BBNW September 2021 Newsletter

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Every month this section features must-read content from past newsletters – just in case you missed it.

• EPS Quick Reference Guides: four quick reference guides on best practices for air sealing, duct sealing, ventilation, and insulation.
• Northwest Modeling Requirements Update: learn about updated Northwest modeling requirements and training resources for new code requirements

BetterBuiltNW INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) TRAINING

BetterBuiltNW recently released a series of online training modules focused on maximizing IAQ and tips for code compliance.

General IAQ
This training focuses on air filtration best practices for builders. Learn why PM 2.5 is considered the industry benchmark and how builders can provide a comfortable living space while future proofing against natural disasters such as wildfire smoke.

Wildfires and IAQ
As wildfire smoke spreads across the Northwest, homeowners are looking for ways to maintain good indoor air quality. Comfort Ready Home* has a series of consumer-friendly videos on the subject — each video includes practical tips and advice for working with a contractor to improve your home's indoor air quality.

Selling Healthy Homes with IAQ
This training video is designed to be a helpful guide for real estate professionals when talking with clients about IAQ and health benefits of energy-efficient new homes.

IAQ and Washington State Energy Code
The following trainings focus on strategies Washington State builders can use to maximize IAQ while complying with code.

• 2018 WSEC-R - Build Tight and Ventilate Right Options
  This training covers why it is important to provide whole house ventilation in homes permitted under the Washington State Energy Code and provides best practices for getting each component right.

• 2018 WSEC-R - Balanced Ventilation with ERVs and HRVs
  This training explains energy and heat recovery ventilators, as well as several balanced ventilation systems and approaches to consider.

BetterBuiltNW ANNOUNCES THREE NEW TRAINING CATALOGS

BetterBuiltNW offers online trainings across a wide spectrum of building science topic areas and energy performance levels—available anytime and at your own pace. Click here to register, or click here to sign in to your existing account.

BetterBuiltNW recently released three new training catalogs focused on general above code building, Washington State’s 2018 residential energy code, and Oregon’s 2021 residential energy code. To access the catalogs, please visit Training.betterbuiltnw.com/learn.

BetterBuiltNW Course Catalog
This category includes training on high performance building best practices, in-field site visits, zero energy construction, ducts inside conditioned spaces, and deep dives on air barriers and ventilation.

2018 Washington State Energy Code-Residential (2018 WSEC-R) Course Catalog
BetterBuiltNW has developed these trainings that help explain the 2018 WSEC-R, including best practices for meeting code, building tight and ventilating right, installing heat and energy recovery ventilators (HRVs/ERVs), and others.

For additional videos on how to plug ventilation systems into the compliance calculator and compliance certificate, plus a complete list of all WSEC-R trainings, visit WSU's Energy Code Training page (http://www.energy.wsu.edu/EventsTrainings.aspx).

2021 Oregon Residential Energy Code Course Catalog
BetterBuiltNW offers these trainings that help explain Oregon’s 2021 Residential Energy Code. Training offerings include best practices customized for the Oregon homebuilder, building to maximize IAQ, incorporating ducts inside conditioned spaces, and installation elements for heat and energy recovery ventilators.

PROGRAMS IN THE NEWS

Every month BetterBuiltNW highlights different programs in the news to keep builders and Raters/Verifiers informed about key updates, program changes, and features. This month’s Programs in the News features the following updates:

• RESNET’s HERS Rated Home Portal
• Built Green’s WSEC-R 2018 Checklists
• Washington Materials Marketplace Launches

This month, learn how to identify HERS Rated homes, get up to speed on the 2018 WSEC-R, and preview a new program for recycled materials in Washington.

RESNET’s HERS Rated Home Portal
RESNET recently released a new HERS identification portal, which allows users an easy way to determine if a home has been HERS Rated and its official HERS index score. For a confirmed HERS Rating, the portal will indicate the home’s HERS Index Score, the home’s address, the HERS Rating company that rated the home, and the date the home was rated.

Built Green’s WSEC-R 2018 Checklists
Built Green recently released their updated 2021 Single-Family/Townhome New Construction checklist. The checklist helps builders identify requirements for Built Green certified homes, making it easier to achieve Built Green certification. Checklist updates are primarily influenced by code changes, technological advancements in the building industry, new products that hit the market, and housing market trends.

Washington Materials Marketplace
The City of Tacoma, Seattle Good Business Network, and the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development recently announced the launch of the Washington Materials Marketplace, a new program that allows for reuse of products and materials that might otherwise be destined for disposal in landfills. The marketplace helps business and manufacturers find solutions for challenging waste and by-product materials.

NET ZERO HOUSING INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS

Net Zero Housing Innovation Award Winners

To view the complete list of award winners, click here.