Zero Energy Homes: Retrofitting Boulder's Existing Housing Stock Yael Gichon City of Boulder July 12 th 2008

Policies and Goals: A Brief History 1996: Green Points – 1 st green building code in nation 2002: Kyoto Protocol ~ 400,000 mtCO2e reduction by : Climate Action Plan developed 2006: Carbon tax passed by 60% of vote 2008: Green Points update ~ requires energy performance standard using Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

Boulder GHG Inventory

Tackling Existing Housing New construction is low-hanging fruit – many local professionals can design and build zero energy homes ~ 100 built per year Existing housing stock – Majority of Boulder’s residential GHG emissions ~ 45,000 units Green Points Code for existing homes: –energy audit for remodels/additions over 500ft2; 50% of 40 lumens/watt

ClimateSmart Climate Action Plan ~ Based on voluntary participation Facilitate action and remover barriers through programs designed to increase energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. Residential Energy Audit Program (REAP) Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES_ GEO’s Insulate and Seal and Solar DHW incentives Lighting incentives Home Energy Makeover Contest

Retrofitting to Zero Energy Homes? Environmental Affairs and Planning Department working closely to map out future possibilities. Exploring goals beyond Kyoto – ultimately city leadership will set goals. Other goals to keep an eye on: – 2030 Challenge: carbon neutrality for new construction – Colorado Climate Action Plan:20% by 2020, and 80% by 2050 –ICLEI: 80% by 2050

What’s needed? Research/Data – to better understand our existing housing stock as well as what skills and resources are needed to do deep energy retrofits (70-90% reductions). Building Science Professionals Behavior Change Deep Energy Retrofit models – have a few excellent examples in Boulder. Other ideas?

Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) Policy tool to improve energy and water use in existing housing stock. Initial exploration of possibility for Boulder Housing types Prescriptive vs. Performance Achievable HERS score Incentive Package Possible Impacts

Challenges Landlord/tenant split incentive Marketing: attitudes ≠ behavior Translating education into actions Qualified contractors Financial investment a perceived barrier

Challenges and OPPORTUNITIES Don’t know enough about our existing housing stock, huge variability. Voluntary programs are slow to penetrate some provide smaller than expected carbon savings (REAP ~ 10% reduction). Missing opportunities by implementing low-hanging fruit rather than deep energy retrofits? Many players in the field: Xcel, GEO, Boulder County

Conclusion Zero energy is the vision, goal would come from city leadership, Environmental Affairs can continue to provide resources, conduct research, and see what is possible in Boulder. To achieve deep energy retrofits, requires combination of technology and behavior change combined with community grass roots efforts. Dynamic ‘climate’ in the new energy economy, rising natural gas prices, the end of cheap oil. Need more research on existing housing stock to see what is possible at a policy level.