BetterBuilt NW June 2021 Newsletter

New Trainings Feature on BetterBuiltNW

Each quarter, BetterBuiltNW highlights relevant trainings to help builders and Raters/Verifiers stay current with new and upcoming trainings.

This quarterly feature includes the launch of a new Training page on the BetterBuiltNW website and the following new or recently updated on-demand trainings:

• How to Cost Effectively Build Zero Energy Homes (NEW)
• 2018 WSEC Residential Code Compliance Overview (NEW)
• Building with Ducts Inside Conditioned Spaces (UPDATE)
• Options for Advanced Walls Webinar (NEW)

For a complete list of training opportunities, visit the BetterBuiltNW Training page.

New BetterBuiltNW Training Page

BetterBuiltNW is excited to announce the launch of a new Training page that provides visitors with a quick and easy way to browse different training formats and topics. Choose from upcoming live events, on-demand trainings, energy code courses, and available resources. Visit the Training page to learn more.

How to Cost Effectively Build Zero Energy Homes
New Online Training | 3 Hours

BetterBuiltNW has teamed up with EEBA and Earth Advantage to launch this no-cost, on-demand course designed for NW audiences. Participants will gain valuable insights on how to eliminate barriers to cost effective zero energy home construction. The training will lay out numerous elements of zero energy homebuilding so professionals can formulate a unique package appropriate for their situation. Trainees can also satisfy prerequisites and pass an exam in order to earn EEBA’s 'Zero Energy Professional' designation. Register today.

2018 WSEC Residential Code Compliance Overview
New Online Training | 2 Hours

Now available on-demand, residential building professionals in Washington can access this online training anytime to learn about new code compliance requirements in the 2018 Washington State Residential Energy Code. Gain helpful info on energy code point package scenarios and a tour of available documents and resources from the WSU Energy Program that attendees can apply when designing, building, or permitting single-family new construction. Create a new user account or sign in with your existing account to access this training on BetterBuiltNW's online platform.

Building with Ducts Inside Conditioned Spaces
New Online Training | 2 Hours

BetterBuiltNW has recently updated this training to now include information on buried ducts and micro-ducting to reflect new OR & WA code pathways and market changes. Take this training and hear from builders about their specific strategies and approaches to bringing ducts inside and access resources such as CAD drawings, case studies, trade guidelines, implementation strategies, training manual, and more. Register today.

Options for Advanced Walls Webinar
New Recorded Webinar | 1 Hour

What comes to mind when you hear “Advanced Walls”? Is it 3D-printed assemblies? Is this just another term for advanced framing? In this session, Dan Wildenhaus – Technical Advisor and Industry Liaison for BetterBuiltNW – will go over some of the critical components of an advanced wall assembly which reduce thermal bridging, improve building tightness, and have an overall UA reduction of at least 5% to 8% over the 2018 IECC.

After introducing several strategies and stick framed wall designs, the webinar will focus on three big potential next steps for builders looking to exceed energy code: good and best wall designs for different climate zones, factoring windows into walls, and other resources to help you succeed. View the Options for Advanced Walls recording.

For a complete list of training opportunities, visit the BetterBuiltNW Training page.

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:

• Earth Advantage: HELPing Smaller Cities take Climate Action
• RESNET Releases 2021 Statistical Abstract “Trends in HERS® Rated Homes”
• Built Green: Martha Rose Construction: 5-Star City Cabins at Abbott’s Alley case study

Earth Advantage: HELPing Smaller Cities take Climate Action

In partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute, Earth Advantage hosted over 30 cities in a six-month cohort, called the Home Energy Labeling Partnership (HELP). The cohort focused on best practices for developing home energy labeling policies in the cities.

Since the cohort ended, smaller cities have made the quickest progress in developing and implementing home energy labeling policies. Learn more about the outcomes of the cohort by visiting Earth Advantage’s website.

RESNET Releases 2021 Statistical Abstract “Trends in HERS® Rated Homes”

RESNET recently released its statistical abstract of homes that were HERS rated in 2020, in the “2021 Trends in HERS Rated Homes” report.

The report looks at broad national-level trends in the number of HERS ratings and average index scores, covers state-level trends, and looks into trends of HERS ratings in cities, including the top 25 cities for single-family and multi-family ratings.

The remainder of the report focuses on individual trends across HERS ratings, including a breakdown of the basic characteristics of rated homes and individual building components. Read the full report on RESNET’s website.

Built Green: Martha Rose Construction: 5-Star City Cabins at Abbott’s Alley case study

Read Built Green’s latest case study, Martha Rose Construction: 5-Star City Cabins at Abbott’s Alley to learn about six live upstairs/work downstairs units located in Sedro-Woolley, WA. The project was awarded a 2020 Built Green Hammer Award and each home has a HERS Index of -10.

Project details include a The Martha Wall (aka Thermal Break Shear Wall), 9.9 kW solar PV on each unit, EV charging ready, heat recovery ventilators with ECM motors, and more. Read the full case study on Built Green’s website.