August 25, 2021
BetterBuiltNW August 2021 Newsletter
In Case You Missed It
Every month this section features must-read content from past newsletters – just in case you missed it.
- Oregon Code Change Update: Make sure you’re ready for the updated Oregon Residential Specialty Code. The new code becomes mandatory on October 1.
- Case Study: Ten Townhomes Tie for Energy Efficiency
EPSTM Quick Reference Guides Feature
Energy Trust of Oregon’s EPS New Construction offering recently released four quick reference guides on air sealing, duct sealing, ventilation, and insulation. The guides feature content in English and Spanish. Builders constructing homes to EPS standards can share the guides with their design installation teams to ensure that EPS requirements are met.
Energy Trust recommends including the guides in project plan sets and displaying them in highly visible areas on job sites. Visit Energy Trust’s Insider page to download PDFs of the four guides. To request physical copies of the guides to post on job sites, email eps@energytrust.org.
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:
- Northwest Modeling Requirements Update
- Training Resources for New Codes in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington
Northwest Modeling Requirements Update
The BetterBuiltNW team recently updated the Northwest Modeling Requirements. This V21.0 guide provides raters with technical guidance on modeling homes in REM/Rate™v15.7.1 to generate Northwest utility approved savings estimates. Utilities can then use these savings estimates to meet conservation goals and issue incentives for qualified projects. These requirements also provide information about how data is uploaded to the regional new homes database (AXIS), and where supporting files are located. Version updates also include helpful guidance on modeling complex HVAC configurations.
This version is effective for participating utility programs in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as follows:
- Idaho: August 9, 2021
- Oregon: October 1, 2021
- Washington: October 1, 2021
Training Resources for New Codes in Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington
It’s not too late to get up to speed on code changes that are taking place this year. With energy codes advancing throughout the region, now is a great time to dive in and gain field-tested knowledge about how to succeed with the newly required energy codes.
Bolster your toolkit and keep pace with code changes via the following trainings:
Idaho: Register for Idaho’s energy code training and earn continuing education units for many of the courses offered by the Idaho Energy Code.
Montana: Watch recorded webinars and access energy code guides and handbooks.
Oregon: Watch a brief training video, download a fact sheet, access on-demand training, register for fall webinars hosted by the Oregon Home Builders Association, contact the Oregon Department of Energy’s hotline, and access other resources in preparation for the new code that goes into effect on October 1, 2021.
Washington: Access Washington State University’s no-cost live webinars, on-demand courses, and videos. New trainings launched this month are also listed later in this newsletter.