >4,000 s.f. will require an increase in the Additional Points needed to reach a particular level (1 point per every 100 s.f. over 4,000).
For this project:Square footage needed to accurately calculate Additional Points. See the Start Here! worksheet.
50 Additional Points needed for Bronze.
100 Additional Points needed for Silver, Gold, or Emerald.
Conditions for these items must be met to attain the Gold or Emerald Level for this project.
For this project:Your project does not meet this requirement, and is eligible for Bronze or Silver only.
An Energy Efficiency Path has not been chosen yet. See Chapter 7.
Section 801.6 & 802.2: High Efficiency or Waterless Toilets
Energy Efficiency Path
Energy Path chosen =
For this project:
You have not met the minimum 2 required items from Section 704.You have not met this energy path requirement yet.
This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.This requirement has not been met yet.
NGBS Scoring for New ConstructionNational Green Building Certification
©2010 NAHB Research Center, Inc.All rights reserved. This document is protected by U.S. copyright law.
Scoring Analysis - Page 2
Attachments
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Attachments
Attachment 3Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 1 Community College (Similar to VET)
Attachments
101100
Attachments
Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 2
Attachments
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Attachments Attachments
Example 3
105104
Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University
The Environmental Technology Center (ETC) is an interactive and integrative 2,200-ft2 facility where faculty, students, and community members can work together in research training, academic study, and collaborative environmental projects. ETC is "a building that teaches." With the help of the National Science Foundation, California Energy Commission, and numerous other public and private funders, Sonoma State University used a collaborative design process to create this example of sustainable design.
Zero Energy Building The Environmental Technology Center was designed to use 80% less energy than buildings built to minimal compliance with California's Title 24 requirements. ETC achieved this through the use of energy-efficient techniques such as a tight building envelope, thermal mass, shading, and other features. ETC includes a 3-kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system that is tied to the grid and is a net energy exporter. So, this building qualifies as a net zero energy building (ZEB) in the following areas:
• Site ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when accounted for at the site. ETC produces all of its needed electricity through a PV system that is within the building’s footprint. Any natural gas used for domestic hot water and radiant heat is also offset at the site by PV generation.
• Source ZEB: Building produces at least as much energy as it uses in a year, when accounted for at the source. ETC is considered a source ZEB because the energy generated on-site through PV is greater than the energy used when accounted for at the source. .
• Emissions ZEB: Building produces at least as much emissions-free renewable energy as it uses from emission-producing energy sources annually. ETC offsets any emissions for which it is responsible through its PV system which produces electricity with zero emissions.
Environmental Aspects The Environmental Technology Center is a model for many sustainable building techniques and technologies. The building includes energy- and water-efficient landscaping, "smart building" control technologies, environmentally sensitive building materials, passive-solar heating and cooling, advanced window systems and daylighting, solar electric technology, and electronic control systems.
Designed to use only 20% of the energy allowed by state energy code for similar buildings, ETC serves as a model of public sector fiscal and environmental responsibility for California's universities and colleges. ETC was first occupied in Spring 2001. The building occupants and visitors are not the only ones who may benefit from this
Overview Location: Rohnert Park, CA Building type(s): Laboratory, Higher education New construction 2,200 ft2 (204 m2) Project scope: a single building Urban setting Completed July 2001 Rating: Zero Energy Building
Attachments
Attachment 4Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University Overview
ecologically designed model building. Sonoma State University, in collaboration with the building's architects, has compiled user-friendly Internet resources that allow people from all over the world to learn about thesustainable design features in ETC.
The Environmental Technology Center's purposes are to: 1) Demonstrate sustainable building design principles and environmentally responsible living, 2) educate design professionals, builders, facility managers, teachers, students and members of the community about sustainability, and 3) serve as a university classroom and community conference facility.
Owner & Occupancy • Owned by Sonoma State University, State government • Typically occupied by 5 people, 40 hours per person per week; and 20 visitors per
week, 2 hours per visitor per week
The occupancy of this building will vary from a minimum of the site supervisor and three to six students doing research eight hours a day, to tours of twenty exploring the building for two hours, to special monthly events with more than a hundred people.
Building Programs Indoor Spaces: Office, Classroom, Lobby/reception
Outdoor Spaces: Garden—decorative, Drives/roadway, Wildlife habitat
Keywords Integrated team, Stormwater management, Efficient irrigation, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Massing and orientation, Insulation levels, Passive solar, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, On-site renewable electricity, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Ventilation effectiveness, Thermal comfort, Low-emitting materials
Attachments