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In this Newsletter:
- Save These Dates!
- Upcoming Webinars
- Responses Needed: NREL Residential Contractor Survey
- Noteworthy
- What We're Reading
| | SPEER Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop | | |
Following last year's successful event, SPEER is back with another Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop, which will cover new and future heat pump technologies, the long-term effects of market transformation opportunities, benefits and barriers of heat pump installation, incentives, and much more.
Details:
April 9th, 8:30 AM – 1 PM
Austin Energy Headquarters: 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
Shudde Fath Room
Coffee, breakfast and snacks will be provided.
This training is FREE thanks to our sponsor, Austin Energy! Register here.
| | SPEER’s 2025 Energy Code Ambassador and TECCC Meeting | | |
Save the date! Our Energy Code Ambassadors and Texas Energy Code Compliance Collaborative (TECCC) meeting is on the horizon for Thursday, April 10th in Round Rock, TX. We're excited to get our coalition together to gain valuable insights into the wide spectrum of code related activities taking place across Texas.
Importantly, this meeting serves as a critical platform for all our stakeholders. We highly value your active participation, as it drives the evolution of our energy practices. In this spirit, we'll be facilitating a robust discussion regarding the adoption and enforcement of the 2021 and 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and well as 2021 and 2024 Building Codes. Your input is instrumental in steering these discussions and shaping future strategies.
We look forward to bringing together our vibrant community of stakeholders, fostering collaborative dialogue, and paving the way for future energy conservation initiatives.
When:
Thursday, April 10th
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where:
Hilton Garden Inn
2310 North IH35
Round Rock, Texas, 78681
Register here.
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SPEER is a proud Endorsing Partner of the upcoming Retrofit USA Conference in Austin on April 23-24. We invite you to join us at this important event and note that you can save 15% on registration with our code: SPEER15.
Join us and hear from keynotes and expert panelists while participating in interactive roundtables and workshops covering regulations, standards, codes, financing, design, construction, project management and energy efficiency innovations. Experience live product demonstrations and query knowledgeable exhibitors about how cutting-edge materials, approaches, technology integration, and game-changing climate resiliency techniques are transforming retrofits.
Register today and take advantage of this discount to discover who, what, and where retrofitting is achieving the country’s most outstanding energy efficiency results today. We look forward to seeing you there!
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HVAC Grading ANSI 310 Standard
Join us for an informative webinar on HVAC Grading and ANSI/RESNET/ACCA Standard 310, designed to help HVAC professionals, energy raters, and home performance specialists understand how this standard enhances system efficiency, comfort, and overall home energy ratings. ANSI 310 provides a consistent framework for grading HVAC installation quality, impacting home energy scores and compliance with programs like ENERGY STAR and tax credit qualifications.
What You'll Learn:
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Overview of ANSI Standard 310 – Understand the purpose, scope, and key components of the standard, including duct system performance, refrigerant charge verification, and airflow assessment.
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How HVAC Grading Affects Energy Ratings – Learn how proper installation and verification impact home energy performance and qualify homes for efficiency programs.
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Best Practices for Compliance and Implementation – Get insights on achieving higher grades, avoiding common pitfalls, and leveraging the standard to improve system performance.
When: March 18th, 2025, 10:30 AM Central Time
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Blower Door Testing & Its Impact on HVAC Sizing
Are you ensuring your HVAC systems are designed for maximum efficiency and code compliance? Proper airtightness is a critical factor in determining HVAC system performance, energy consumption, and overall indoor air quality. Blower door testing is a key diagnostic tool used to measure air leakage in buildings, helping professionals design and verify energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings.
Join us for this in-depth webinar, where we will break down the importance of blower door testing, its role in HVAC system design, and how it impacts code compliance and long-term building performance.
Three Key Lessons Learned from the Field:
1. Right-sizing HVAC is crucial – Many homes and buildings suffer from oversized HVAC systems due to outdated assumptions about air leakage. A tighter home means lower heating and cooling loads, leading to more efficient, properly sized equipment.
2. Ventilation must be carefully designed – Airtight buildings require balanced mechanical ventilation systems (HRVs/ERVs) to maintain healthy indoor air quality and prevent moisture-related issues such as mold and condensation.
3. Small leaks can cause big problems – Even minor leaks around attic hatches, recessed lighting, and electrical penetrations can significantly impact energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Addressing these leaks can make a major difference in both blower door test results and HVAC performance.
When: April 15th, 2025, 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
| | Responses Needed: NREL Residential Contractor Survey | | |
Please help support a new data collection effort by completing this survey!
NREL is conducting a national survey of residential trade allies to understand how they view hiring, training, and workforce development opportunities. The goal of this survey is to better understand ways that federal and state programs can better support companies and their workforce through training, education, and other resources.
The survey is intended for contractors involved in improving the energy performance of residential buildings, including single family, manufactured housing, and multi-family dwellings. This can include business owners, individual workers, managers, hiring managers, and other personnel involved with or receiving hiring and training that perform work in the following skilled labor professions:
- HVAC/R mechanics, installers, or technicians
- Electricians
- Insulation workers (floor, ceiling, and walls)
- Plumbers
- Building performance specialists
- Siding installers
- Window installers
- Weatherization technicians
- Energy auditors, HERS raters and energy consultants
- Residential remodelers
- New home construction and building constructions
If you or someone you know falls into one of the categories above, we would appreciate it if you could complete the survey or share it within your network. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.
We appreciate your support, thank you!
| | In Case You Missed It – Past Webinar Offerings | | |
Proper Insulation and Why it Matters to the Energy Model
Energy models are constructed to ensure adherence to the energy code. They assess the proposed elements against a hypothetical (referenced) structure that meets basic code requirements. Beyond mechanical systems, a significant shortcoming in energy models often lies in the reduction of insulation effectiveness, attributed to substandard installation methods. We examined various field images and delved into the nuances of insulation grading. We also explored how Grades 1, 2, and 3 are defined, the criteria for their determination, and the impact each grade has on the overall energy model.
Presenter: Randy Plumlee, Senior Manager, Building Performance, SPEER
Original Air Date: Oct 26th, 2023
Check it out on SPEER's YouTube channel.
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Where I'm Headed:
When: March 19th
Where: Code discussion and training for the City of Denison
When: April 9th
When: April 10th
Where: SPEER’s Energy Code Ambassador/TECCC meeting in Round Rock
When: April 11th
Where: 2021 IECC Training at the City of Seguin
| | *Interested in SPEER bringing in-field training to you or learning about the 2021 IECC changes, mechanical ventilation training, and HVAC best practices? Contact us! | | |
The Most Neglected Part of HVAC Design - Energy Vanguard
We went through this in our last webinar, but it needs to be continually talked about. In the article "Platform Return Problems in Polluted Places" from Energy Vanguard, author Allison A. Bailes III, PhD, discusses HVAC design. While load calculations (Manual J), equipment sizing (Manual S), and ductwork design (Manual D) are commonly addressed, the selection, sizing, and placement of supply outlets and return inlets—covered in ACCA's Manual T—are often overlooked. Proper application of Manual T ensures that conditioned air is distributed efficiently and comfortably within a space, addressing factors such as air mixing, noise levels, and condensation control. Neglecting this aspect can lead to issues like uneven temperature distribution, drafts, and increased noise, ultimately compromising the system's performance and occupant comfort.
| | Check out all the resources we have on our website, including a link to our YouTube page with hours of video training content! | | | | |
