Energy Advisor Workshop Manual

107 Pages·2006·1.66 MB·English

EnerGuide for Houses:
Energy Advisor
Workshop Manual
December 2005
EnerGuide for Houses:
Energy Advisor Workshop Manual
Produced by Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
EnerGuide for Houses
EnerGuide is the official Government of Canada mark associated
with the labelling and rating of the energy consumption or
energy efficiency of household appliances,heating equipment,air
conditioners,houses and vehicles.EnerGuide for Houses (EGH)
offers home energy evaluations by unbiased,qualified and
licensed EGH contractors in communities across Canada.Energy
advisors use their expertise in combination with energy
modelling software to prepare a report to help dwelling owners
plan for energy efficiency renovations to an existing house or to
help homebuilders and homebuyers make informed decisions
while choosing energy upgrades before building a new house.The
report includes an EnerGuide label and rating.Visit our Web site
at energuideforhouses.gc.ca.
EnerGuide for Houses: Energy Advisor Workshop Manual
Aussi disponible en français sour le titre :ÉnerGuide pour les maisons :Manuel de formation du conseiller en efficacité
énergétique.
©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,2005
EnerGuide,the EnerGuide for Houses logo,the stylized EnerGuide wordmark and the EG design
graphic are all official marks of Natural Resources Canada.
The date of issue of eachversion of the document is:
Original:October 1998
Revision 1:July 2001
Revision 2:January 2004
Revision 3:May 2004
Revision 4:December 2005
Some editorial changes were made to this document,in addition to the following revisions:
1.More detailed descriptions of the procedures relative to new houses have been added.
2.The quick depressurization test procedure has been revised.
3.The technical specifications for blower doors have been updated.
4.References to the new "EnerGuide for Houses Procedures Concerning Vermiculite Insulation that May Contain Amphibole
Asbestos" have been added,where appropriate.
5.The procedure for modelling the heating system using HOT2 XP has been revised.
6.References have been added to new documents outlining the procedures for modelling houses with solar hot water heating,
wood-heated houses and multi-unit buildings.
This document has been developed for the EnerGuide for Houses workshops,delivered to energy advisors as a part of their
certification. It is not for general distribution.
For more information about this publication,or to obtain authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part,
please write to:
EnerGuide for Houses
Housing and Equipment
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street,18th floor
Ottawa ON KlA 0E4
Telephone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
You can also view or order several of the Office of Energy Efficiency’s publications on-line.
Visit our Energy Publications Virtual Library at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/infosource.
The Office of Energy Efficiency’s Web site is at oee.nrcan.gc.ca.
Recycled paper
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C O N T E N T S
MODULE 1 Introduction to EnerGuide for Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
• What is EnerGuide for Houses? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
• Why was EnerGuide for Houses developed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
• How will EnerGuide for Houses affect your business? . . . . . . . . . . .3
• How to become an EnerGuide for Houses energy advisor? . . . . . . .4
• Who administers EnerGuide for Houses? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
• EnerGuide for Houses workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
MODULE 2 Indoor Air Quality,Ventilation and Combustion Spillage . . . . . . . . . . .7
• Indoor air quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
• Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
• Evaluating indoor air quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
• Indoor air quality and energy efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
• Controlling moisture and indoor air pollutant problems . . . . . . . .11
• How much ventilation is required? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
• What kind of mechanical ventilation system is required? . . . . . . .15
• The dangers of combustion spillage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
• When is combustion spillage a problem? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
• What are some of the signs of combustion spillage? . . . . . . . . . . .18
• Air sealing and combustion spillage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
• Dealing with combustion spillage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
MODULE 3 Conducting a Blower Door Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
• Blower door test requirement for new houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
• What is a blower door? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
• Conducting a blower door test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
• Blower door test procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
• Results of the blower door test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
• Blower door test report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
• Air change per hour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
• Equivalent leakage area (ELA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
• The exponent n ........................................34
• Correlation coefficient r .................................34
• Relative standard error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
• Normalized leakage area (NLA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
• Communicating test results to the client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
MODULE 4 Preparing for the Energy Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
• Conducting the pre-evaluation interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
• Conducting the pre-evaluation interview with the homebuilder . .37
• Closing the interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES
MODULE 5 Conducting the On-Site Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
5.1 Conducting the On-Site Evaluation of Existing Houses . . . . . . . .43
• Data Collection Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
• Conducting the house evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
• Evaluation guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
5.2 Conducting the On-Site Evaluation of New Houses . . . . . . . . . . .50
• Preparing for the house evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
• Conducting the house evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
• Exterior evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
• Interior evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
MODULE 6 HOT2XP:Residential Energy Analysis Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
• File-naming standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
• Default libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
• Energy performance runs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
• Fuel-cost libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
• Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
• Mechanical system appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
• Help files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
• The EnerGuide for Houses report for existing houses . . . . . . . . . .61
• The EnerGuide for New Houses report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
• Limitations of HOT2 XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
• Summary of HOT2 XP procedures to produce an EnerGuide
for Houses report and label for existing houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
• Summary of HOT2 XP procedures to produce an EnerGuide
for New Houses report and label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
MODULE 7 Developing Upgrade Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
• Developing upgrade recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
• Ventilation recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
• Heating system recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
• Summary .............................................79
MODULE 8 The EnerGuide for Houses Evaluation Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
• Communicating the report to the dwelling owner:
For existing houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
• EnerGuide for Houses label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
• Producing the EnerGuide for Houses label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
• Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
MODULE 9 Reporting Evaluation Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
• Exporting files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
• EnerGuide for Houses Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
APPENDIX 1 Instructions for Calculating Assembly R-Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES
Disclaimer
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,represented by the Minister of Natural
Resources (“Canada”) makes no representations about the suitability for any purpose
of the information (the “Information”) contained in this document. All such
Information is provided on an “as is”basis and Canada makes no representations or
warranties respecting the Information,either expressed or implied,arising by law or
otherwise,including but not limited to,effectiveness,completeness,accuracy or fitness
for a particular purpose.Canada does not assume any liability in respect of any damage
or loss incurred as a result of the use of the Information.In no event shall Canada be
liable in any way for loss of revenue or contracts,or any other consequential loss of
any kind resulting from the use of the Information.
Foreword
EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) is a service developed by the Office of Energy Efficiency
of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to encourage energy efficiency improvements
in Canadian housing.NRCan has published this manual for use by EGH contractors
in preparing energy advisors to implement the EnerGuide for Houses service.It is
supplemented by an instructor guide,administrative and technical procedures,and
evaluation guidelines. A pre-test is available to determine whether applicants have
the prerequisite knowledge to become energy advisors.
Acknowledgement
NRCan gratefullyacknowledges Training Unlimited of Winnipeg and the Sun Ridge Goup
of Saskatoon for assisting in the development of the EnerGuide for Houses:Energy
Advisor Workshop Manualand the following organizations for contributing some
illustrations and information used throughout this document:
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• Canadian Home Builders’Association (CHBA)
• Heating,Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)
• National Energy Conservation Association (NECA)
Note to Reader
The information contained in this document applies to both the EnerGuide for Houses
and the EnerGuide for New Houses services,unless otherwise indicated.
ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES

1
M O D U L E 1
Introduction to EnerGuide for Houses
Introduction
Although many Canadians are already
taking steps to improve the energy
efficiency of their homes,many wonder
if there is more they can do to reduce
energy consumption.The EnerGuide1 for
Houses service measures the energy
performance of houses,makes
recommendations for improvements,and
provides energy ratings so that dwelling
owners and buyers can compare the
energy efficiency of different houses.The
evaluation identifies where energy
efficiency improvements can be made to
D
ensure the comfort,health and safety of
welling owners
occupants,and to maintain the structural
and homebuilders
integrity of the home.
are referred to as
Upon completion of this module,you will
be able to: “the client” within
• explain the EnerGuide for Houses
this manual. The
service to dwelling owners and
homebuilder is the
homebuilders;
dwelling owner until
• list the objectives of EnerGuide for
Houses and its benefits to the the transfer of
environment; possession takes
• list the benefits of EnerGuide for place. The “client” is
Houses to dwelling owners and
What is EnerGuide for Houses? generally the person
homebuilders;
who requested the
EnerGuide for Houses provides energy
• list the benefits of becoming an
evaluations of houses,whether they are EnerGuide for
EnerGuide for Houses energy advisor;
already built or only exist as plans.Its
and Houses service for
purpose is to improve the energy
either a new or
• explain the differences between the efficiency and reduce the environmental
existing and new housing components impact of the housing stock in Canada by existing house.
of the EnerGuide for Houses Program. identifying opportunities for energy
savings.The program determines the
amount of heat loss from each
component of the house and makes
recommendations to dwelling owners or
homebuilders on how to improve energy
1EnerGuide is an official mark of Natural
Resources Canada. efficiency.In the case of existing houses,
MODULE 1 •INTRODUCTION TO ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES
1
EnerGuide for Houses uses a number of offer to homebuyers. Once the house has
tests and data gathered by an on-site been completed and is habitable,a
assessment.For new houses,data is second evaluation is performed to collect
gathered from the builder,the plan the actual values for ACH and orientation
specifications and building plans in to confirm the final rating of the house.
conjunction with an on-site verification Once the as-built evaluation has been
T
he residential and blower door test of the house as completed,a dwelling owner report and
built.These results are entered into a rating label are generated that contain
housing sector
computer program that generates an information on the rating and the house’s
represents about energy rating for the house and shows estimated energy usage.
17 percent of the benefits of making the recommended
energy upgrades to the house. EnerGuide for Houses is based on the
secondary energy
“house as a system”concept.Upgrade
The EnerGuide for Houses evaluation
use in Canada. work that is undertaken could affect heat
is conducted by an energy advisor
loss,indoor air quality and the operation
who collects data from the dwelling
of mechanical systems.Therefore,the
owner or homebuilder,performs an on-
energy advisor must identify any
site evaluation of the house and its
problems that exist,such as combustion
mechanical and heating systems,and
spillage or excessive moisture levels in
performs a fan depressurization test
the house,or any condition that may
(“blower door test”) to determine the
become a problem as a result of retrofit
airtightness of the building envelope.
work or a change in building plans.The
This data is entered into a specially
client must be informed of any major
designed software program,such as
structural,moisture or other problem that
HOT2®XP2or HOT2000 or,in the case of
should be corrected prior to undertaking
existing houses,other equivalent software
any of the recommendations.
programs approved by Natural Resources
Canada (NRCan). In order to compare one house to
another,the energy rating is based
In the case of existing houses,the
on standard operating conditions rather
software produces a report for the
than the actual operating conditions
dwelling owner that shows the
of a house.The rating is based on:
key areas of energy loss in the house,
• four occupants (two adults and two
estimates the home’s annual energy
children) who are present 50 percent
requirements,and provides a comparative
of the time;
energy efficiency rating.With this
• a temperature set-point of 21°C for the
data,the energy advisor makes
main and upper floors and 19°C for
recommendations on how to improve
the basement;
the home’s energy performance and
• a consumption of 225 litres of
achieve a higher energy rating.
domestic hot water per day;
• an electricity consumption for lighting
In the case of new houses,default air
and appliances of 24 kilowatt hours
change per hour (ACH) and orientation
(kWh) per day;and
values are used at the plan evaluation
• a total minimum monthly average
stage to determine conservative projected
ventilation rate of 0.30 air change per
ratings for various upgrade options. The
hour during the heating season,
energy advisor then helps the builder
including natural air infiltration and
develop upgrade packages that they can
mechanical ventilation.
2HOT2 is a registered trademark of Natural
Resources Canada.
INTRODUCTION TO ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES • MODULE 1
2
EnerGuide for Houses is also fuel-neutral; of energy use.The residential sector
i.e.,it is not biased toward the use of any accounts for about 17 percent of
particular fuel source or type of energy- secondary energy use in Canada.
efficient upgrade or equipment.The Canadians are among the highest per
program rates energy use by volume, capita consumers of energy in the world,
among other factors,so that large houses, in part because of the country’s climate
E
which use large amounts of total energy, and size,but also because of inefficient nerGuide is a
can receive ratings that are similar to energy use.The housing sector as a whole
highly recognized
smaller houses,which use less total has been encouraged to reduce its energy
energy. consumption and reduce its impact on logo, already well
climate change through initiatives such as known by consumers
EnerGuide for Houses can be a powerful
NRCan’s EnerGuide for Houses Program
sales tool for renovation contractors and as an energy
an the R-20003Standard.
new-home builders.The evaluation is
efficiency rating for
objective and clearly demonstrates to the EnerGuide for Houses encourages
home appliances.
client the areas of greatest heat loss in the dwelling owners to increase the energy
home,what upgrades would be most efficiency of existing homes and
beneficial,and what the energy savings homebuilders to increase the energy
would be if recommended upgrades were efficiency of the houses that they build.
undertaken.The use of the blower door EnerGuide is a highly recognized
test and the computer program increases trademark,already well known by
the client’s confidence in the energy consumers as an energy efficiency rating
advisor’s recommendations.For example, for home appliances.Its extension as the
when performing an evaluation on a identifier of a rating system for houses
house in the presence of the dwelling was a logical next step.
owner or homebuilder,with the blower
The R-2000 Standard is a voluntary
door test,the energy advisor can
initiative and has relatively stringent
demonstrate the exact location of air
requirements for energy efficiency,
leakage points in the house and determine
environmental responsibility and quality
how much air leakage is occurring.The
assurance.Since not all builders construct
client can actually visualize energy losses.
houses that meet the R-2000 Standard,
Without the blower door test,air leakage
EnerGuide for New Houses can be an
is difficult to demonstrate.
alternative to some builders who are
Some clients may be motivated by an interested in increasing the energy
environmental message.Burning fossil efficiency of their houses towards
fuels produces greenhouse gases;the R-2000 levels.
EnerGuide for Houses Program shows the
potential energy efficiency of the house,
How will EnerGuide for Houses
and demonstrates how each house’s
affect your business?
impact on the environment can be
reduced.
Programs similar to EnerGuide for Houses
have been shown to have a marked effect
Why was EnerGuide for Houses on the housing sector.Some renovation
developed? companies use the evaluation to generate
business;others offer the evaluation as an
NRCan has a mandate to promote energy added service to renovation work they are
efficiency in all sectors of the economy
and to reduce the environmental impact
3R-2000 is an official mark of Natural
Resources Canada.
MODULE 1 • INTRODUCTION TO ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES
3