Clewless1

Who do I blame? I blame builders, building officials, homeowners, and architects. As Rob mentioned, there is a significant lack of enforcement. The primary reason there is usually a BO is so busy that his focus is more on life safety issues than energy/green.

In the mid 90’s in Washington State, special plans examiners and inspectors were required on commercial construction. They were certified. They were much like other special inspections (e.g. welding/steel). The BO required the plans examiner sign off prior to issuing the permit. And before final CO, the special inspector had to sign off.

Another barrier to enforcement is the knowledge of the BO in energy efficiency and the energy code. While they understand much of the principles, enforcing a detailed energy code requires knowledge just like enforcing structural codes.

Builders who spec or otherwise bid are under pressure to minimize cost and they tend to minimize where things can’t be seen (they better not botch that granite counter install).

Homeowners often direct design with emotion more than making sensible decisions. They tend to demand a house larger than they need. They demand that panoramic west view (damn the sun). They are struggling to get into a home for least cost (never mind the energy cost down the road) and may not realize that saving one or two hundred square feet will save a lot in construction (easily paying for some energy upgrades) not to mention energy down the road.

Designers/architects often have to bend to the whim of their clients (do you blame them?). But do they make suggestions for better design and construction? I think they often don’t (maybe for fear of turning their client off). They put R-21 in the walls and R-38 in the ceiling and use Low-e glass and call their design energy efficient.

Minimum code is not [relatively speaking] efficient. Codes make requirements out of common construction practices that are considered relatively economical using materials readily available in the marketplace. That is why the code is MINIMUM construction.

So if I build the ‘average’ house in Boulder Colorado (I understand it is in excess of 5,000 sqft!) to energy efficient standards, do I get to give myself and my family of 4 a gold star? While I much appreciate and respect the need to ‘be free to build what I want’, I think there is some degree of obligation to build only what I need.

Now that is a hard concept to really define. Who’s to say what one needs? As a general rule, though, I suspect the average family of 4 does not “need” a 5,000 sqft house. Maybe expensive houses should far exceed minimum energy standards; the owners can afford it.

Can we label houses with energy stickers? We aren’t talking about a refrigerator here which can be pulled off the shelf and relatively easily tested under what would be considered ‘normal’ or ‘expected’ conditions to give us an idea of how it would compare with the other model or brand. There are many many more things that affect energy use in a house. Energy efficient construction be an energy hog. It is the occupants that cause energy consumption.

I’m not saying there shouldn’t be an energy document placed permanently in the house. That is a simple idea and much better than doing nothing. It tells you what you have under the hood, so to speak. It’s a start. Maybe the document should provide an indicator that the house meets or exceeds minimum energy code.

It can get complex fast. Difficult to put a single number on it like on a refrigerator, but more information MAY not be understood by the homeowner. The intent to simplify and be informative can be a formidable task.

The trouble is … efficient house design is an entire package … not just wall insulation or an efficient furnace. It is windows chosen and placed carefully. It is good layout and arrangement of [appropriately sized] spaces that as a whole fit the site the house is placed on.