Energy Code Training Assessment Texas

January 2012
Prepared by the Building Codes Assistance Project for the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Apple Energy Group, Inc.

Executive Summary
This Energy Codes Training Assessment Report provides the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) with a current, short-term status of energy code training in Texas and a proposed, advanced- or long-term training strategy moving forward after the initial, introductory training is delivered by this project. This document identifies additional training needs and supplemental materials in addition to those materials delivered by Apple Energy Group and BCAP through this project. This Training Assessment Report has been completed specifically for the project SECO Building Energy Code Training and Outreach Services. The two principal goals of this report are to review Texas near term training efforts, in order to inform that training effort, as well as to develop recommendations for long term training strategies for the construction industry stakeholders in the state: Near term is defined as applicable to the training to be held through January 2012, and in response to the implementation of the 2010 Edition of the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), which became mandatory on January 1, 2012 Long term is defined as applying to recommendations for improved energy code compliance statewide, for 2012 and beyond.

This assessment provides: A review of the 2011 training efforts and recommendations for training to meet the 2010 BEPS and towards improving industry compliance with the code towards 90%. Feedback from stakeholders, many of whom were in attendance for at least one training session, as well as a stakeholder meeting hosted by Apple Energy on the states current training efforts, and finally, in-depth interviews with over 20 other stakeholders representing all stakeholder groups across the state. Numerous recommendations including the top four that will provide the largest impact for the least amount of funding.

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

Current Status of Training Programs in Texas

In June 2010, Texas updated its Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) to reflect Chapter 11 of the 2009 IRC for residential requirements, and Chapter 5 of the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.12007 for commercial requirements. The 2010 BEPS, which as of January 1, 2012 became effective for all new private construction, advances the previous energy code by three cycles, and hence requires a training overhaul to get Texas construction community up to speed. Realizing this need, SECO contracted to Apple Energy Group to provide training, which began in August 2011, and will run through January 2012. Basic Training Sessions Apple Energy Group conducted half-day training sessions which cover the basic provisions of either the commercial provisions of the 2010 BEPS or the residential provisions. In total, Apple Energy Group hosted 100 trainings throughout 33 cities in Texas. The training was highly targeted at building code officials statewide; however, significant participation also came from building professionals. To ensure that participants would be motivated to take-away useful information from the training, a nominal $20 fee was charged per person, which helped defray SECOs cost. Added participant incentives included a 2009 IECC code book or 2009 IECC/ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 combo book and relevant professional Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The content for these trainings was developed by the Building Codes Assistance Project and Apple Energy Group with consultation from Building Performance & Comfort, Inc., and Kent Browning, the principal trainers. It was decided, based on feedback from the initial stakeholders meeting and SECO, that the sessions would be three hours in length, each course providing an overview of the basic requirements of the commercial or residential sections of the 2010 BEPS. In addition, an advocacy component was included to ensure each attendee understood the importance of the code and compliance with it. As one measure of the success of the training, course evaluation feedback from the attendees was extremely high, especially considering that course attendance was not free. As figure A indicates, 97% of the total attendees were satisfied (scored a 4 or 5 out of 5) with the knowledge and effectiveness of the presenter, and over 91% satisfied with the value of the course content.

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

As of December 2011, roughly 57 percent of the Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) members had attended at least one of these training sessions, an incredible feat. Participation has also been high among construction professionals, including architects, engineers, builders, and trade contractors. The state will continue to offer training and CEUs as updates to the BEPS occur.

Figure A: Training evaluation feedback through December 2011

Texas Energy Code Training Center As part of the deployment of training throughout the state of Texas, Apple Energy Group created an online portal to provide registration for training, online training for those who were unavailable to attend classroom sessions, and additional resources. This site is an excellent start to making sure that anyone can receive training, anywhere, any time. Currently the site hosts three residential training videos, three commercial training videos, and access to compliance checklists, software, and assistance documents. By the end of January 2012, Apple Energy Group will add new online courses in English and Spanish to the website. Although the site is still in the soft launch phase and has not been widely promoted statewide, early signs of site activity are promising. Since the creation of the Texas Energy Code Training Center in September 2011 through December, the site had received 1,418 hits from 987 (70%) unique visitors. Site visitors viewed an average of 3.81 pages per visit with a bounce rate 1 of only 36%, both excellent results for site activity.

Bounce rate is a metric that refers to the percentage of visitors that leave the site without viewing any other pages. For many websites, the benchmark bounce rate is 50%.

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

Stakeholder Feedback
Stakeholder Survey At the end of each training session offered by Apple Energy, attendees were asked to select from a list of additional training types they would like extra sessions on, if any. Figure B denotes the results of the survey, through December 2011:

Figure B: Training evaluation feedback through December 2011

There is certainly a desire by the attendees of the basic 2010 BEPS trainings to obtain even more knowledge on the energy code. The most significant topics are those which would go into more detail in basic residential energy code compliance: plan review, site inspection, use of performance based tools like blower doors and duct blasters, and compliance software. It should be noted that SECO has previously invested in Blower Doors and Duct Blasters, in order to help seed the state-based infrastructure for conducting these tests; perhaps it may be possible to coordinate this timely infrastructure building with training for that testing. Stakeholder Interviews The BCAP project team worked with the Apple Energy Group project team and numerous stakeholders statewide, who had attended at least one of the initial trainings offered by the project to solicit input. To that end, marketing efforts were concentrated on builders and their organizations, code officials and their organizations, design professionals (architects and engineers), HVAC, lighting and building contractors, and municipal officials. In order to gather specific training needs from across the state, and to optimize the project budget, BCAP staff held stakeholder conference calls as part of the development process for the study. These meetings were held by phone from December 5, 2011, through January 4, 2012. During these stakeholder calls, BCAP staff first posed hypothetical training enhancements and variations, based on feedback both from the paper survey and previous stakeholder sector participants. A total of 21 stakeholders were interviewed at length, representing code officials, designers, builders, and municipal officials. After allowing time for participants to digest those ideas and combine them or improve them with their own, BCAP solicited feedback and learned several key concerns that could help shape the plans for a training assessment, as well as for future training, including: Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas 5

Training Format. In addition to traditional classroom learning, most stakeholders indicated that in-the-field training is also extremely helpful. Design professionals in particular indicated that their constituency was particularly inclined towards adding hands-on, in the field training. Addition of Advocacy Elements. Because Texas energy code is very new, and just coming on the radar screens of many Texas code officials and other construction professionals, training is another opportunity to support the reasons why adopting an up-to-date energy code is good for the state. BCAP and Apple Energy worked together to incorporate advocacy messages into the training presentations to take advantage of this opportunity, however many trainees felt that this message could be more rigorously included. It may be possible for SECO to leverage the BCAP/Consumers Union outreach materials in Texas. Rural Outreach. Informing stakeholders in Texas rural counties of training as well as making the training accessible will require significantly more effort than in other areas. It was expressed that if any of these rural jurisdictions had a building department to begin with, these departments were often understaffed and unable to take the time to travel and attend training. Some stakeholders suggested video streaming training and outreach, and they were informed about the ongoing development of that capacity for Texas under this project. Attendees then suggested a broad advertising campaign be undertaken to make sure that the building industry in Texas know of that capacity, and that it be updated with any subsequent training as it became available. Compliance Software. Some stakeholders expressed concerns over the development of compliance software, and what seem to be competing software products, in this case IC3 and REScheck/COMcheck. All seemed interested in getting more detailed training in both, as well as a bit more depth in how performance software and approaches might work for them. Plan Review and Site inspection. Code Officials suggested that training on plan review and site inspection was needed, in order to help them standardize and streamline those processes and improve energy code compliance. Advanced Building Performance Testing. Stakeholders, particularly builders, were interested in and expressed concern about who will provide whole house and duct leakage testing across the state. Builders were interested in learning how to do their own testing, which some states have allowed, hoping that it would add a way for them to improve construction. Regardless the approach used, it seems that there is concern that the existing Rater and Building Performance infrastructure can fill this need, and that attention should be paid to training or building up that infrastructure. Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Many stakeholders expressed that the ability to earn CEUs by attending training courses is a good motivator, and appreciated the CEUs offered by the project team. There is high interest that CEUs continue to be offered at trainings, especially among design professionals. Code Official Time. Many code officials are interested in receiving training, but building departments throughout the state are short staffed and need their staffs boots on the ground. In many cases, there simply is no time for training. This might be satisfied by providing circuit rider type training and support to the code officials, whereby code specialists Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas 6

work through the various BOAT chapters to arrange local hands-on training days, or classroom training where a problem area or special topic is discussed. When the BCAP Ambassador or Community Energy Code Advisor program was described to them, interviewees liked both ideas as potential ways to approach this need. Descriptions of both of those programs are attached. Future Funding. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding has provided a plethora of initial resources to be used for energy code training and education, but those monies must be spent by April 2012. There was much concern expressed that training will simply disappear after the ARRA money is gone. Interviewees were again introduced to the online training that SECO is supplying via this project. Keeping that online training current, and adding to it, seems like a good opportunity to continue training at a reasonable cost. Builder and Consumer Support. Especially in rural jurisdictions, many stakeholders expect builder pushback to the codes, claiming that they will make homes too expensive. Stakeholders in these areas must be equipped with the tools and resources to sell the code to stakeholders in their communities. BCAP of course offers our Texas related support materials found on the Texas page on OCEAN. 2 Further, BCAP would be pleased to partner further with SECO and Apple Energy Group to provide additional services beyond this contract. Lack of Industry Participation in Training. Several interviewees indicated that while code official participation in trainings high, there seemed to be very few industry professionals in attendance throughout the Fall 2011 trainings. Involvement of the manufacturers and distributors of energy-efficiency materials like insulation, windows and doors, and HVAC did not seem to be as present at the trainings as end users such as builders and code officials. This poses perhaps the biggest long-term concern for implementation of the new code, as these industry professionals must have a basic knowledge of the 2010 BEPS in order to successfully comply with the code. Apple Energy Group has noted that a number of manufacturers and suppliers who were originally interested in participating in the training became less interested once it was determined that their company could not serve as a facility host or sponsor of any kind. However, BCAP believes that industry will begin actively seeking training after formal implementation and enforcement begins statewide. In addition, they will likely continue to be interested in providing sponsorships for additional and advanced training. Existing Building Implications. Virtually all the stakeholders interviewed indicated they felt confusion over how the new code impacts existing buildings. This is shared by constituents nationwide, as BCAP has observed in many states. Suggestions included training sessions based on the development of a statespecific list of typical renovation work that should comply with the energy code, both Residential and

http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/texas

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

Commercial. For example, there is huge benefit in making sure that when commercial flat roofs are replaced and insulation is exposed or removed, the insulation needs to be brought up to code. This is a terrific opportunity to save building owners money as well as to save energy. On-site, Existing Building Training. In keeping with the last recommendation, design professionals were particularly interested in receiving on-site training on energy code applications to existing buildings, perhaps in conjunction with AIA, PE, Green Building or jurisdictional conferences or events, optimizing the numbers of stakeholders that might take advantage of this timely training.

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

Recommendations
BCAP offers the following recommendations for providing ongoing training and support to meet the long-term needs of the energy code stakeholder groups we were pleased to work with in Texas. BCAP considers the first four recommendations listed (denoted with a ) to be most critical, either because they require a small amount of resources to complete and/or will make the largest impact in the state. Resources on the Web SECO should build on the success of the Texas Energy Code Training Center to provide FAQs, additional support resources, outreach materials as they are generated, and relevant contact information. The site should also provide additional training videos as they become available, any handouts from current and future classroom training sessions, and links to online resources made available by the U.S. Department of Energy, such as Building Energy Codes University. 3 In addition, BCAP can further develop the Texas-specific page on its OCEAN website 4 and work with SECO to highlight the link to the site. Energy Code Ambassadors SECO could launch an Energy Codes Ambassadors Program (ECAP) that identifies 10-20 exemplary code officials throughout the state to serve as a knowledgeable resource to their region. These ambassadors would receive free training and materials, particularly on advanced segments of the code, and a travel budget to assist nearby code departments. Additional small steps to support these ambassadors can play key roles, including: Making the contact information for all of the code officials readily available on the SECO or Texas Energy Code Training Center site, and encouraging code officials throughout the state to contact them, Creating and facilitating a discussion board and/or support group on the Texas Energy Code Training Center site, Holding training sessions on one or more advanced segments of the IECC, to be delivered by the code ambassadors themselves, highlighting their expertise and providing needed information/training, Supporting the ambassadors so that they can serve as a circuit riders and travel to different parts of the state to assist with plan reviews, Provide opportunities for the ambassadors to serve as part of an advisory coalition to SECO on the energy code, Support on-going collaboration between the ambassadors by facilitating regular meetings or conference calls where they can share information, discuss problems and solutions, and support one anothers efforts. Advanced Training Segments In order to ensure that the more complex parts of the energy code are covered, SECO should offer training on advanced segments of the code and charge a higher enrollment fee as necessary. Some of these segments include:

3 4

http://www.energycodes.gov/becu/ http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/texas

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

Training on software application for all stakeholders, including REScheck/COMcheck, IC3, and what to look for with performance compliance software such as REMRATE and REMDESIGN. Training on plan review and site inspection; this might be integrated with software training in the future, taking advantage of and highlighting software tools for both elements of code enforcement. Existing building applications for commercial and residential designers, as well as for code officials HVAC design for the energy code, especially bringing ductwork in the conditioned space, for residential applications. Air leakage and insulation installation inspection per IECC/IRC Table 402.4.2/1102.4.2 Understanding whole-house and duct leakage testing. Complex commercial HVAC systems and compliance

Existing Infrastructure at the University Level In order to keep design and construction professionals up-to-date on the energy code, SECO should explore leveraging the existing educational infrastructure at community colleges and/or extended education programs at the University of Texas System. This can be a great way to cover the challenge that Texas large geographic range presents, and could make course logistics and certification acquisition easier. The AIA community in particular is always looking for ways to earn CEUs and this could provide them with that opportunity. Additionally, the state might investigate creating a curriculum for students in the above educational programs interested in becoming code officials or trade professionals in the construction industry. Tuition assistance could be offered to help cover some of the costs for the students. In-Field Training SECO should also offer on-site training to augment classroom education. This will allow for real-world examples of code explanations and site inspection training, and offers the opportunity for training on the proper use of a blower door and a duct blaster. In states throughout the U.S., on-site training is widely regarded as one of the most effective options. SECO is already in possession of ten blower doors and ten duct blasters; should SECO acquire a certified professional to provide in-field trainings, he/she could use these blower doors and duct blasters instead of having to buy new equipment. Such training could be combined with Code Ambassador training, enabling the ambassadors to take their gained knowledge to their peers. Energy Code Brochure/Outreach Develop a one page flyer (electronic, hard-copy or both) based on the BCAP Texas Fact Sheet and various other cost-benefit analyses for distribution to all stakeholders in support of the new energy code. A brochure or related materials could be made to help introduce energy codes to nontechnical audiences such as consumers and local government officials to help expand support for code adoption and compliance.

Energy Code Training Assessment, Texas

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More Detailed Training Many stakeholders indicated that introductory training was a good start, but that much more training needed to be done. Interest in more detailed training on residential building science was cited; perhaps energy code could be incorporated into training that is done to support Home Performance with Energy Star or other green building programs. Also, there was a need expressed for more extensive commercial envelope, HVAC, and lighting programs for interested stakeholders. Finally, training onsite inspections and plan reviews, both residential and commercial, was requested. HERS-AS-Code Pilot One compliance mechanism that is utilized in other states and jurisdictions is that of allowing Home Energy Ratings (HERS Ratings) to be utilized as a compliance methodology. Builders are already asking about the use of a HERS Rating as a compliance mechanism. Advanced code adoption in Austin, San Antonio and Houston, where the use of Raters was promoted, might be more thoroughly researched, and guidance developed from it for use in other jurisdictions, or as an option statewide. TX currently allows the use of ratings and involvement in HERS programs for code compliance; future outreach on this option might be leveraged. Building America Course SECO could host Building America courses locally. This one-day course includes marketing to builders in the state as well as CEUs. There are two options available: Houses that Work for new homes and Remodeling for Energy Efficiency for existing homes. Future Funding SECO has not identified future training plans or funding for such training; guidance will be offered by SECO at a future date. Clearly, there will be a greater need for training and technical support in order to reach 90% compliance levels in Texas, and for the state to take full advantage of the energy savings potential of its new energy codes. Apple Energy and BCAP stand ready to assist with support for any activities SECO should want assistance with. By taking advantage of the many opportunities available to engage the building community in energy code training, Texas can increase the effectiveness of the new codes implementation.

Photo Credits Cover Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Credit Matthew Peoples Page 3 Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Credit Joel Willis Page 5 Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Credit Best Practice Research Alliance Page 7 Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Credit Cyber Shaman Page 10 Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Credit Lydiat

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