November 29, 2022
BetterBuiltNW November 2022 Newsletter
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Every month this section features must-read content from past newsletters – just in case you missed it.
BetterBuiltNW Training Highlights
Hear from past participants about the impact that BetterBuiltNW & Earth Advantage training has had on them and their businesses. This month we are excited to feature four professionals who took the Sustainable Homes Professional (SHP), On The Level, and Top 10 Best Practices for Today’s Homebuilder trainings. To read this article, click here.
Programs in the News
Washington State University Energy Program: What is up with the 45L Tax Credit?
In December 2021, the 45L credit that promoted the construction of energy efficient residential buildings since 2005 ended. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, H.R. 5376, extended the 45L credit for homes sold or leased during 2022 with little modification, while the big changes to the 45L come in 2023. To read this article, click here.
RESNET: RESNET and Phius Encourage Certified HERS® Raters to Be Phius Certified
RESNET announces its recent collaboration with Passive House Institute US (Phius) to promote the construction of sustainable and affordable homes. To that end, RESNET encourages certified RESNET HERS® Raters to expand their career and business opportunities by becoming Phius Certified Raters and Phius Certified Verifiers via Phius Certified Rater and Verifier Training. To read this article, click here.
Built Green: Case Study—Village Gardens Delivering 4-Star Climate Resilient Affordability
Affordability and environmental sustainability come together at Village Gardens Townhomes to create homeownership opportunities in Seattle’s Central District. Developed through a partnership of Homestead Community Land Trust and Edge Developers on surplus land provided by the City of Seattle, these award-winning three-bedroom townhomes are Built Green 4-Star certified. To read this article, click here.
Elemental Green: Resilience Product Showcase: Make Your Home Safe & Sustainable
Resiliency and sustainability are two distinct concepts, but they often go hand-in-hand when it comes to eco-friendly home design. By fortifying a home against weather and natural disasters, builders decrease waste from damaged building supplies and avoid the environmental impact of rebuilding. To read this article, click here.
Energy Vanguard: Is Wind Washing Reducing Your Insulation R-Value?
Wind washing is the effect of wind causing air to flow through or around air permeable insulation, thereby reducing its R-value. One of the most common ways this occurs is when you want outdoor air to come into an attic or a cathedral ceiling for venting. If the pathways for air flow are not defined precisely, wind washing is often the result. To read this article, click here.
Energy Vanguard: Should You Encapsulate Your Crawl Space?
Vented crawl spaces are often dirty buffer spaces that can flood homes with a variety of indoor air pollutants. Water can seep up from the ground beneath the crawl space, sometimes in odd ways. In many cases, the best solution is to encapsulate the crawl space. This article addresses the circumstances that determine if builders need to encapsulate crawl spaces. To read this article, click here.
Energy Vanguard: A Frosty Heat Loss Puzzler
Homes that are exposed to frost can sometimes exhibit a pattern building scientists often call ghosting. You can see “ghosts” of the rafters because of a lighter frost pattern on the shingles directly above the rafters, which indicates the roof is leaking excessive heat. To read this article, click here.
Seattle Public Utilities: New SPU Deconstruction Pilot Incentive Program
Starting in October 2022, Seattle Public Utilities, along with SDCI, are implementing a pilot deconstruction incentive program to increase deconstruction projects and build familiarity with the process, gather data, and identify innovations. The pilot program offers $4,000 per deconstruction project. To learn about this program, click here.