Efficiency Maine Residential Direct Install Initiative Air Sealing - - PDF document

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Efficiency Maine Residential Direct Install Initiative

Air Sealing Promotion

Results, Statistics and Findings July 11th 2013

Residential Direct Install (RDI) “Air Sealing Promotion”

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Original objectives:

Eliminate barriers of entry into weatherization by larger

segment of Maine households.

Promote financing of larger scope weatherization projects by

addressing key issues in Maine housing stock.

Demonstrate immediate benefits of energy assessments in

addressing “lowest hanging energy fruit” in homes. Startup milestones:

Launched in April 2012 with an incentive level of $300 per unit

with slow uptake. 170 units completed in 5 months.

Incentive increased to $600 per unit in September 2012

generated exponential growth of activity in auditing and

• weatherization. 1100 units completed by end of December

2012.

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Phase 1: “Blower Door Driven Air Sealing”

The RDI Air Sealing Promotion has been advertised as a limited-time discount on air sealing and currently involves the following components and steps for participants:

• 1. Home energy audit, including a blower door test, is performed by a

Participating BPI certified Energy Auditor

• 2. At least six hours of air sealing and/or insulation work are

completed by either the auditor or another registered vendor.

• 3. Contractor performs post project blower door test to measure the

new air flow in the home and project energy savings.

Residential Direct Install (RDI) “Air Sealing Promotion”

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Distribution of projects has been statewide from York to Fort Kent. 70 participating contractor firms providing range of services and project scopes. Significant activity in pockets near most active contractors.

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200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 4600 4800 5000 5200 5400 5600 $300 increased to $600

As of

7/1/2013

Completions

5306

Average SqFT

1599

Average Year Built

1944

Average Occupancy

2.6

Ave PRE CFM50#

3263

Ave POST CFM50#

2752

Average Reduction CFM50

511

Percent air flow reduction

16%

Total job hours supported 58,535 Average Hours per project

11.0

Average total project cost

$ 826

Air Sealing Promotion

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500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000

Air sealing in basement/bulkhead Air sealing in attic/hatch Air sealing chimney chase Air sealing/insulating duct work Air sealing plumbing chases Insulating piping Tank wrap Low flow shower head Insulation of foundation sills Weatherstripping doors/windows Programmable thermostat Combustion safety verified

# of homes where measures were completed

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500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Furnace Boiler Wood/Pellet/Gas Stove Water Heater Heat Pump Air Conditioner Ventilation System Attic Insulation Duct Insulation Wall Insulation Floor/Foundation Insulation Windows Installed/Replaced Air Sealing Duct Sealing Refrigerator Solar PV Solar Thermal Wind Power

Recommended Improvement Measures and Upgrades # of homes where measures were recommended

Residential Direct Install (RDI) “Air Sealing Promotion”

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100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Participating Home Decade of Construction Maine has among the oldest housing stocks in the country. Newest ----------------- Oldest

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100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860 1850

Ave airflow reduction CFM50 by built decade Greater savings can be found in short amount

• f time on oldest

homes, but savings are significant even in newest part of housing stock. Decade Homes Built

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860

Ratio of airflow to living area

Above roughly ratio of 1.0 is wasted heat airflow

Air flow is required for good indoor air quality, but any more flow than is needed, is wasted heat in winter. “Who left the window open?”

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006

ratio of airflow to living area - new houses

Above roughly 1.0 is wasted heat airflow

Even looking at the best and newest portion of the housing stock – huge amount of variation occurs in terms of tightness.

RDI impact on newest houses 2012 – 2006 built

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0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006

POST leakage ratio

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006

PRE leakage ratio Basic air sealing does not address all issues, but it makes a difference and creates an informed homeowner.

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Gross Impacts as Evaluated by Opinion Dynamics “Interim Impact Report”

Estimated average annual savings of 9.77 MMBTU per project. (72 gallons of oil equivalent) Analysis of the RDI Program found that the program is cost-effective for the Total Resource Cost test (TRC), the Program Administrator Cost Test (PACT), and the Participant Cost Test (PCT). All tests show a positive net present value and a benefit-cost ratio that well exceeds 1.0. Estimated benefit-cost ratios for RDI are:

TRC = 2.64 PACT = 3.58 PCT = 6.66 What else have we learned?

Residential Direct Install (RDI) Building stock characteristics

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Building type (1 to 4 unit residential)

Owner-Occupied Single Family Site Built Single-Family Rental Site Built Owner-Occupied Mobile Homes Renter-Occupied Mobile Homes Owner-Occupied Multi-Family Renter-Occupied Multi-Family Condominium

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PRE average attic insulation R value

Less than R4 R4 to R12 R13 to R29 R30 to R50 Above R50

DOE recommended attic insulation for Maine is R49!! ~15 inch insulation depth

Residential Direct Install (RDI) Building stock characteristics

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PRE average exterior wall insulation R value

Less than R4 R5 to R13 R14 to R19 Above R20

Lots of pre 1940 homes have zero wall insulation!

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PRE average basement wall or ceiling insulation R value

None R1 to R6 R7 to R19 Above R20

Huge opportunity for savings by insulating basement walls!

Residential Direct Install (RDI) Building stock characteristics

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Primary Heating Fuel in participating homes

Fuel Oil Kerosene Propane / LPG Wood Pellets Natural Gas Other

Bulk delivered petroleum is

• verwhelming majority
• f heating in Maine

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Maine housing stock in summary:

• Older
• Leaky
• Poorly insulated
• Frequently damp
• Heating with most expensive fuels
• Average heating system is old and inefficient

Where we need to head:

• Air seal penetrations in basement, attic and living spaces
• Increase insulation levels in attics, walls and basements
• Upgrade to high efficiency heating systems with lower cost fuels
• Deal with bulk moisture issues everywhere

One house at a time… A big problem but a finite one.

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“All of the above” strategy required for maximum impact.

Dana Fischer Residential Program Manager Dana.Fischer@efficiencymaine.com (207) 650-8774