U.S. homebuilders of all sizes, from all areas of the country, report growing buyer interest in energy-efficient houses. Yet they also find that many homebuyers want help in making informed decisions. How can homebuyers tell exceptional energy performers from average energy performers or code homes? How do they figure out just what that difference will mean in their energy bills? Insulation, windows, ventilation, ducts, thermal barriers all contribute to meeting the Quality Criteria. Spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Builders Challenge is a voluntary effort to provide compelling answers. Through the Builders Challenge, participating homebuilders will have an easy way to differentiate their best energy-performing homes from other products in the marketplace, and to make the benefits clear to buyers. DOE's ultimate vision is that, by 2030, a consumer will have the opportunity to buy a cost-neutral, net-zero energy home (NZEH) anywhere in the United States — a grid-connected home that, over the course of a year, produces as much energy as it uses. The Builders Challenge establishes a framework for continuous improvement that will help propel the market toward zero-energy performance.
The Builders Challenge is based on lessons learned from the Building America Research Program — a private/public partnership that develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. Learn more about Building America.
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At what point does over-blowing compromise R-Value? What are the other consequences of over-blowing walls with loose fill fiberglass?
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What is the energy efficiency tax credit worth?
Home owners are eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,500 for 30% of the costs of qualified energy efficiency improvements made to their homes. Therefore, if a homeowner spends $1,000 on new qualifying insulation, they are eligible for a $300 Federal tax credit. This is a more generous credit than the previous tax credit of up to $500 for 10% of the costs.
There's more great information for homeowners on what's needed to get tax credits for insulating on the Knauf web site.
The Weatherization Assistance Programis creating thousands of jobs locally—putting carpenters, electricians, and factory workers back to work installing insulation, upgrading appliances, and improving heating and cooling systems. According to state reports, the Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program supported more than 13,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010, including approximately 120 jobs in New Hampshire. These workers are receiving training in energy upgrades that will help form the foundation for a sustainable energy efficiency industry in America that can extend to the more than 100 million middle-class homes that stand to benefit from weatherization.
After ramping up last year, the Weatherization Assistance Program is now weatherizing homes at its optimal run rate—approximately 25,000 homes per month. And in June, states reported that more than 31,600 homes were weatherized with Recovery Act funding—the most ever in a month. This summer alone, more than 80,000 homes will be weatherized across the country.
Nearly $90 million in Recovery Act funds will be awarded to more than 100 high-performing local weatherization providers in 27 states to complement and expand their existing weatherization programs. Each of the selected organizations has already met their milestone of weatherizing 30% of their total production goal and spending 30% of their Recovery Act funds. These awards will allow these successful grantees for the first time to install renewable energy systems and cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies in homes to help families save even more on their energy bills. This includes installing technologies such as solar heating systems, solar photovoltaic panels and shingles, small-scale wind turbines, new insulation technologies, cool roofs, high-efficiency appliances, tankless hot water systems, high-efficiency combination boilers for hot water and heat, in-home energy monitors, and ductless heat pump systems.
An additional $30 million from the weatherization program's annual budget will fund 16 recipients that will demonstrate other innovative approaches to weatherizing low-income single and multifamily homes. Projects will include new types of weatherization partnerships, financial models that allow for greater private sector leveraging, workforce training and volunteer engagement, and the demonstration of new energy efficiency technologies like in-home energy monitors. Projects will also test combining weatherization services with a comprehensive 'green and healthy homes' approach that incorporates indoor air quality improvement and lead abatement services.
When considering cost estimates among contractors, we suggest you compare obvious contract points, as well as “additional value points.” These value points include the following:
• How long has the company been established?
• Does the firm have a credible history in the community/industry?
• Does the company have an established office and/or showroom, allowing consumers the convenience of product displays, a conference area to discuss plans, and the ability to meet the office team?
• What is the experience and tenure of the office professionals and craftsmen?
• Does the company utilize established subcontractors with proof of insurance coverage and licensing?
• Do community building inspectors have favorable recommendations for the workmanship of the firm?
• Have the firm’s principle members obtained advance certification?
• Is the firm educated and certified for laws enacted in the state?
• May the principles be reached “after hours” in the event of an emergency?
• Will the contractor supply recommendations from current and past clients?
In the case of BIBS and BIBS HP, you also want to verify that the contractor is trained and certified, preferably a member of the contractor's association as well.
When comparing construction agreements and specifications, make sure they are identical: product selection, material cost allowances, scope of procedures to be completed, issuance of permits and project square footage. Compare the payment schedule; a contractor who demands more than 20 percent upfront prior to work commencing should be questioned. Make sure the contractor will supply you with lien waivers and warranty information.
Prior to obtaining insulation bids, do research up front. Be honest with your available budget, which enables the contractor to compose a realistic bid for you. Inform the contractor of amenities you want incorporated. If the project has multiple phases, produce a priority list, in case your budget does not allow all the projects to be completed immediately.
While price is important, value, experience and the delivered result will be remembered long after the project is completed and the last payment submitted. Make sure you receive true value for your dollars!
To find a qualified insulation installer in your area, visit our map.
| Adding more insulation where you already have some, such as in an attic, will save energy. You can save even greater amounts of energy if you install insulation into places in your home that have never been insulated. Figure 1 shows which building spaces should be insulated. These might include an uninsulated floor over a garage or crawlspace, or a wall that separates a room from the attic. Figure 3 can give you general guidance regarding the appropriate amount of insulation you should add to your home, and the rest of this page will provide more specific information. |  |
A qualified home energy auditor will include an insulation check as a routine part of an energy audit. For information about home energy audits, call your local utility company. State energy offices are another valuable resource for information. An energy audit of your house will identify the amount of insulation you have and need, and will likely recommend other improvements as well. If you don't have someone inspect your home, you'll need to find out how much insulation you already have.
After you find out how much you have, you can find out how much you should add. This recommendation balances future utility bill savings against the current cost of installing insulation. So the amount of insulation you need depends on your climate and heating fuel(gas, oil, electricity), and whether or not you have an air conditioner.
How Much Insulation Do I Already Have?
Look into your attic. We start with the attic because it is usually easy to add insulation to an attic. This table will help you figure out what kind of insulation you have and what its R-value is.
Look into your walls. It is difficult to add insulation to existing walls unless:
- You are planning to add new siding to your house, or
- You plan to finish unfinished space (like a basement or bonus room).
If so, you need to know whether the exterior walls are already insulated or not. One method is to use an electrical outlet on the wall, but first be sure to turn off the power to the outlet. Then remove the cover plate and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. You should be able to see whether or not insulation is in the wall. Also, you should check separate outlets on the first and second floor, and in old and new parts of the house, because wall insulation in one wall doesn't necessarily mean that it's everywhere in the house. An alternative to checking through electrical outlets is to remove and then replace a small section of the exterior siding.
Look under your floors. Look at the underside of any floor over an unheated space like a garage, basement, or crawlspace. Inspect and measure the thickness of any insulation you find there. It will most likely be a fiberglass batt, so multiply the thickness in inches by 3.2 to find out the R-value (or the R-value might be visible on a product label). If the insulation is a foam board or sprayed-on foam, use any visible label information or multiply the thickness in inches by 5 to estimate the R-value.
Look at your ductwork. Don't overlook another area in your home where energy can be saved - the ductwork of the heating and air- conditioning system. If the ducts of your heating or air-conditioning system run through unheated or uncooled spaces in your home, such as attic or crawlspaces, then the ducts should be insulated. First check the ductwork for air leaks. Repair leaking joints first with mechanical fasteners, then seal any remaining leaks with water-soluble mastic and embedded fiber glass mesh. Never use gray cloth duct tape because it degrades, cracks, and loses its bond with age. If a joint has to be accessible for future maintenance, use pressure- or heat-sensitive aluminum foil tape. Then wrap the ducts with duct wrap insulation of R-6 with a vapor retarder facing on the outer side. All joints where sections of insulation meet should have overlapped facings and be tightly sealed with fiber glass tape; but avoid compressing the insulation, thus reducing its thickness and R-value.
Return air ducts are often located inside the heated portion of the house where they don't need to be insulated, but they should still be sealed off from air passageways that connect to unheated areas. Drywall- to-ductwork connections should be inspected because they are often poor (or nonexistent) and lead to unwanted air flows through wall cavities. If the return air ducts are located in an unconditioned part of the building, they should be insulated.
Look at your pipes. If water pipes run through unheated or uncooled spaces in your home, such as attic or crawlspaces, then the pipes should be insulated.
Need more information on retrofitting your house? Contact a qualified, professional BIBS dealer in your area
Right now, the IRS Form 1099 is used to document income for individual workers other than wages and salaries. Freelancers receive them each year from their clients, and businesses issue them to the independent contractors they hire.
The bill makes two key changes to how 1099s are used. First, it expands their scope by using them to track payments not only for services but also for tangible goods. Plus, it requires that 1099s be issued not just to individuals, but also to corporations.
Taken together, the two seemingly small changes will require millions of additional forms to be sent out. Why did these tax code revisions get included in a health-care reform bill? Welcome to Washington. The idea seems to be that using 1099 forms to capture unreported income will generate more government revenue and help offset the cost of the health bill.
Why did these tax code revisions get included in a health-care reform bill? The idea seems to be that using 1099 forms to capture unreported income will generate more government revenue and help offset the cost of the health bill. The IRS estimates that the federal government loses more than $ 300 billion each year in tax revenue on income that goes unreported. Using 1099s to document millions of transactions that now go untracked is one way to begin to close the gap.
Data Collection Headache: gathering names and taxpayer identification numbers for every payee and vendor that you do business with.
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“The CPDS Series 2 has terrific new features that contractors are going to really appreciate,” says Michael Sites, Touch ‘n Seal Product Manager. “After the successful launch of the original CPDS 1000, we listened to our customer requests and we responded to them. The result is a high-performance spray foam dispensing system ideal for business start-ups or service expansion for any contractor looking for a low investment cost with a high rate of return.”
The Touch ‘n Seal CPDS Series 2 delivers both open and closed cell, Class 1 fire-retardant foam and is designed for use in residential and commercial sealing and insulating applications. Using an adjustable constant delivery rate, the CPDS Series 2 operator can apply polyurethane spray foam to horizontal or vertical surfaces. Hoses up to 150’ long allow for jobsite portability and versatility. No chemical calibration is required. With an empty weight of less than 155 lbs., and a 24” x 33” footprint, the CPDS Series 2 fits in the back of a standard truck and easily navigates through standard doorways and entrances.
CPDS Series 2 Performance and Durability enhancements include:
- Built in thermostatically controlled heater that maintains chemicals, hoses and CPDS at optimal operating temperatures
- An upgraded heavy duty pressure booster
- Redesigned hangers that hold up to 150’ of chemical hose for easier handling/hose control
- A durable, powder coated metal tool box
- Heavy duty labels that resist chemical stains, scratches and weathering
- An extra set of heavy duty pressure hoses in every tool box to reduce down time/allow for faster repairs
- A heavy duty CPDS cover that helps maintain proper temperatures when used with the built in heater. The cover also features a large, clear window to see the complete control panel and tool box
- Improved cold weather starting
- New and improved heavy duty, white ball bearing rear wheels
- Heavy duty pressure hose fixtures for ease of attachment
- Bright, updated control panel graphics that are easy to read and understand
Touch ‘n Seal foams contain no CFCs and are International Residential Code Compliant. The CPDS Series 2 is available nationwide and throughout Canada. For a local distributor, please call Touch ‘n Seal’s Customer Service at 1-800-325-6180.
Insulation saves 12 times as much energy per pound in its first year in place as the energy used to produce it.
All insulation products installed in U.S. buildings save consumers about 12 quadrillion Btu annually or about 42 percent of the energy that would have been consumed with no insulation in place.
Insulation currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by 780 million tons each year.
Today's fiber glass insulation contains nearly 40% recycled glass, depending upon the manufacturing facility.
Check out Blow in Blanket, the Premium Insulation System .
People who weatherize their homes or purchase alternative energy equipment may qualify for either of two expanded home energy tax credits: the non-business energy property credit and the residential energy efficient property credit.
BIBCA Mission: To promote BIBS as the most value-added premium insulation system, and to support BIBCA members as they grow their businesses.
Thinking about retro-fitting your home? Take a look at this presentation before you decide on cellulose over fiberglass.
JM Spider® Drill & Fill BenefitsMore Efficient Installation Process
- Higher installed R-values than cellulose
- Comparable1or Better2Air Resistance properties than cellulose
- Can be Installed with 5/8”nozzles through mortar joints
- Minimal or no clogging in standard 1” hoses and larger
- Less dust and less clean-up than cellulose
- Installed at Lower Densities with Less Air Pressure
- Easier to train new installers
- Easier to install without settling or wall damage
Click here to view and download the presentation
Energy efficiency retrofits for your home not glamorous enough? President Obama thinks insulation is sexy. If you were watching twenty dollar bills float out your roof and windows....you'd do something about it, right?
Watch the video here and call a BIBS dealer for a retrofit today.
Energy Tax Credits are still available. Don't miss the savings. Check out all the individual benefits including Home energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives.
Residential Energy Property Credit (Section 1121): The new law increases the energy tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. The new law increases the credit rate to 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements and raises the maximum credit limit to $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010The credit applies to improvements such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.
IR-2010-80, July 2, 2010
WASHINGTON — Eligible taxpayers who contracted to buy a home, qualifying for the first-time homebuyer credit, before the end of April now have until Sept. 30, 2010 to close the deal, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, signed by the President today, extended the closing deadline from June 30 to Sept. 30 for any eligible homebuyer who entered into a binding purchase contract on or before April 30 to close on the purchase of the home on or before June 30, 2010. The new law addresses concerns that many homebuyers might be unable to meet the original June 30 closing deadline.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that special filing and documentation requirements apply to anyone claiming the homebuyer credit. To avoid refund delays, those who entered into a purchase contract on or before April 30, but closed after that date, should attach to their return a copy of the pages from the signed contract showing all parties' names and signatures if required by local law, the property address, the purchase price, and the date of the contract.
Besides filling out Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit, all eligible homebuyers must also include with their return one of the following documents:
- A copy of the settlement statement showing all parties' names and signatures if required by local law, property address, sales price, and date of purchase. Normally, this is the properly executed Form HUD-1, Settlement Statement.
- For mobile home purchasers who are unable to get a settlement statement, a copy of the executed retail sales contract showing all parties' names and signatures, property address, purchase price and date of purchase.
- For a newly constructed home where a settlement statement is not available, a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the owner’s name, property address and date of the certificate.
Besides providing a tax benefit to first-time homebuyers and purchasers who haven’t owned homes in recent years, the law allows a long-time resident of the same main home to claim the credit if they purchase a new principal residence. To qualify, eligible taxpayers must show that they lived in their old homes for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period ending on the purchase date of the new home. Homebuyers claiming this credit can avoid refund delays by attaching documentation covering the five-consecutive-year period:
- Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, or substitute mortgage interest statements,
- Property tax records or
- Homeowner’s insurance records.
There are three options for claiming the credit on a qualifying 2010 purchase:
- If a 2009 return has not yet been filed, claim it on Form 1040 for tax-year 2009. Though these returns cannot be filed electronically, taxpayerscan still use IRS Free File to prepare their return. The returns must be printed out and sent to the IRS, along with all required documentation. The IRS urges taxpayers claiming refunds to choose direct deposit.
- If a 2009 return has already been filed, claim it on an amended return using Form 1040X.
- Whether or not a 2009 return has been filed, wait until next year and claim it on a 2010 Form 1040.
More details on claiming the credit can be found in the instructions to Form 5405, as well as on the First-Time Homebuyer Credit page on IRS.gov.
The best strategy for controlling moisture in your home depends on your climate and how your home is constructed. Before deciding on a moisture control strategy for your home, you may first want to understand how moisture moves through a home.
To help understand the principles of moisture control, you need to understand the basics of how moisture can move through your home.
Moisture or water vapor moves in and out of a home in three ways:
- With air currents
- By diffusion through materials
- By heat transfer.
Of these three, air movement accounts for more than 98% of all water vapor movement in building cavities. Air naturally moves from a high pressure area to a lower one by the easiest path possible—generally through any available hole or crack in the building envelope. Moisture transfer by air currents is very fast (in the range of several hundred cubic feet of air per minute). Thus, you need to carefully and permanently air seal any unintended paths to control air movement.
The other two driving forces—diffusion through materials and heat transfer—are much slower processes. Most common building materials slow moisture diffusion to a large degree, although they never stop it completely. Good insulation, properly installed, also helps reduce heat transfer or flow.
The laws of physics govern how moist air reacts within various temperature conditions. The study of moist air properties is technically referred to as "psychrometrics." A psychrometric chart is used by professionals to determine at what temperature and moisture concentration water vapor begins to condense. This is called the "dew point." By understanding how to find the dew point, you will better understand how to avoid moisture problems in your house.
Relative humidity (RH) refers to the amount of moisture contained in a quantity of air compared to the maximum amount of moisture the air could hold at the same temperature. As air warms, its ability to hold water vapor increases; this capacity decreases as air cools. For example, according to the psychometric chart, air at 68ºF (20ºC) with 0.216 ounces of water (H2O) per pound of air (14.8g H2O/kg air) has a 100% RH. The same air at 59ºF (15ºC) reaches 100% RH with only 0.156 ounces of water per pound of air (10.7g H2O/kg air). The colder air holds about 28% of the moisture that the warmer air does. The moisture that the air can no longer hold condenses on the first cold surface it encounters (the dew point.) If this surface is within an exterior wall cavity, wet insulation and framing will be the result.
In addition to air movement, you also can control temperature and moisture content. Since insulation reduces heat transfer or flow, it also moderates the effect of temperature across the building envelope cavity. In most U.S. climates, properly installed vapor diffusion retarders can be used to reduce the amount of moisture transfer. Except in deliberately ventilated spaces, such as attics, insulation and vapor diffusion retarders work together to reduce the opportunity for condensation in a house's ceilings, walls, and floors.
To effectively control moisture in your home, you need to first consider your climate when exploring your moisture control options.
The US Department of Energy agrees with our message. It is not enough to insulate with a good system such as blown in fiberglass (BIBS). Air leakage, or infiltration, occurs when outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks and openings. Properly air sealing such cracks and openings in your home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment.
It is unwise to rely on air leakage for ventilation because it can't be controlled. During cold or windy weather, too much air may enter the house. When it's warmer and less windy, not enough air may enter. Air infiltration also can contribute to problems with moisture control. Moldy and dusty air can enter a leaky house through such areas as attics or foundations. This air in the house could cause health problems.
The recommended strategy in both new and old homes is to reduce air leakage as much as possible and to provide controlled ventilation as needed.
For more information, see the following resources:
Note that air sealing alone can't replace the need for proper insulation throughout your home, which is needed to reduce heat flow.
Use the equation to estimate the cost effectiveness of adding insulation in terms of the "years to payback" for savings in heating costs. Years to payback is the time required for the insulation to save enough fuel from heating (at present prices) to pay for itself. A simple payback is the initial investment divided by annual savings after taxes.
The cost of the energy source is also a key factor in determining payback. Energy prices vary widely from region to region and season to season. Other factors, such as the rate of production and inventories of fuels nationwide, can also affect local energy prices. The weather from year to year also varies, so your energy costs from year to year will vary as well. To figure the cost of energy, consult your local utility for a rate schedule, or save your energy bills and plug your specific costs into this formula.
- Tax Credit: 30% of cost up to $1,500 Expires: December 31, 2010 Details: Must be an existing home
The Blow in Blanket system provides outstanding thermal performance and superior sound control.
- comfort is improved year-round
- it reduces the cost of heating and cooling byover 40%
- it pays for itself in around five to six years
- there is less need for heating and cooling whichsaves non-renewable resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- it virtually eliminates condensation on walls and ceilings;
- insulation materials can also be used for sound proofing.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it was delaying enforcement of its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which became effective on April 22, 2010. EPA has acknowledged the need for additional time for renovation firms and workers to become trained and certified under the rule.
The specific delays are: Until October 1, 2010, EPA will not take enforcement action for violations of the RRP Rule's firm certification requirement. For violations of the RRP Rule's renovation worker certification requirement, EPA will not enforce against individual renovation workers if the person has applied to enroll in, or has enrolled in, by not later than September 30, 2010, a certified renovator class to train contractors in practices necessary for compliance with the final rules. Renovators must complete the training by December 31, 2010.
Contractors have numerous concerns with the overly complex and burdensome RRP Rule, including the removal of the opt-out provision and the lack of reliable test kits. The rule could have a severe impact on the remodeling market in several parts of the country and expose dealers and contractors to unnecessary liability. In addition, new proposals from EPA on clearance testing and an expansion of the rule to commercial construction pose additional challenges for contractors of all types, who are still struggling with the economic downturn.
Click here to download the EPA's Delay announcement.
