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In this Newsletter:
- Upcoming Webinars
- Save These Dates!
- New SPEER Member
- Responses Needed: NREL Residential Contractor Survey
- Noteworthy
- What We're Reading
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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 Right-sizing HVAC is crucial – Many homes and buildings suffer from oversized HVAC systems due to outdated assumptions about air leakage.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
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Unlocking the Power of Geothermal – Heat Pump Solutions with WaterFurnace
Join us for an enlightening webinar that delves into the innovative world of geothermal heating and cooling, showcasing WaterFurnace's cutting-edge technology. Our expert speaker will demystify the principles of ground-source heat exchange and introduce you to WaterFurnace's advanced heat pump systems, which provide forced air heating, air conditioning, and can even generate a portion of your home's hot water—all from a single unit.
During this comprehensive session, you'll gain insights into:
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How Geothermal Systems Work: Understand the mechanics of WaterFurnace's systems that tap into the earth's stable temperatures to provide efficient heating and cooling year-round.
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Cost-Effectiveness: Discover how WaterFurnace systems can lead to substantial savings on your energy bills, with efficiencies that can deliver more than five units of energy for every unit of electrical energy used, and explore available tax credits and incentives, such as the 30% federal tax credit extended through December 31, 2032, that make the transition to geothermal more accessible.
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Installation Processes: Get acquainted with the various loop configurations—horizontal, vertical, and pond/lake loops—and understand how they can be tailored to suit different properties and climates, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Whether you're a homeowner aiming to enhance comfort and achieve energy savings of up to 70% on your utility bills, a builder interested in sustainable design, or a professional seeking to expand your knowledge of renewable energy technologies, this webinar offers a comprehensive overview of residential geothermal potential.
When: April 29th, 2025, 10:30 AM Central Time
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SPEER is a proud Endorsing Partner of the upcoming Retrofit USA Conference: Building Energy Efficiency & Decarbonization 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.
SPEER’s Senior Manager of Building Performance, Randy Plumlee, will be in attendance. Stop by our booth to talk shop about energy codes, inspections, and solutions that move buildings toward a more efficient future.
Register today!
| | SPEER Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop - Houston | | |
SPEER’s Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop is coming to Houston! This session will cover new and future heat pump technologies, the long-term effects of market transformation opportunities, where the market is heading, incentives, and much more. This training will be provided by experts from Daikin Comfort.
Details:
April 29th, 8:30 AM – 1 PM
7330 Langfield Rd, Houston, TX 77092
Coffee, breakfast and snacks will be provided.
This training is FREE thanks to our sponsor, CenterPoint Energy! Register here.
| | SPEER Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop - Dallas | | |
Next in line for SPEER’s Heat Pump Contractor Training Workshop will be Dallas! This training will be provided by experts from Daikin Comfort and LG Electric.
Details:
April 30th, 8:30 AM – 1 PM
7309 Frankford Rd Dallas, TX 75252
Coffee, breakfast and snacks will be provided.
This training is FREE thanks to our member and host, Oncor Electric Delivery!
Register here.
| | Registration Open: SPEER's Building Operator Certification Summer 2025 Course | | |
SPEER is a recipient partner in the DOE’s Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) Grant. This grant supports Building Operator Certification (BOC) funding to enhance training for building energy efficiency professionals in energy-efficient design and operations in the south-central region. Through this grant we are able to waive the cost of the BOC training, offering it free of charge!
By addressing workforce demand at the local and regional levels, it helps bridge the gap created by retiring professionals while preparing for the adoption of advanced building systems and controls.
The summer course will begin May 13th and run through mid-August. This course will be taught live, in a virtual format through Zoom with our qualified instructors. Spots are limited - register here.
*BOC training is for building professionals with two or more years’ experience who wish to broaden their knowledge of the total building system. Learn more about eligibility here.
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SPEER is excited to welcome our newest member, HVAC U!
We are very happy to have them on board as we continue our mission to advance energy efficiency in Texas and Oklahoma. Learn more about SPEER membership here.
| | 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 | | |
Duct Sealing, Leakage Testing, and Ventilation - Code Requirements are Changing
In case you missed it, we had an in-depth webinar designed specifically for building officials, plan reviewers, and 3rd party energy verifiers to navigate the latest HVAC energy code requirements related to duct sealing, leakage testing, and ventilation. As energy codes become more stringent, understanding compliance requirements is critical for ensuring efficiency, indoor air quality, and overall system performance. This session provided a comprehensive look at IECC, ASHRAE 62.2, and ENERGY STAR requirements for duct leakage testing, approved sealing methods, and mechanical ventilation verification. It also covered field testing procedures, compliance verification strategies, and common mistakes that can lead to test failures.
What You'll Learn:
1. Duct leakage has a major impact on energy efficiency and code compliance – even minor leaks can result in test failures and higher energy costs.
2. Proper testing procedures and documentation are crucial – knowing how to conduct and interpret a duct leakage test ensures compliance and avoids costly rework.
3. Mechanical ventilation is often overlooked in compliance reviews – understanding airflow verification and balancing is key to meeting code requirements and improving indoor air quality
Presenter: Randy Plumlee, Senior Manager, Building Performance - SPEER
*Original air date: February 25, 2025
Check it out on SPEER's YouTube channel.
| | *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! | | |
Platform Return Problems in Polluted Places - Energy Vanguard
In the article "Platform Return Problems in Polluted Places" from Energy Vanguard, author Allison A. Bailes III, PhD, discusses the indoor air quality (IAQ) issues associated with platform return plenums, especially when located in polluted areas like garages. A platform return plenum is a site-built box on which the air handler sits, often constructed with non-standard materials that may not be properly sealed. This can lead to leaks, allowing pollutants such as carbon monoxide, water vapor, and emissions from pesticides, paint, gasoline, and automobile exhaust to be drawn into the HVAC system and distributed throughout the home. The article emphasizes the importance of proper sealing and placement of return plenums to prevent such IAQ problems.
| | Check out all the resources we have on our website, including a link to our YouTube page with hours of video training content! | | | | |
