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BuildSmart Technical Advisory Committee

Three (3) Green Building Recommendations

April 13, 2010

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TABLE CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................................7

RECOMMENDATION I ENERGY..............................................................................................9

Summary, Scope, Intent, Tools .................................................................................................9New Construction......................................................................................................................9Mechanical Submittals ..............................................................................................................9Performance Requirements ....................................................................................................10

In-House Expertise .................................................................................................................10Additions .................................................................................................................................10Remodels/Renovations ...........................................................................................................11

Energy Mitigation Program (EMP)...........................................................................................11Heated Drives .........................................................................................................................11Prescriptive Requirements for Snowmelt Systems .................................................................12Pools & Spas ..........................................................................................................................12Prescriptive Requirements for all Pools and Spas: .................................................................12

Supporting Information and Basis for Recommendation .....................................................13Why Mechanical Submittals:...................................................................................................13

Why Home Performance Home Energy Rating System (HERS):...........................................13Why a Sliding Scale Performance Requirements: ..................................................................14Why an Energy Mitigation Program (EMP): ............................................................................15Why certified energy audits for remodels AND performance improvements for additions:.....15

Fiscal Impacts ...........................................................................................................................16Public: .....................................................................................................................................16Private: ....................................................................................................................................16

RECOMMENDATION II ENERGY PLUS ................................................................................19

Summary, Scope, Intent, Tools ...............................................................................................19

New Construction .....................................................................................................................19BuildSmart Checklist ...............................................................................................................19

Additions and Remodels..........................................................................................................19

Supporting Information and Bases for Recommendation .................................................... 20Why a BuildSmart Checklist:...................................................................................................20

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Fiscal Impacts ...........................................................................................................................20Public: .....................................................................................................................................20Private: ....................................................................................................................................20

RECOMMENDATION III NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION .........................21

Summary, Scope, Goals, Tools ...............................................................................................21

New Construction .....................................................................................................................21

Additions and Remodels..........................................................................................................22

Supporting Information and Bases for Recommendation .................................................... 22Why a national recognized certified green building program: .................................................22

Fiscal Impact .............................................................................................................................22Public: .....................................................................................................................................22Private: ....................................................................................................................................23

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................24Homeowner Education............................................................................................................24Education and Outreach .........................................................................................................24County Sponsor Sub-Contractor Energy Efficiency Workshops .............................................24County Building Staff Energy Expertise ..................................................................................24

APPENDIX I................................................................................................................................25

TOOLS........................................................................................................................................25Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ....................................................................................25

CERTIFIED ENERGY AUDITS...............................................................................................25SLIDING PERFORMANCE SCALE........................................................................................26ENERGY MITGATION PROGRAM ........................................................................................26BUILDSMART CHECKLIST....................................................................................................26HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR ...................................................................26LEED.......................................................................................................................................27NAHB ......................................................................................................................................27INTERGRATED DESIGN .......................................................................................................27

APPENDIX II...............................................................................................................................28

CREATION OF THE COMMITTEE ............................................................................................28

RESEARCH ............................................................................................................................28EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ...........................................................................29SETTING PRIORITIES AND FORMULATING THE RECOMMENDATION ...........................29

EXHBITS ....................................................................................................................................30

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INTRODUCTION

Buildings are responsible for approximately half of U.S. energy consumption and green housegas (GHG) emissions annually and are growing faster than any other sector1. Forty-nine percentof total annual U.S. GHG emissions and 72 percent of U.S. electricity consumption happen in

buildings2. Residential and commercial structures account for one-third of all natural gasconsumption and the majority of electricity use in the U.S3. This is a direct result of the builtenvironments heating, cooling, lighting, hot water and appliance demands4.

Energy Security and Global Demand: Energy use has grown steadily over the past century aspopulation and economic activity has grown. The U.S. Department of Energy projects U.S.energy demand to grown by 11% by 2030, based on extrapolation of current trends 5. While theworld is not expected to run out of oil, coal, or natural gas anytime soon, the unprecedenteddemand and gradual depletion of the most accessible and least costly fossil-fuel reserves willsignificantly affect both production costs and basic economics of supply and demand. There isnational acknowledgement that greater energy efficiency is required to meet futureenvironmental uncertainties and energy demands.

Climate Change and Energy Prices: Due to carbon emissions and climate change and theirrelationship with non-renewable energies and hydro-electric energy, additional priceuncertainties are created. Drought prone areas, such as the intermountain west, are projectedto have decreasing water flows and levels6, subsequently resulting in decreasing amounts ofelectricity that can be generated7. Currently the majority of Idahos power comes fromhydroelectric sources. In 2009 alone, Idaho Power increased rates by 17%. In July alone anaverage increase in rates of 10.2% occurred. This was the largest rate increase of the five thatoccurred in 2009 and was implemented based on expected increases in energy costs causedby things such as reduced river flows. Several of the cost increases were initiated to encourageenergy conservation. Conservation saves customers money in the long run, because it keepsIdaho Power from having to develop or purchase additional energy, which most likely would

increase rates beyond the rate increases seen in 2009. Beyond physical induced climatechanges, climate change legislation, such as proposed federal cap and trade requirements forGHG emissions and EPA regulations of GHG emissions, can be expected to further increasethe cost of energy.

Local Supply and Demand: Intermountain Gas and Idaho Power have stated additional naturalgas pipelines and additional transmission lines will be needed to serve future growth in theWood River Valley. Lance McBride of InterMountain Gas stated the Wood River Valley gasconsumption is significantly higher than anywhere else in the state. The average Idaho homeconsumes on average 3.2 therms per/day, while Wood River consumption is 16 therms per/day.This is largely due to the significant number of large homes and heated drives in theunincorporated county. Providing additional transmission and pipeline infrastructure will

1U.S. Green Building Council

2 American Planning Association. Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future. Planning Advisory Report 558, 2010.3

American Planning Association. Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future. Planning Advisory Report 558, 2010.4 Cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030 Research group has plan to make buildings more efficient. SHAWN DELL JOYCE Mt.Express October 7, 2009.5

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2009.

6Climate Impact Group Hydrologic Climate Change Scenarios for the Pacific Northwest Columbia River Basin and Coastal

Drainages March 24, 2010 (http://www.hydro.washington.edu/2860/)7Drought Endangers Crops and Energy Supply Independent Mail. Kitz miller 2007

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increase energy rates for all energy consumers in the Valley. Increasing efficiencies in ourcurrent building stock and requiring greater efficiency in new buildings will delay such needswhile providing additional capacity for future growth.

Economic Development and Job Creation: The overall trend in green jobs and businesses hasoutpaced growth in almost all sectors outside of health care8. This trend is likely to accelerate

with the country shifting away from a consumption-led economy and back towered savings andinvestment. Products and services that provide energy savings and investments for homes areon the leading edge of these trends.

A recent study by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) suggest that the American CleanEnergy Security Act, which mandates significant energy improvements, would create or save270,000 jobs if the building-related provisions become law9. Californias 2011 mandatory greenbuilding code, CALGREEN, is expected to create jobs for residential energy specialist, greenbuilding consultants, and industry specialist with knowledge of green building outcomes.According to the U.S. Metro Economies: Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S.Economy, a 2008 report prepared by Global Insight for the U.S. Conference of Mayors:

Efforts to increase energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings have greatpotential to generate new employment opportunities in the rapidly expanding GreenEconomy. These structures account for a significant portion of total energy consumptionin the United States, and dedicated initiatives to improve energy efficiency couldsignificantly impact total electricity consumption. Given the nature of building retrofittingwork, we believe that the specialty trade contractor component of the construction sectorwill ultimately benefit the most from these new employment opportunities. Many of theworkers required to complete the renovation work and installations of efficiencyupgrades fall under the classifications of the traditional construction trades that comprisethis category. Ultimately, increasing demand for green building work can be expected togenerate new employment opportunities for electricians, HVAC technicians, carpenters,plumbers, roofers, laborers, and insulation workers, among others. Increased demand

for green retrofitting work will simultaneously stimulate demand for green buildingmaterials, providing additional sources of job gains in associated manufacturingindustries.

Reports aside, the implementation of Boulder Countys energy and construction recyclingrequirements have created entirely new construction related industries such as energyconsulting, energy analysis and construction waste recycling, while also significantly spurringthe solar industry. Boulder professionals believe the code revisions have created jobs andhelped maintain the strongest housing market in the country10 through the worse housingbubble in a century.

Legislative Authority

Numerous cities and counties around the U.S. have already adopted sustainable building codesor programs that go beyond the state minimum standard. Initial investigation of Idaho statestatues and conversations with Blaine County legal staff suggests the police powers providedunder Idaho state statue 39-4116 allow local entities to adopt above-code requirements andonly restricts entities from requiring less than what is established by the state, while permitting

8American Planning Association. Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future. Planning Advisory Report 558, 2010.

9AIA website: March 24, 2010 (http://www.aia.org/press/releases/AIAB080770?dvid=&recspec=AIAB080770)

10The 30 Strongest Housing Markets in the County. Business Week, September 2008.

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the use of modern technical methods, devices and improvements (Id.39-4101). Furthermore,67-6511 provides local entities with the legal authority to established standards to regulate size, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair and use of buildings. Blaine County legalstaff has initially recommended a green building program provides options and does notprescribe one course of action. The only legal challenges nationally to above code programshave involved jurisdictions that required prescriptive mechanical performance requirements.

Performance based codes allow the most legal freedom in that they do not prescribed a type ofequipment or construction technique, but only require a specified level of energy efficiency isattained.

In an effort to ensure energy resources are available for future economic growth and promoteBlaine County as a state and national leader in suitability and quality of life, Blaine County islooking for cost effective ways to increase the energy efficiency of the current and futurebuilding stock and to promote sustainable building practices.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2007 Blaine County become a member of ICLEILocal Governments for Sustainability. Thisspurred the county to assess means to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions. The built environment creates the largest demand for energy and is the secondlargest contributor to GHG emissions. Taking this data into consideration, the Board of CountyCommissioners, in February of 2009, established and invited individuals to serve on theBuildSmart Technical Advisory Committee (BSTAC). The committee was tasked withestablishing priorities and recommending no less than three possible green building programscenarios to the Board of County Commissioners.

The members of the BSTAC include, among other professions, architects, builders, energy andLEED specialists, and realtors. Other participants include building inspectors, contractors andsubcontractors, and engineers.

The following statement was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners as the

committees guiding principle:

To create a green building program--BuildSmart-- that promotes highly energy-efficientbuildings in Blaine County and establishes Blaine County as a leader in sustainabilityand climate protection.

The committee identified priorities, goals and tools to achieve such. The committee focused onlife-time building and maintenance costs, not simply construction costs and, where possible,tried to tailor its recommendations to the specific needs and characteristics of Blaine County.The committee tried to work by consensus but unanimity was not always possible. Therecommendations listed below represent the committee majority, although not all committeemembers agree with every recommendation or specific details within a recommendation.

Committee Recommendations (details can be found in the main document)

Recommendation IRecommendation Iaddresses energy goals only. In general, the recommendation requires thatall residential new construction be 30% more energy efficient than existing code (2006 IECC).The committee unanimously agreed energy reduction was the priority and requiring mandatoryaction was necessary for any effective and measurable outcomes to occur. Requiringmandatory energy performance, utilizing the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), versusmandatory prescriptive methods was considered the most flexible, fair, integrative and cost-effective method to implement a mandatory program. Research indicates home size is the mostsignificant indicator of energy consumption. Regardless of the code prescribed insulation levels

and air barriers, larger homes are less efficient in terms of actual surface-to-volume ratios,effective u-values, and envelope infiltration, as compared with smaller, simpler designs.Therefore the committee is recommending performance levels are dependent on home size.

The existing building stock offers the largest and most-cost effective opportunities to decreaseenergy consumption. Because the majority of buildings in the county were created prior theimplementation of the energy code and new construction is significantly more energy efficientthan existing building stock the committee prioritized improving the energy efficiency of theexisting building stock. To address this priority, additions larger than 300 sq.ft. shall be required

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to improve the performance of their home by 30 HERS point or 30%, up to a 70 HERS indexscore. Renovation or remodels larger than 300 sq.ft. shall be required to conduct a certifiedenergy audit prior to building permit issuance.

Heated drives, pools and spa use energy at a rate significantly higher than buildings and putconsiderable strain on energy infrastructure. To address large exterior energy consumption the

committee recommends an Energy Mitigation Program (EMP) for heated drives and large spasand pools. The EMP requires 50% of carbon based BTUs to be off-set through renewables orin-lieu fees.

Recommendation IIRecommendation II addresses energy goals through the performance based program outlinedin Recommendation I and the water, material resources, site, and indoor air quality (IAQ) goalsthrough the inclusion of a BuildSmart Checklist. The checklist is essentially an avenue toeducate builders on green building practices and provides an affordable means to distinguishand reward green building efforts. Voluntary implementation of 75% of the checklist allows ahome to become a BuildSmart home. Within the checklist are a select few mandatory items forall new construction. Each year, the committee recommends incremental and phased inclusion

of previous voluntary items to be mandatory.

Recommendation IIIRecommendation III address all strategic areas of green building; energy, water, site selection,material resources, IAQ, and innovation goals through the adoption of national recognizedgreen building program that would be mandatory for all new construction and the adoption of theU.S. Department of Energys Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program for additionsand renovations to existing homes. The programs for new construction envisioned in thisrecommendation are the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certificationand the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Standardcertification. Each of the national programs have several levels of certification. The committeerecommends various levels of certification which is dependent on home size. The Home

Performance with ENERGY STAR program is a tiered system that targets a 30% energyreduction for all remodels or additions larger. Tier-one improvements are mandatory while tier-two improvements are voluntary actions outlined to reach the 30% target. The HomePerformance program would be mandatory for all remodels or additions larger than 300 sq.ft..

This recommendation can stand-alone or be offered as an option to builders/homeownersinstead of meeting the requirements of recommendation I or II. The committee suggests thatthis be adopted as an option rather than as a stand-alone proposition.

The committee also has general recommendations that will facilitate good and efficient buildingpractices such as submittals of mechanical designs prior to building permit issuance andproviding building department energy performance expertise and outreach.

Conclusion

The committee advances these three recommendations recognizing that it is dealing with verycomplex issues with a significant number of moving parts affecting a substantial number ofprofessions and building trades that are important to the economy of the Wood River Valley.The committee recognizes that it does not have all the answers and that some of the specificsof the scenarios offered will need to be modified to meet concerns and objections that were notrecognized or appreciated during the committees deliberations.

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RECOMMENDATION I ENERGY

Summary, Scope, Intent, Tools

SUMMARY: A performance-based program for new and existing construction that focuses onlyon energy use and couples performance testing and educated choices to target the largestenergy inefficiency together with an Energy Mitigation Program (EMP) that reduces the largestconsumptive energy uses in the unincorporated county.

SCOPE: Theprogram requires new construction and existing structures (additions) to meetvarious levels of energy performance. All new construction will be constructed 30% more energyefficient than existing code (2006 IECC) and additions over 300 sq.ft., will be required toimprove the energy efficiency of the existing structure by 30 HERS points. Energy Audits willbe required for all remodels/renovations 300 sq.ft. or larger. Carbon-based energy useassociated with heated drives and large pools or spas will be required to offset 50% of BTUconsumption through on-site renewables or in-lieu payments.

GOALS:

Increase energy efficiency above 2006 IECC by 30%. Increase energy efficiency in existing structures by 30%. Reduce energy use and GHG emissions associated with significant exterior carbon-

based energy consumptions. Support and enlarge the utilization of the integrative design process by the architect and

design community.

TOOLS/COMPONENTS:

Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) Sliding Energy Performance Scale (Exhibit A)

Certified Energy Audits Third-Party Verification /Certification Energy Mitigation Program

o On site use of renewable energy resources or, In-lieu fees to subsidize off-site implementation or reduce energy consumption

elsewhere. Mechanical Submittals Continuing Outreach/Education

New Construction

Mechanical Submittals (Additions if applicable)

Submittals of Manual J, S, and D from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) priorto building permit issuance11. An engineer or experienced verifier shall review calculations toensure ASHRE standards 62.2 "Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality" has been met.

11ACCA Manual J is a load calculation manual that outlines a procedure to estimate the heat loss and heat gain for conventional

residential structures. These calculations are used to identify and correctly size residential heating and cooling equipment. ACCA

Manual S outlines the procedures that should be used to select and size residential cooling equipment, furnaces and heatpumps. Manual D outlines correct duct sizing and installation to ensure the potential benefits that are associated with building anefficient structure and using high efficiency equipment will materialize.

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Performance Requirements

New Construction At the time of building permit application a pre- construction HERS Indexscore shall be submitted by a certified Home Energy Rater, (a third-party certifier) thatdemonstrates how the building will be in compliance with energy performance levels outlined inExhibit A. Exhibit A is a sliding-scale, based on home size, that establishes the recommendedenergy performance for all new construction to obtain. The sliding-scale indicates that all newconstruction must achieve a HERS of 70 or lower. Homes larger than 2500 sq.ft. will be requiredto meet increasing performance standards beyond 70 HERS. Homes 6700 sq.ft. or larger homeare required to meet a HERS index score of 50, while home 10,000 sq.ft. or larger must be netzero. Upon completion of the plan review, the energy rater will work with the builder or designerto identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the home will meet the HERSIndex performance levels set out in Exhibit A. The rater will conduct onsite inspections, includinga blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness ofthe ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used togenerate the final HERS Index score for the home.The Building Department would receive the following submittals and 3rd party inspectioninformation after a building permit was issued and prior to a certificate of occupancy:

An Energy Rater must perform a pre-drywall inspection including a duct blaster test (ifapplicable) to ensure the ability of the residence to achieve the required HERS Indexrating.

Prior to the installation of the wall or ceiling finish materials the owner or contractor mustsubmit verification of the Energy Rater's inspection to the Building Division office thatcertifies that the building has been constructed in conformance with the RESNET model(envelope sealing).

Upon completion of construction and prior to final building inspection approval an EnergyRater must perform a final inspection which includes a blower door test and submitdocumentation to the Building Division office certifying (a final HERS certificate) that theresidence meet the performance levels outlined in Exhibit A.

In-House Expertise

The committee suggests a building department official or inspector become familiar with theHERS program. Providing building department expertise for contractors and do-it-yourselfers(DIY) will facilitate education and outreach goals. The costs may be recouped if the BuildingDepartment provides certified energy audits or HERS services to the general public.

Additions

Additions > 300 sq.ft. will be required to improve the energy performance of the existingstructure. The level of improvement shall be established by identifying the energy performanceof the existing structure (HERS Index score) and incorporating that performance index scoreinto the formula detailed in Exhibit B or improving the existing index score by 30 HERS points,up to HERS 70. At the time of building permit issuance, the applicant shall demonstrate how the

30 point HERS index improvement will be achieved. Upon completion of construction and priorto final building inspection approval an Energy Rater must perform a final inspection whichincludes a blower door test and a duct blaster test (if applicable) and submit documentation tothe Building Division office certifying that the residence meets the required HERS Indeximprovement, (final HERS certificate), as identified previously.

Existing structures with HERS index of 70 or lower shall not subject to the above energyimprovements.

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Minimum required ventilation Structures with less than 3 natural air changes per hour(NACH) when tested with a blower door at a pressure of 50 Pascals shall be required toinstall mechanical ventilation.

If the addition is fifty (50%) percent or more than the conditioned floor area of theexisting dwelling unit the entire structure will be required to comply with the HERS indexrequirements of Exhibit A.

HVAC, window or insulation upgrades that have been made within the last three yearsshall be exempt from the baseline HERS calculation.

Remodels/Renovations

Certified energy audits will be required for remodels or renovations 300 sq.ft. of conditionedspace or larger. The audit must be conducted prior to building permit issuance. Audits must beperformed by a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified professional or Residential EnergyServices Network (RESNET) accredited Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater and mustbe completed before building permit submittal. An Audit Certificate is part of permitdocumentation. Remodels smaller than 300 sq. ft. will be provided a self conducted energy auditchecklist. A completed checklist shall be submitted prior to final inspection.

Exemptions: The following projects are not required to conduct a certified energy audit:o Window replacements.o Bathroom remodel projects limited to the replacement of fixtures and cabinets.o Kitchen remodel projects limited to the replacement of cabinets, counter tops,

plumbing fixtures, and appliances.o Electrical work associated with permits issued only for electrical worko Plumbing associated with permits issued only for plumbing.o Replacement of HVAC appliances associated with permits issued only for

appliance replacement.o Reroofs

Energy Mitigation Program (EMP)

A EMP requires large exterior energy consumers, such as heated drives and large pools andspas, to offset carbon based energy consumption with on-site renewables or pay in-lieu feesthat will be used in other areas of the unincorporated county o directly reduce carbon-basedenergy consumption.

Heated Drives

50% of carbon based energy use by snow and ice melt systems shall be offset by on-siterenewable energy generation or the payment of in-lieu fees. The amount of onsite generationshall be equivalent to the carbon based energy consumed as measured in British Thermal Units(BTUs) by the snow and ice melting equipment. If the applicant does not wish to off-set on-site

with renewable alternatives, in-lieu fees shall be required. Fees shall be based on BTUconsumed per year, per square feet of snowmelt (34,425 BTU/yr/sq. ft. at 100% equipmentefficiency). An example of in-lieu fee calculation is illustrated below.Snowmelt Example(Snowmelt requested 500 sq. ft.) (34,425(BTU per sq. ft. per year) /.87 (efficiency rating ofboiler))*500 (snowmelt area) = 19,784,482 (BTU/yr)/3412 (kWh per BTU) = 5798.5 (kWh/yr)* 20(years)* .07/kWh =$8,117.90

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In lieu fees shall be used to directly off-set coal based energy consumption through the one ofthe following means:

Purchase and use of renewable energy facilities on government buildings. Provide grants for residential and commercial audits and energy retrofits. The creation of a revolving loan fund for solar or geothermal renewable energy facilities.

It is assumed that money will be collected at the time of building permit issuance and astakeholder committee will be formed to identify criteria for project selection and grant issuance.

Prescriptive Requirements for Snowmelt Systems

Snow and ice melting systems supplied through energy service to the building shallinclude automatic controls capable of shutting off the system when the pavementtemperature is above 50 degrees F and no precipitation is falling and an automatic ormanual control that will allow shutoff when the outdoor temperature is above 40 degreesF.

On-site renewable energy generation equipment installed to offset the energy used bysnow and ice melt systems must be designed to provide 34,425 BTUs per square footper year. The projected BTU consumption is based on the amount of BTUs needed toheat a sq.ft. of heated drive in Climate Zone 6 with an energy efficient furnace

Pools & Spas

Pools and Spa Energy Review Permit All new pools, spas and hot tubs that have been testedand listed for compliance with the requirements of the California Energy Commission (CEC) title20 (Standby power for portable electric spas shall not be greater than 5[V2/3] watts whereV=the total volume of the spa in gallons), and are less than 64 sq.ft. in surface area shall beexempted from obtaining a Pool & Spa Energy Review Permit and/or to offset fossil based BTUconsumption.

Prescriptive Requirements for all Pools and Spas:

A Pool & Spa Energy Review Permit will be required to ensure compliance with the 2009 IECCcode, the EMP (if applicable) and meet the prescriptive requirements listed below:

All pool heaters shall be equipped with a readily accessible on-off switch to allowshutting off the heater without adjusting the thermostat setting.

Pool heaters fired by natural gas or LPG shall no have continuously burning pilot lights. Time switches that can automatically turn off and on heaters and pumps according to a

preset schedule shall be installed on swimming pool heaters and pumps. Where pumps are required to operate solar and waste heat recovery pool heating

systems. Heated pools shall be equipped with a vapor retardant pool cover on or at the water

surface. Pools heated to more than 90 degrees F shall have a pool cover with minimum

insulation value of R-12. Swimming pool filters must be cartridge-type filters. Swimming pool pumps must be

multi-speed pumps.If applicable, the following would also apply:Pools & Spas > 200 sq.ft.Swimming pools must be heated by solar thermal or other equipment that does not rely directlyor indirectly on the burning of fossil fuels or fossil based BTU consumption may be offset by in-lieu payment and subject to the same in-lieu formula as snowmelt. For the purpose of

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calculating the energy use of swimming pools, the following are assumed.Swimming PoolSeason: Outdoor Pools 3 months; Indoor Pools 12 months; Pool Heating Temperature: 82degrees Fahrenheit or less; On-Site Renewable Energy Requirements: 29,000 BTUs per squarefoot of pool surface area per year.

Pools & Spas < 200 sq.ft.

Swimming pools less than 200 sq. ft. are exempt from the requirements to offset fossil basedBTU consumption but shall be required to meet 2009 IECC requirements and the prescriptiverequirements for pools and spas listed below

Supporting Information and Basis for Recommendation

Why Mechanical Submittals:

1. The state currently inspects health and safety aspects of heating systems but does notensure sizing meets code. Too often, builders and contractors rely on rules of thumb todetermine HVAC size. Correct sizing is essential to maximizing HVAC energy efficiency.Ensuring properly-sized systems will reduce energy demand, provide more comfort, andrely less on operator programming and advanced controls12.

2. Too frequently, HVAC equipment is addressed late in the building construction processcausing heating systems to be oversized, thus using too much energy and creating theneed for advanced controls. Identifying system requirements during the design phasewill ensure the equipment addresses the placement and sizing of ducts and hasevaluated the structures heating needs.

3. Bonneville County, Idaho Falls, Canyon County, and the City of Napa are all requiringsubmittal of Manual J, D, and S calculations prior to building permit issuance. BonnevilleCounty has stated this requirement has resulted in more efficient systems.

Why Home Performance Home Energy Rating System (HERS):

1. Provides energy and economic cost-benefit data (Return on Investment (ROI) andInternal Rate of Return (IRR)) for making informed decisions.

2. The performance path provides flexibility for the building and design community.3. The HERS tool is very robust and incorporates various design and construction

elements such as orientation, overhangs, window placement, ceiling systems, that is notcontemplated in Res-check.

4. Res-check is an inadequate tool to truly evaluate and ensure energy efficiency for thecomplex and large homes located in the unincorporated county.

5. HERs requires a more integrative design13 process, versus the traditional linear designprocess. The traditional linear design and construction model creates large hurdles forimplementing cost-effective energy efficiencies.

12

EPA - Sizing Heating and Cooling Systems, accessed April 6, 2010.(http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12340)

13Integrated design is a collaborative method for designing buildings which emphasizes the development of a holistic design.

Conventional building design usually involves a series of hand-offs from owner to architect to builder to occupant. This path does notinvite all affected parties into the planning process, and therefore dose not take into account their needs, areas of expertise orinsights. In some cases, using the conventional method, incompatible elements of the design are not discovered until late in theprocess when it is expensive to make changes. In contrast, the integrated design process requires multidisciplinary collaboration,including key stakeholders and design professionals, from conception to completion. Decision-making protocols and complementarydesign principles must be established early in the process in order to satisfy the goals of multiple stakeholders while achieving theoverall project objectives. In addition to extensive collaboration, integrated design involves a whole building design approach. Abuilding is viewed as an interdependent system, as opposed to an accumulation of its separate components (site, structure, systemsand use). The goal of looking at all the systems together to is make sure they work in harmony rather than against each other.

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6. Studies have shown the integrative design process creates increased energy efficienciesfor the least amount of money14. Input from the building community indicates architects,specifically in the Wood River Valley, fail to address energy outcomes or infrastructurein their designs. Performance standards would force designers to evaluate the energyefficiency outcomes of their design choices and work with contracts and mechanicalengineers to meet those goals.

7. Third-party testing and verification provides value to builders and home-owners ensuringsubcontractors built to code and the home will perform as purposed.

8. HERS is a nationally recognized energy performance label that allows comparisonbetween homes.

9. HERS is the mortgage industry standard for verifying energy efficiency mortgageapplications, which provides larger and lower interests loan to homeowners whoimplement energy efficiency improvements or buy energy efficient homes.

10. HERS is the tool of choice for most locally adopted above-code building programs and isused as a method of verification in LEED for Homes, NAHB Green Standards andENERGY STAR programs.

11. HERS provides quality assurance and verification, peer review and testing.12. Takes advantage of federal, state, and local incentives.

13. Generates documentation that can be used to educate homeowners and informconsumers and real-estate purchasers.

Why a Sliding Scale Performance Requirements:

1. Home size has the greatest impact on energy and resource use than any other factor,including the efficiency of the home's equipment, the R-factor of insulation, and the typeof windows used15.

2. A small house built to only moderate energy performance standards uses substantiallyless energy for heating and cooling than a large house built to very high energyperformance standards16.

3. The unincorporated countys average home is twice as large as the national average.The average size of new construction, within the last ten years, in the unincorporated

county is on average 4700 sq.ft., while the average home nationally in 2004 was 2,330square feet. This is up from 1,400 square feet in 197017.

4. HERS compares a homes energy efficiency to a comparable sized code-built home(2006 IECC code-home). It does not evaluate the amount of energy used by the homeas a function of size. The sliding scale recognizes the fact that larger homes inherentlyuse more energy and require greater efficiency to mitigate larger energy consumption.

a. A study 2000 study found a typical 1,537 ft2 home would need to install a furnacerated at 96% Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) to achieve a HERS indexscoreof 86, whereas a 5,564 ft2 house would require only an 80% AFUE furnace.Building a bigger house efficiently will typically save more energy than buildinga smaller house at the same efficiency level, but the larger house will stillconsume more energy18.

14 International Initiative for Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE) The Integrated Design Process. Nils Larsson. January 31, 2004.15

Harris Diamond, Iyer, Payne, Blumstein.2008. Dont Supersize Me! Toward a Policy of Consumption-Based Energy EfficiencyUniversity of California Energy Institute.16 Harris Diamond, Iyer, Payne, Blumstein.2008. Dont Supersize Me! Toward a Policy of Consumption-Based Energy EfficiencyUniversity of California Energy Institute.17

National Association of Homebuilders. Website accessed on March 25, 2010 (http://www.nahb.com/default.aspx)18

Prahl, Duncan. 2000. Analysis of Energy Consumption, Rating Score, and House Size. Washington D.C.: U.S. Green BuildingCouncil.

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5. Todays larger houses often have complex perimeters (more bay windows, dormers, andother features) that add to surface area and often complicate construction detailing forinsulation and air-sealing. Consequently, regardless of the code prescribed insulationlevels and air barriers, these new homes may be less efficient in terms of actual surface-to-volume ratios, effective u-values, and envelope infiltration, compared with a smaller,simpler design.

6. Higher ceilings and two-story entries and other dramatic spaces in todays new homesalso increase the volume of space to be heated and cooled.

7. Larger homes tend to have longer runs of air ducts and domestic hot water pipes, withcorresponding increases in distribution losses for both HVAC and DHW systems; thisloss of system efficiency is directly related to scale.

8. The structure of the sliding scale was based on local and national averages for homesize. Homes over 6,500 sq.ft. are well beyond the local average size and as suchprovide a drain on energy infrastructure and future energy sustainability for Wood RiverValley residents.

Why an Energy Mitigation Program (EMP):

1. Energy is a limited resource. Heated drives and large pools and spas consume energy

at a rate much higher than buildings; in laymans term they are energy hogs. Heated Drives: 1 sq. ft. heated drive = 1 sq. ft. total home energy consumption.

(with an ENERGY STAR boiler) Pools and Spas: The average 100 sq. ft. hot tub consumes the same amount of

energy as a 1,200 sq. ft. home19.2. Significant exterior energy consumption for luxury purposes is detrimental to the

communitys current and future energy stability and sustainability.3. EMPs are fiscally sustainable programs that provide funds for energy efficiency and

renewable energy projects, weatherization programs, renewables on governmentbuildings and subsidizing, and energy efficiency education and outreach for the buildingand community as a whole.

Why certified energy audits for remodels AND performance improvements for additions:

1. Only 1% of the building stock is created annually. Therefore the existing building stockprovides the largest opportunity to improve energy efficiency and reduce energyconsumption community-wide20.

2. 21% of national GHG emissions are from existing residential homes, of that percentage70% are from homes built prior to 1983.

3. Upgrading existing homes, with regard to energy efficiency, is 4-8 times more costeffective than new construction. For example, $1000 of energy efficiency improvementsin an older (pre 1990) home is 4-8 times more cost effective than a $1000 of energyefficiency improvements in new construction.

4. Certified energy audits provide testing and energy and economic analysis for informedand cost effective decision making.

5. Information is considered the second largest barrier to implementing energyimprovements to a home, behind upfront costs.

6. Energy audits and retrofit activities are strategies currently being heavily subsidized bystate and federal legislation and can be expected to be subsidized in the future.

19Populus Sustainable Design Consulting Presentation to City of Hailey and BCC October 13, 2009.

(http://www.haileycityhall.org/SustainabilityCommittee/Populus%20Presentation%20101309.pdf)20

National Association of Homebuilders. Website accessed on March 25, 2010 (http://www.nahb.com/default.aspx)

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Fiscal Impacts

Public:

Third-party testing and certified energy audits are a third-party certification process.Consequently, the Building Department will not require additional financial resources bymandating the HERS performance index score or energy audits. Furthermore, thebuilding department will no longer have to inspect for compliance with the InternationalEnergy Conservation Code (IECC), which will provide additional time to verify otheritems. The cost for third-party certification will rest with the homeowner.

BSTAC has also recommended in-house building department expertise. This wouldinvolve a building inspector becoming a certified RESNET or BPI energy specialist.Certification requires two weeks of training and approximately $3000 to $5000 forcertification.

Implementing an EMP will require additional review, inspection and initial staff training.Inspection and review costs will be offset by issuance of an Onsite Renewable BuildingPermits, Pool, Spa, Hot Tub Energy Review Permit, and/or in-lieu fees. Revenue fromthe in-lieu fees can be expected. Methods for calculating the amount of in-lieu fees islimited because, at this time, the County does not regulate heated drives or poolstherefore the amount of heated drives or pools is unknown. However, comments fromIntermountain Gas and many contractors suggest heated drives are prevalentthroughout the county. Pitkin County, CO., which is similar to Blaine County with regardto market demands, building size and climate, has raised over eight million dollars in in-lieu fees since implementing a similar Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP) in2000. These fees are dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects,such as weatherization programs, renewables on government buildings and subsidizingresidential renewables. Fees and project selection are managed by the CommunityOffice for Resource Efficiency, a regional non-profit organization.

Private:

A certified energy audit costs approximately $450 for homes 4500 sq.ft. or less with oneheating system. This price increases with size and additional heating systems. Onaverage, certified energy audits pay for them selves within one to three years.

HERS performance modeling and testing costs approximately $450 to $1200 dependingon home size, complexity of the home design, and number of heating systems.

New Construction: Studies by the Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

indicate a 30% residential energy consumption reduction below the baseline energycode will save households in every region of the U.S. between $403 and $612 per yearafter the cost of efficiency measures is factored in. At current energy prices andmortgage interest rates, NREL estimates that the average cost-neutral point for home

efficiency upgrades is a 45% energy reduction below code, HERS 55

21

. A 2003 CA study indicates the up front cost of green building is less than 2%, which

significantly less than commonly perceived The majority of this costs is due to increaseddesign and engineering design time necessary to integrate sustainable buildingpractices into green building practices. Generally, the earlier green building getsincorporated into the design process the lower the cost22.

21 2009 Fact Sheet. American Institute of Architects. 2030 Challenge.22 The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Building. A Report to Californias Green Building Task Force. 2003

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Energy specialists and local contractors who have built homes with 60-70 HERS indexscores generally agree new construction built to a 70 HERS increases construction costsbetween 0% to 1%, depending on the extent of pre-planning and integrative design. Costanalysis of new construction built to 60 HERS index can increases upfront constructioncosts by 3%-5%, however lower energy bills provide relatively short pay-back schedulesof 3-5 years. Homes built below HERS 50 most likely require renewable energy

generation resources that can result in an additional 5%-10% upfront costs. It isimportant to note that these additional construction costs result in decreased energybills, which are paid back over the lifetime of the home . This can be significant when ahome is 6000 sq.ft. or larger.

Research conducted by Sustainable Built LLC, suggest lower percentages that thosestated above23 and indicates HERS 60, with no renewables, increases the upfront costby 1.75 % or $3.50 a sq.ft. (assuming $200 sq.ft.).

Additions: A recent cost analysis, conducted by Boulder County Building Department, of 37 HERS

point improvement (112 to 75) for a 1500 sq.ft. addition required $7000 expenditure inenergy improvements. The improvement created $2000 of annual energy savings per year

which resulted in a 3.5 year simple payback period. Two certified energy audit demonstrations recently conducted in the Wood River Valley

suggest a 30 point improvement could be realized with relatively short payback periods.

The higher the initial HERS rating that is the more energy inefficient the structure theeasier it is to reduce the HERS rating at low cost with significant annual savings. These

analyses do not include rebates, tax credits or other incentives.

Initial HERSIndex Scores

Cost ofrecommendedImprovements

New HERSscore

Annual utilitysavings

Simple paybackperiod

141 $6,220 112 $1,768 3.5 years

119 $4,583 87 $334 13 years

23 Complying with Boulders Energy Codes 3 Paths to Reach HERS 70, 60, 35, 10(http://www.sustainablybuilt.com/content/complying-boulder-energy-codes-0)

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RECOMMENDATION II Energy PLUS

Summary, Scope, Intent, Tools

SUMMARY: As the name implies, this recommendation builds off Recommendation I andincorporates additional strategic areas of green building; Water Conservation, MaterialResource Conservation, IAQ, and Site Disturbance.

SCOPE: A BuildSmart checklist will provide a voluntary and incremental mandatory approach toimplementing more green building practices for new or existing structures in theunincorporated county. The checklist does not contain prescriptive energy efficiencyimprovements. Energy efficiency goals and outcomes are addressed through the performancepath listed in Recommendation 1.

GOALS:

Reduce in-house potable water use below the national average;

Support landscaping design that decreases irrigation water use by 30%; Reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill by 30%; Support and promote the development of construction recycling infrastructure; Create buildings with healthier indoor air quality and building interior environments that

enhance the occupants comfort; Promote the use of lowVOC emitting materials and finishes; Minimize disturbance to natural landscapes and wildlife habitat through sighting, design,

and landscaping.

TOOLS/COMPONENTS:

BuildSmart Checklist Phasing Tools listed in Recommendation I

New Construction

BuildSmart Checklist

Avoluntary checklist that requires implementation of 75% of items to qualify new or existingconstruction for Blaine County BuildSmart certification. Within each strategic area are one tothree mandatory items. Each year additional voluntary BuildSmart items become mandatory.Recommendations for incremental mandatory improvements for the first two years have beenaddressed, however BSTAC recommends a yearly review and update of checklist. The reviewwill identify new trends, technologies, gaps to green infrastructure provision in the county, andother relevant factors. New construction receiving LEED, NAHB certification or comparable

green building rating certification will be exempt from implementing the mandatory elements ofthe BuildSmart checklist. The BuildSmart list consists of checklist items that a building officialwill verify through contractor submittals and site inspections (Exhibit C).

Additions and Remodels

The BuildSmart certification can be applied for by additions or remodels, although mandatoryrequirements shall not apply.

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Supporting Information and Bases for Recommendation

Why a BuildSmart Checklist:

A BuildSmart Checklist is straightforward and consists of easy to inspect prescriptiveitems.

Builders can implement the checklist and the home can receive a green buildingBuildSmart certification, which does not rely on architectural design considerations.

Research indicates green building features provide selling points and increasedperceived values for homeowners and buyers.

o Cahners Residential Group (2000 2001): more than two thirds would pay anadditional $2,500-$5,000 (up front) for green features. An additional 20% wouldpay as much as $10,000 extra (in up front costs)24.

o NAR (2003): 96% of home-buyers are willing to pay more (in up front costs) for ahome with green features.

o American LIVES (2002): half of the respondents said they were willing to payextra for healthy building materials.

Research conducted by McGrawHill and NAHB in 2007 found homeowners are happierwith their new green homes, are eager to recommend buying green to others and 85%of green homeowners stated that they were extremely happy with their new greenhome versus their previous one25.

LEED residential is being used by the top 25% of high end built homes and containscertification costs. A BuildSmart Checklist provides alternative certification requirementsthat are easier to meet than LEED and do not have certification costs beyond aninspection and review fee.

A BuildSmart Checklist is tailored to Blaine County. It takes into consideration mainconcerns of the locality and local green building infrastructure limitations.

The BuildSmart Checklist will educate builders and sub-contractors through the phased-in approach.

Limited recycling infrastructure exists in the Wood River Valley.

Ohio Gulch construction waste capacity is nearing maximum.

Fiscal Impacts

Public:

The building department will need to review additional items and will most likelyneed to conduct an additional inspection. The implementation items arestraightforward thus the building official does not expect the need for additionaltraining of building staff.

Brochures and permit submittal guidelines would need to be created. This willrequire initial upfront staff time and paper/publication expenditures.

Private: The cost to receive the certification is minimal. No cost analysis has been conducted. However, the builders believe the majority

of items listed are low-cost.

24Green Clip. Issue 54, 2010. November 10, 2000. Accessed April 2010 (www.greenclips.com/00issues/154htm)

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RECOMMENDATION III National Green Building Certification

Summary, Scope, Goals, Tools

SUMMARY: This recommendation can be either a stand-alone recommendation or an optionfor homeowners in lieu of meeting the requirements of recommendations I or II. The committeesuggests this be offered as an option to meeting the requirements of recommendations I or II.A green building program addresses all strategic areas of green building utilizing nationallyrecognized green building certification programs; LEED or NAHB s National Green BuildingStandard certification. As proposed by the committee, the level of certification is dependent onthe home size with larger homes subject to more stringent requirements.

SCOPE: A mandatory program for all new construction. Home size will dictate what level ofcertification is required in an effort to mitigate larger homes disproportionate impact on materialresource consumption and energy use.

GOALS:(see Recommendation 1 and 2)

TOOLS/COMPONENTS:

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Standard

certification HERS Certified Energy Audits

New Construction

All new construction is subject to the following third-party certification:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)2500 sq.ft. or small must be LEED Certified2500 sq.ft. - 6500 sq.ft. shall be LEED Certified Silver6500 sq.ft. 10,000 sq shall be LEED Certified Gold10,000 sq.ft. or larger shall be LEED Certified Platinum

OR

NGBS (National Green Building Standard)2500 sq.ft. or smaller must be Bronze NGBS Certified2500 sq.ft. - 4000 sq.ft. shall be Silver NGBS Certified4000 sq.ft. 6500 sq.ft. shall be Gold NGBS Certified6500 sq.ft. or larger shall be Emerald NGBS Certified

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Additions and Remodels

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR- All remodels or additions larger than 300 sq.ft. shallreceive certification.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a national program designed to help remodel /addition reach the ENERGY STAR performance standards for:Comfort; Safety; Health;Durability; Energy Efficiency

This is an Idaho state certified program that is administered through the Office of EnergyResources. The program utilizes a Home Performance Specialist (HPS) to help homeowners orcontractors target a 30% energy reduction goal. The HPS utilizes REM Rate (home ratingefficiency software), blower door, duct blaster and combustion back draft test testing to assessthe homes current energy efficiency and danger from gas appliances back-drafting. This is verysimilar to a certified energy audit. The program is two-tiered. The first tier requires envelopesealing to 7 natural air exchanges per hour (NAE),reduction in duct air loss by half or 10% of thefloor area, and increased installation levels to current code. The second tier identifies otherimprovement such as upgrades to heating/cooling systems, window, appliances etc. that wouldbe necessary to reach the 30% reduction target. Second tier improvements are evaluated andprioritized by cost-effectiveness.

After all ENERGY STAR improvements are completed for the remodel, a post-test by the HPSwill guarantee that the tier one improvements specified by the pre-test were satisfactorilyachieved during the remodel. A final HERS Index is provided with certification as well as thehomes electrical and gas consumption and amount of carbon emitted from the home. Thisinformation is placed in the homes electrical box

Supporting Information and Bases for Recommendation

Why a national recognized certified green building program:

LEED residential is being used by the top 25% of high end built homes. The majority ofhomes constructed in the unincorporated county are high end.

Addresses all strategic areas of green building by utilizing a national recognizedprogram.

Wood River Valley will be considered a national and regional sustainability leader. Wood River Valley will be considered a national and regional leader in high-end, quality

and innovative homes and construction practices. LEED certified architects, certifiers, and contractors are available in the Wood River

Valley. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR specialists are regulated by the state and

ensure high professional standards.

Fiscal Impact

Public:Third-Party review will result in minimal to no additional workload for county buildingstaff.

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Private:

LEED certification cost $450 to $2500 depending on the size of the home. NAHB green building certification tacks on 12% additional costs while LEED tacks

on 3 to 5 % additional costs A March 2008 study evaluated the costs and technical requirements of bringing two

sample code-compliant production houses in different climate zones (Dallas andWashington, DC metropolitan areas) into compliance with two different greenbuilding rating systems at one point in time (January 2008). Conducted by NAHBResearch Center, Inc.

Table 1. Cost of ComplianceRating System

Bronze/Certified

Silver Gold Emerald/Plnum

NGBSv2 1.1 1.7% 2.8 3.1% 6.9 7.6% 16.3 16.9

LEED-H 3.6 5.6% 5.1 7.4% 11.2 13.5% 17.3 22.9

A cost comparison, conducted by the USGBC, between a LEED and $300,000 code builthome resulted in an additional $8500 of upfront costs, which resulted in a $55 a month

larger mortgage payment. However, the decrease in water and energy costs offset themonthly increase to the mortgage payment.

Home Performance with ENERG STAR evaluations can cost $300 to $700 depending onthe size of the home and number of heating systems to be evaluated. If a HomePerformance contractor is used then the diagnostic and analysis costs are greatly reduced.

Insulation and sealing costs add minimum cost per sq footage of an addition and havebeen show to have short payback periods; less than 3 years.

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General Recommendations

Homeowner Education Prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) the builder shall

provide a binder to be left in the dwelling for future occupants that includes the following fouritems:

The BuildSmart Checklist Home Energy Audit or HERS certificate, whichever applies The equipment manufacturers installation manuals, except for manuals required to be affixed to the equipment, for all installed equipment, fixtures, and appliances

Education and Outreach - Pre-energy conference conducted at the time of pre-building permitzoning review. Staff will provide information to contractor or homeowner with various abovecode energy requirements and provide initial guidance for reaching those performancemandates.

County Sponsor Sub-Contractor Energy Efficiency Workshops - The county provides price-discounted clinics to contractors and subcontractors to teach energy efficiency buildingtechniques and strategies such as envelope sealing, advanced framing, proper insulationinstallation, etc.

County Building Staff Energy Expertise - One Blaine County Building Department staffbecomes a certified RESNET HERS rater or BPI specialist.

Modifications to Requirements: The Chief Building Official may make modifications toaddition and alternative energy requirements if it is determined that strict application of therequirements would result in the following:

1. Creates practical difficulties or excessive expense in the upgrade of an existing

residential structure.2. causes undue waste;3. the proposed alteration or modification is equivalent to existing mandatory green building

requirements;

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Appendix I

TOOLS

Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

HERS is a whole systems approach for performance testing that models the entire home and allelements that affect energy efficiency, such as insulation levels, window efficiency, wall-to-window ratios, the heating and cooling system efficiency, the solar orientation of the home, andthe water heating system. HERS can be used to establish an existing homes energyperformance as well as forecast the energy performance of planned homes and verify theperformance after the home is built.

The data gathered by the home energy rater is entered into a Residential Energy ServicesNetwork (RESNET) accredited computer program and translated into index rating score. The

home receives a index score between 0 and 100, where 100 is equal to a home built to theIECC 2006 code and lower index scores are more efficient and higher index scores are lessefficient. An estimate of the homes energy usage and associated costs can also be provided inthe report. HERS modeling ensures that energy efficiency is considered and basic principles areevaluated when designing and constructing a new home.

CERTIFIED ENERGY AUDITS

A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and toevaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit willshow you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money overtime. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also

determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also showyou ways to conserve hot water and electricity.

A professional auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energyefficiency of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, whichmeasure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation, and a duct blaster test to assess theleakiness of the duct system.

The energy auditor should do a room-by-room examination of the residence, appliances, andheating systems, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills. There most well knowprofessional energy auditor certifications are as follows:

The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET); The Building Performance Institute (BPI); The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), Home Performance with Energy Star Programs.

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SLIDING PERFORMANCE SCALE

A 200 sq.ft. incremental sliding performance scale based on the HERS index score. Every 200of additional square feet of conditioned space results in a one point reduction in HERS indexscore (Exhibit A). Applies to new construction or additions that add more than 50% of theexisting square footage.

ENERGY MITGATION PROGRAM

Heated drives, large pools and spas are required to offset 50% of carbon-based energy usagethrough renewables or in-lieu fees. Fees are used to off-set carbon based energy usage in otherareas of the county through subsides for renewables, weatherization programs, residentialretrofits, etc. Boulder County and Pitkin County have both implemented an EMP. EMP fundsare administered through the local Community Office for Resource Efficiency.(http://www.aspencore.org/file/About_CORE.html)

BUILDSMART CHECKLIST

A checklist of green building building practices. The checklist addresses Indoor Air Quality,Water Conservation for Indoor and Outdoor, Site Disturbance, and Material ResourceConservation.

HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a national program designed to help remodels /additions move towards the ENERGY STAR performance standards for:Comfort; Safety;Health; Durability; Energy Efficiency. This program does not require ENERGY STAR standardsare met but targeted.This is an Idaho state certified program that is administered through the Office of EnergyResources. The program utilizes a Home Performance Specialist (HPS) to help homeowners or

contractors target a 30% energy reduction goal. The HPS utilizes REM Rate (home ratingefficiency software), blower door, duct blaster and combustion back draft tests to assess thehomes current energy efficiency and danger from gas appliances back-drafting. This is verysimilar to a certified energy audit. The program is two-tiered. The first tier requires envelopesealing to .35 natural air exchanges per hour (ACHn),reduction in duct air loss by half or 10% ofthe floor area, and increased installation levels to current code. The second tier identifies otherimprovements such as upgrades to heating/cooling systems, window replacements, applianceslighting retrofits, etc. that would be necessary to reach the 30% reduction target. Second tierimprovements are evaluated and prioritized by cost-effectiveness, but are not required.

After all qualified improvements are completed for the remodel a post-test performed by theHPS will guarantee that all tier one improvements specified by the pre-test were satisfactorily

completed during the remodel. A final HERS index score is provided with certification as well asthe homes electrical and gas consumption and amount of carbon emitted from the home. Thisinformation is placed in the homes electrical box. A final Home Energy Rating Index Score isprovided with the certification, the homes modeled electrical and gas consumption and theestimated carbon emitted from the home are all quantified and posted on a label inside thehomes electrical panel.

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LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification

A point based and internationally recognized system that addresses all strategic areas of greenbuilding. Program is run through the United States Green Building Council.(http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19)

NAHB Certification - National Association of Home Builders National Green BuildingStandard certification.

A point based system and nationally recognized a system that was created in collaboration withthe construction industry. (http://www.nahbgreen.org/)

INTERGRATED DESIGNIntegrated design is a collaborative method for designing buildings which emphasizes thedevelopment of a holistic design. Conventional building design usually involves a series ofhand-offs from owner to architect to builder to occupant. This path does not invite all affected

parties into the planning process, and therefore dose not take into account their needs, areas ofexpertise or insights. In some cases, using the conventional method, incompatible elements ofthe design are not discovered until late in the process when it is expensive to make changes. Incontrast, the integrated design process requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including keystakeholders and design professionals, from conception to completion. Decision-makingprotocols and complementary design principles must be established early in the process inorder to satisfy the goals of multiple stakeholders while achieving the overall project objectives.In addition to extensive collaboration, integrated design involves a whole building designapproach. A building is viewed as an interdependent system, as opposed to an accumulation ofits separate components (site, structure, systems and use). The goal of looking at all thesystems together to is make sure they work in harmony rather than against each other.

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Appendix II

CREATION OF THE COMMITTEE

The BSTAC convened its first meeting in March of 2009 and has been meeting at least twiceeach month and sometimes more frequently over the last 12 months. Given the length of timethat the committee has been meeting, participation rates have been good. The membersinclude, among other professions, architects, builders, energy and LEED specialists, andrealtors. Others who have participated, but not on a routine basis, are building officials,engineers, subcontractors, and professionals from the window and solar industry. The followingstatement was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners as the Committees guidingprinciple:

To create a green building program--BuildSmart-- that promotes highly energy-efficientbuildings in Blaine County and establishes Blaine County as a leader in sustainability and

climate protection.

The Committees objectives are as follows: Identify and research program and policy options for green building and development

strategies and assess their feasibility. Prioritize and recommend no less than three possible green building program scenarios

to the Board of County Commissioners; Identify and recommend benchmarks for progress; Recommend an organizational structure for the program--including guidelines and

regulations, incentives and restrictions--to enable the county to meet these benchmarks; Suggest community involvement and public information strategies.

RESEARCHThe Committee began its work by researching other jurisdictions Green Building, or abovecode programs to evaluate their appropriateness for the unincorporated county and to avoidreinventing the wheel. The Committee has evaluated their implementation process,effectiveness, community receptivity, costs, city administrative capacity, success ofimprovements, return on investment benefits to the project owners and pride of being a rolemodel community. The municipalities and programs that have been reviewed are:

1. Aspen/Pitkin County2. Teton County, Wyoming3. Austin, Texas4. Boulder City, Colorado5. Boulder County, Colorado

6. Eagle County, Colorado7. Telluride, Colorado8. Santa Fe, New Mexico9. ENERGY STAR (U.S. Department of Energy program to promote energy efficiency)10. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (U.S. Department of Energy program to

promote for additions and remodels)11. LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Development)12. HERS (Home Energy Rating System)

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13. NAHB (National Association of Home Builders)

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS

The Committee worked with the Haileys sustainable building committee to provide region-wideoutreach and education through a series of events.

Green Building -The Real Story: A Presentation and Forum for the Wood River Design andBuilding Industry.Held in June 2009 the evening focused on green building, and among other topics, addressedthe challenges, benefits, examples of other municipalities programs, and the financial cost andsavings. The presentation by the Britt/Makela Group, Inc., who have experience at the nationallevel in high performance buildings, code development, training, data analysis, architecture,building science, low-impact energy efficient building design, and land use, addressed thedifficult issues associated with green building programs and provided information of interest tothe building and design industries as well as the general public.

Following the presentation a local stakeholder facilitation forum was conducted which consistedof approximately 40 building industry professionals. The forum attempted to determine and

address the major issues and concerns felt by stakeholders. A report detailing the results of theforum was presented to the County Commissioners during the summer of 2009. This feedbackwas used in developing the committees recommendations.

The Integrated Design Process; Using Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) to obtain greaterEnergy Efficiency,Hosted in October 2009 by the BuildSmart, Hailey Green Building Committee, and the AIA theevent was presented and facilitated by David Neiger of Populus Sustainable Design Consulting,in Boulder CO. The presentation covered HERS and then split the audience up into groups thatwere each given a HERS Index score that they were required to obtain using the REMRATEsoftware developed by RESNET, the creator of HERS. This gave each participant anopportunity to better understand the process of HERS and how the tool is used to achieve a

higher performance building. The following day, Mr. Neiger presented Boulder City and BoulderCounty, COs experience with adopting and implementing a green building program to HaileysMayor and City Council and Blaine County Commissioners.

Home Performance with Energy StarIn March 2010, Tim OLeary with the Idaho Office of Energy Resources presented HomePerformance with ENERGY STAR to Hailey and Blaines committee members, interested citystaff, and contractors.

SETTING PRIORITIES AND FORMULATING THE RECOMMENDATION

Beginning in the spring of 2009 the Committee focused on researching and discussing thevarious components of above code building programs and green building techniques. The

members focused on similar communities located in the intermountain west, specificallymountain towns with similar climates and market demographics (Pitkin County, San MiguelCounty, Boulder County, etc.). The Committee then went on to identify strategic areas of greenbuilding, goals for those areas, and effective and efficient tools to address such goals. It isimportant to note that this work was done with a conscious consideration of the context andconstraints of the Wood River Valley and unincorporated county. For example, identifying thelevel and type of current building practices, inspections processes and existing green buildinginfrastructure located in the valley were key considerations.

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The Committee consisted of various interests and perspectives; consequently a loose form ofRoberts Committee Rules was implemented to identify areas of agreement, interests, actionsand broad-gage solutions. Exhibit D outlines the goals as voted and unanimously approved bythe committee. Staff then used the goals, priorities, and general areas of consensus to formthree approaches to green building. The approaches were then discussed in detail to determine

whether or how they should be in the Committees recommendations. An executive summarywas created from these discussions that entailed all motioned unanimous agreements andsignificant areas of consensus. The committee then used this document to create threeskeleton recommendations. The final two months of meetings the Committee worked onfleshing out and further refining the recommendations.

EXHBIT

Exhibit A - HERS Index score calculated as function of home size; conditioned sq. ft.

EXHIBITA

HERS

Sliding

Scale

for

New

Construction

70 70

50

00

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150

Home Size SqFtx100

HERS

Adopted

Alternative

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Exhibit B - HERS index formula for 30% improvement for additions larger than 300sq.ft.

Formula for efficiency rating of existing structure plus new addition in excess of xxx square feet:

(A)(B) + (C)(D)______________ = E

(A) + (C)

Where:

A = square feet of existing structure

B = 70% of HERS rating of existing structure (30% HERS improvement)C = Square feet of new addition

D = HERS rating for addition based on size as though addition were stand-alone construction

E = HERS rating for existing structure plus addition

Example:

A = 4000 sq. ft . home with HERS of 200B = 30% improvement of HERS = HERS 140

C = 800 sq. ft. addition

D = Size of addition requires HERS of 70 (per formula)A + C = Total sq. ft. = 4800

(4000) (140) + (800)(70) 616,000____________________ = _________ = 128.3 HERS

4000 +800 4800

Requires a baseline HERS rating of existing structure prior to issuance of constructionpermit.

Exhibit C BuildSmart Checklist

See attachment

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Exhibit D BSTAC Goals.

BSTAC Recommended Goals

Green Building Program in Blaine County Idaho

September 21, 2009

Energy GoalsNew Construction

1. Increase the energy efficiency of new construction by 30% above the current IECC.2. Improve oversight of energy related building practices.3. Improve builder education of energy related building practices.4. Increase homeowners and property managements understanding of energy efficient management and operation

of homes.

5. Implement program elements that recognize and decrease resource use and long-term depletion of non-renewable fuels due to large scale development and non-essential building elements.

6. Increase energy conservation and efficiency through building design.

Old Building Stock

1. Increase the energy efficiency of pre-existing structures to 20% above the existing performance level.2. Foster the availability of home energy consumption information.3. Support third party testing and energy audits.

Water Reduction Goals

1. Reduction in-house potable water use below the national average.2. Support landscaping design that decreases irrigation water use by 30%.3. Educated homeowners, property management and landscaping companies on water efficient landscaping.

Materials Resources Goals

1. Reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill by 30%.2. Support and promote the development of construction recycling infrastructure.

Indoor Air Quality

1. Create buildings with healthier indoor air quality and building interior environments that enhance the

occupants comfort.2. Ensure tightly sealed structures are properly ventilated, per ASHE standards 6.2.23. Reduce carbon monoxide dangers to home occupants through the use of green building design and technologies.4. Promote the use of lowVOC emitting materials and finishes.

Innovation

1. Increase the employment of integrated design principles to promote resource efficient design.2. Increase and promote the use of innovative materials, building techniques and design in the Wood River Valley.

Site Selection Goals

1. Maximize the heating and cooling efficiency of homes through sighting, design, and landscaping.

2. Minimize disturbance to natural landscapes and wildlife habitat through sighting, design, and landscaping.

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Exhibit E BSTAC Appointed and Technical Delegate Members as adopted March 2009

BuildSmart Technical Advisory Committee

Appointed Members: Appointed committee members will be expected to attend t

above code recommendations

Documents