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RESNET Forms Task Force to Investigate National Standard for Home Energy Audits

Home energy audits have been around for decades. Traditionally a home energy audit has been a survey of the energy uses of a home, recommendations of no/low cost improvements that can be made to the home, and if the home can benefit from more extensive upgrades recommendation a home energy rating or energy analysis by a qualified person. Currently audits are conducted by home inspectors, utility personnel, and product distributors with no uniform procedures or national qualifications. Most often there is no cost to consumers for the service being that it is a part of an effort to sell a product or service, is part of a home inspection, or is part of a utility's demand management effort.

While there are many uses for the energy audit, there has never been a national standard that defines an energy audit and describes the skills an energy auditor must have.

With the spiraling costs of home heating and cooling, there has been a renewed interest in energy audits and in developing a national standard. RESNET has recruited a task force to provide guidance on this issue. The mandate of the task force is limited to making recommendations of a national definition of what constitutes a home energy audit and what should be the minimum qualifications to be an energy auditor. To download the listing of the task force click on RESNET Task Force on National Standard for Home Energy Audits.

It is not the intent of this effort is to supplant or compete with other existing programs such as home energy ratings, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, home energy ratings, Building Performance Institute and HUD. It is a simple realization that energy audits are currently taking place with no national uniformity and that the media is increasingly urging homeowners to get an energy audit.

The scope of this task force is focused on developing recommendations on the following questions:

• Is there a need for a national standard?
• How should an audit differ from a home energy rating or BPI analysis?
• What primary elements should a home energy audit include?
• What elements should not be included in a home energy audit?
• What additional items could be included in an audit?
• Is there market share for a basic audit and an advanced audit?
• What is the experience/knowledge that an energy auditor would need?
• How would the public find a qualified energy auditor?

The first task of the group was to submit their opinions and comments on whether there is a need for a national standard for home energy audits. There was an outstanding response from task force members (82% submitted their thoughts) to this first question. The result is that the task force has found by a vote of 84 yes (91%) to 7 no (8%) and 1 abstaining (1%) that there is a need for a national standard.

Since there was an overwhelming response that there is a need for a national standard, RESNET will move to reviewing the issues involved and making recommendations on the remaining questions contained in the task force's charter. Because of the size and inclusiveness of the task force it would be too ungainly and time consuming for the entire task force to draft a recommendation for each of the questions. Instead RESNET will appoint a drafting subcommittee that will investigate each of the issues and make a recommendation to the full task force. RESNET has used this method for its other task forces and found that it works effectively.

Below is the consensus process on how the effort will proceed:

• A drafting subcommittee will be recruited by RESNET (the names of the subcommittee members will be sent to you in a couple of weeks)
• The subcommittee will review each question in sequential order and make recommendations to the full task force
• The subcommittee analysis and recommendations on each question would be sent to the task force for consideration (this would include all minority view points)
• The task force will then conduct an electronic discussion on the question followed by an electronic vote
• Each of the task force's recommendations will be forwarded to a program sponsors advisory committee (EPA, HUD, DOE & BPI) for their review and comment
• After recommendations have been made on all of the questions contained in the charter - they will be submitted to the RESNET Board of Directors for consideration
• If the RESNET Board adopts the task force's recommendations then the drafting committee will begin drafting the national standard
• The draft standard when completed will be debated and voted on by the full task force
• The program sponsor's advisory committee will review the draft standard and provide its input
• The draft will be submitted to the RESNET board for adoption

This will be a deliberative process that is absolutely necessary if a national consensus is to be developed on this important issue. There are a number of organizations and individuals who have invested a great amount of resources in the effort to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. RESNET wants to ensure that this effort is complimentary to these efforts and that the process is as transparent as possible.

Proceedings of Task Force

• RESNET National Energy Audit Framework
• Results of Vote on Whether There Should be a National Standard for Home Energy Audits
• Comments of Task Force on Elements of Base Line Check Up