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What's new this month:
- Updated: SPEER's Energy Codes Web Resources
- Upcoming Webinars/Events
- Noteworthy
- SPEER Resources & Webinar Archive
- What We're Reading
| | | Updated: SPEER's Energy Codes Web Resources | | | |
SPEER has updated our Energy Codes web resources to better streamline information, ease navigation, and help you find the vital resources you need.
We have an improved Training page, Resources page, as well as updated Codes info.
Dive in here and let us know what you think!
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CELC Webinar - Green Warriors 2024 Pilot: a Model for Weatherization, Workforce Development and Communities
July 23 @ 11:00 AM
Speaker: Erick C. Jones Jr., Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Arlington
This webinar highlights the Green Warriors 2024 Pilot, a South Dallas initiative led by UTA’s SEAR Lab with community and city partners to address challenges in various communities.
The pilot weatherized seven homes while training local residents through the City of Dallas Green Job Skills Program in building science and weatherization.
The session will explore what these results mean for workforce development and the scaling of community-based weatherization programs in Dallas and beyond.
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NCTCOG Webinar: Energy Efficiency in Codes
July 28 @ 10:30 AM
The North Central Texas Council of Governments invites you to attend an upcoming webinar on Energy Efficiency in Codes. The webinar will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, July 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.
Randy Plumlee, Senior Manager of Building Performance at SPEER, will speak on behalf of NCTCOG’s Energy and Green Advisory Board and provide an overview of building and energy codes as well as review code discussions and recommendations from the Regional Codes Coordinating Council surrounding energy efficiency. Participants will also hear from Gary McCoy, Blink Energy Services, on how their organization utilizes codes to advance energy efficiency in buildings. Following presentations, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with speakers.
Local governments interested in learning how they can leverage building and energy code recommendations to support energy efficiency efforts in their communities are encouraged to attend!
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Energy Codes Webinar: Heat Pumps & the Modern Energy Code
August 4 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly important part of residential construction, offering builders an efficient way to improve comfort, reduce energy consumption, and meet the demands of today's energy codes.
This session provides a practical overview of heat pump technologies, how they operate, and why they are gaining popularity in new construction. Attendees will explore how heat pumps can support energy code compliance, improve building performance, and provide long-term value for both builders and homeowners.
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Powering Texas Energy Strategies: Summer Workshop Series
SPEER is partnering with the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) to host a summer workshop series for stakeholders involved in water and energy conservation in Central Texas.
Supported by funding from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), this insightful series will highlight practical strategies, funding opportunities, and resources to help Central Texas communities strengthen energy and water management efforts.
We encourage you to attend if you are local government staff, elected officials, facility and operations personnel, sustainability staff, planners, water and infrastructure professionals, emergency management and resilience staff, community leaders, and others interested in conservation efforts in Central Texas.
While Session 1 has passed, we still have two workshops scheduled for August:
Head over to our event calendar to save your spot!
| | | Reminder: DOE Request for Information Response Deadline Approaching | | |
If you've been planning to submit comments to the U.S. Department of Energy's recent Request for Information (RFI), now is the time. The submission deadline (August 3rd) is quickly approaching, and this is an important opportunity for professionals across the building energy performance industry to share real-world experience and help shape future federal policy.
Whether your work involves energy modeling, code compliance, inspections, testing, auditing, or high-performance building programs, your perspective matters. Practical feedback from those working in the field helps ensure future policies and programs reflect the realities of construction, affordability, energy efficiency, and building performance.
Don't miss the chance to make your voice heard. If you haven't already submitted your comments, be sure to do so before the deadline.
For additional information and submission details, head here.
| | *Interested in SPEER bringing in-field training to you or learning about the 2021 or 2024 IECC changes, mechanical ventilation training, and HVAC best practices? | | | SPEER Resources & Webinar Archive |
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In Case You Missed It!
Did you miss our recent webinar, 2024 IECC C404.6 Explained: Commercial Hot Water Recirculation & Controls (w/ AutoHot USA)?
Join us for a practical deep dive into Section C404.6 of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), covering the latest requirements for service water heating circulation systems and demand-controlled recirculation strategies in commercial buildings. This session will explain how the code is shifting away from continuously operating recirculation systems toward smarter controls designed to reduce energy waste, piping heat loss, and unnecessary pump operation.
The presentation will explore how demand-controlled hot water recirculation systems can help projects improve efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort and reducing water waste. Attendees will also learn how these requirements impact system design, commissioning, inspections, and long-term building performance.
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Check out all the resources we have on our website, including a link to our YouTube page with hours of video training content! |
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Energy Vanguard: Your Ducts Work Better with a Variable-Capacity System
As high-performance homes become more common, HVAC equipment and duct design must work together—not independently. In this insightful article, Allison Bailes explains why variable-capacity heat pumps and air conditioners can often overcome minor duct design shortcomings by continuously adjusting airflow to better match the home's heating and cooling loads.
The result is improved comfort, quieter operation, better humidity control, and more consistent room-to-room temperatures. It's a great reminder that while properly designed ducts are still essential, modern variable-capacity technology can significantly enhance overall system performance.
Read more here.
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