National Energy Rating Program for Homes in the Works
Did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy is currently working to develop a voluntary, National Energy Rating Program for Homes? Go, Dr. Chu, go!
According to DOE, the purpose of such a program "is to facilitate a new level of investment in home energy efficiency by overcoming a range of informational and market barriers frequently identified as hindering these investments," and that the resulting "greater investment in home energy retrofits will grow jobs, save homeowners money on their energy bills, help avoid emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, and improve energy security." You bet your buttons it will.
With many states and jurisdictions thinking about establishing their own energy rating programs, the timing couldn’t be better (unless it was yesterday) for DOE to come out with a comprehensive, well-designed program that complements existing residential retrofit policies while also laying the groundwork and establishing a framework useful for all those places that have yet to create their own. We applaud you, Dr. Chu!
Read the Request for Information here:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/home_rating_rfi.html
Read the more detailed document on the program and the RFI here:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/corporate/rating_rfi_6_2_10.pdf
Watch the webinar here:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/media/webinar_rating_20100621.wmv
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- US DOE's Home Energy Score
8 weeks 3 days ago - Home energy
15 weeks 4 days ago
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US DOE's Home Energy Score
Absolutely agree that US DOE's national focus on labeling homes could be a boone to raising the bar on energy efficiency in homes. We are challenged to understand the positioning of the Home Energy Score (and have asked US DOE this directly without response). There is general agreement that an "MPG" for homes is needed, and great research and recommendations has been formulated in this regard; specifically the NEEP report. The Home Energy Score references comparable homes in a climate zone that are in the RECS database. As the RECS database changes, there will be ramifications on the Home Energy Score. Thus a score of 8 in 2011 will mean something different in 2015. This is not the premise of an MPG analogy.We remain hopeful that post Home Energy Score piloting US DOE is conducting there will be a concerted effort to position the label to complement existing labeling efforts that have been underway for a while. In closing, while I agree with you Caroline that Dr. Chu is great, we are yet to witness the effectiveness of their "well-designed comprehensive system."
Home energy
I didn't realize that. Interesting!