April 2011

Home Performance Verification

Who really reaps the benefits?

Failure happens. With buildings, the key is to catch a potential failure or problem early. A failure found years into occupancy could result in indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, energy performance reduction, and complicated and costly fixes. Verification is a process that provides early insight to the benefit of both contractors and residents.

To begin the process, I give guidance on up-front planning and provide training in pre-construction. In the early phases of construction, testing and visual inspections verify installation. These early actions that I take happen during rough-in when the building is barely a shell and the inside is a maze of bones. Much like an x-ray, this stage of construction provides access to critical components at a time when attention to detail is imperative to future performance. The installation of building envelope components or HVAC equipment happens in a fleeting moment in the life of a building, yet they are so important to long-term success.

My tools for verification are a blower door to check the leakiness of the building, a flow hood to confirm desired flows of exhaust and ventilation systems, and a Duct Blaster® to test the leakiness of the ductwork. I am not the performance police, energy enforcer, nor air-sealing avenger, but I am an advocate for best practices with tangible results. I do not issue fines when I find something wrong, but instead provide on-the-spot education and troubleshooting with the trades.

The duality of verification is the realization of benefits within the building but also increased awareness and skills among the trades. For instance, blower door diagnostics (testing for air leaks in the house) during rough-in may identify trouble areas in air-sealing of the building envelope. The trades on site can physically see and feel the air leaks, and make adjustments to their practices to compensate. I’ve noticed the competitive nature of trades when trying to meet a target infiltration rate and a satisfaction and pride in workmanship when the testing rings true at final inspection! The problem solved is a win for me, but more so is the change in the practice of the project team that will carry forward into future projects.

Diagnostic testing, performance testing, and 3rd party verification in residential construction are used to confirm the achievement of design intent, bring a focus to details, and ensure installation performance. The value includes a quality product and improved health, comfort, and satisfaction of workers and future occupants. The outcomes include better building performance, lessons learned, and capacity building among the Contractor and the building trades.

Chris Edlin provides expert LEED consulting for  residential, commercial, institutional and other building projects .
 

Green Jobs Training

at Washington Conservation Corps conference

AmeriCorps members participating in the Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) took a four-day training in sustainability and low impact development in late March. The course included two days in the classroom plus tours of green projects on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, and a hands-on rain garden installation. Instructor Kelly Kirkland said, "It was exciting to connect young adults who are really knowledgeable about the natural environment to the kinds of things they could do to improve the sustainability of the built environment."