Dec 2019
Newsletter
Oh the weather outside is frightful but inside it's so delightful

Happy holidays from SEDAC! Give the gift of comfort this holiday season with a SEDAC energy assessment. Learn how you can make your building more comfortable, while saving energy and money. 

Here are a few energy savings recommendations to keep you warm and comfortable: 
  • Perform air sealing of the building envelope at all joints, penetrations, windows, and doors. Pay close attention to top and bottom of the building, since this is where most air exits and enters the building. 
  • Tune up heating equipment to make sure that it is operating at optimal efficiency. 
  • Use automatic or manual controls to adjust temperature settings and system operation according to time of day and building loads so that the building stays comfortable when occupants are around. Program programmable thermostats. 
  • Choose efficient LED lighting to brighten people's moods and improve productivity during the darkest days of the year.
  • Take advantage of winter daylight by leaving window blinds open during the day for a warmer, brighter indoor environment, and close them for the night to decrease heat loss through the windows. 
Contact us to find out more about our Energy Assessment Program at 800.214.7954 or info@sedac.org. 

Winter is a great time to take advantage of SEDAC's Energy Code Training! 

Too cold to leave the office? Attend one of our lunch hour webinars. 
  • Dec. 18 (tomorrow!): Top 10 Commercial Lighting requirements you should know
  • Jan. 29: Top 10 Commercial HVAC requirements you should know
Want to learn about the energy code in your pajamas? Take one of our free online courses anytime, anywhere. 
  • 2018 IECC Residential
  • 2018 IECC Commercial Envelope
  • 2018 IECC Commercial Lighting
  • 2018 IECC Commercial HVAC
  • REScheck Walkthrough--2018 IECC (new!)
  • COMcheck Walkthrough--2018 IECC (new!)

Feeling stir crazy? Need to get out of the office? Attend one of our workshops, coming up in March in Mattoon and Rockford.

 
Participants who attend a training session or take one of our online courses  can now earn continuing education credits from the International Code Council (ICC) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  Find out more and register here . 
Blower Door Testing Energy Code Smart Tip
 
Want to know why your home feels drafty and cold during the winter? A blower door test, combined with infrared imaging, can uncover hidden openings where air leakage is occurring.

The 2018 IECC requires blower door testing for all new residential construction, but existing homes can benefit from blower door testing, too. Testing is optional--but beneficial--for commercial buildings as well.

Blower door testing, also called pressure testing, can help builders of new homes find and correct issues before they become a problem. 

For homeowners, blower door testing can identify areas to target to reduce air leakage and improve comfort and efficiency. Many common leakage sites can be cost-effectively sealed by do-it-yourself projects, such as weather stripping doors, windows, attic access hatches and more; caulking wall-to-floor joints and window frames; placing foam gaskets behind switch and plug wall plates; sealing recessed can light perimeters, and more. 

Read SEDAC's Blower Door Testing Smart Tip to learn more about the history and benefits of blower door testing. Check out SEDAC's other Energy Code Smart Tips here. 

Have a question about an energy code requirement? Email us at energycode@sedac.org for technical support and individualized guidance.
Notes from the Field 

Why are my feet cold?

Residents in a senior center that SEDAC analyzed complained about cold floors. What was beneath their feet? Not much more than vinyl flooring and 3/4" plywood. The crawlspace vent is partially open to the outside and it is winter. 

The floors, rim joist and ductwork are all uninsulated. Cold air enters the crawlspace vents and cools the floor and supply air ducts. The cold ducts cool the warm supply air before it even enters the space. 

Properly insulating the band joist, floor and ductwork would not only reduce energy costs but significantly increase the floor temperature and interior comfort conditions. Depending on if the crawlspace is ventilated or not, i nsulation can either be placed between the floor joists or on the crawlspace wall.  

SEDAC Smart Tip:  If your floors are cold, find out why. Poor insulation is likely the culprit. 

sedac.org / 800.214.7954 / info@sedac.org
Providing effective energy efficiency strategies for buildings and communities