Michigan Homebuilders Training: Integrating Building Codes, ENERGY STAR, and Building America Case Study Documenting an Integrated Workshop Approach

Overview Background Partners Workshop Results Recommendations & Conclusions

MI Homebuilders Training - Background Goal of integrating the following subjects for Michigan Homebuilders: Michigan Uniform Energy Code ENERGY STAR homes & products Federal tax credits for new home construction Building America best practices

MI Homebuilders Training - Background Project Objectives: Emphasize the state residential energy code in relation to other building standards Increase # of builders building ENERGY STAR homes & using ENERGY STAR products Increase # of homes built to the federal tax credits standard Increase use of Building America best practices

MI Homebuilders Training - Background Streamlined Project Objectives: De-mystify the various construction standards (state code, ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes etc.) Demonstrate that energy efficient homes can be constructed in a cost- effective manner beneficial to builders and homeowners

MI Homebuilders Training - Background Methodology: Workshop format: 6 half-day Michigan sessions Presentation showing 3 different home styles achieving: 1) state energy code compliance, 2) ENERGY STAR certification & 3) federal tax credit qualification

MI Homebuilders Training - Background Methodology: Presentation also included Building America best practices ENERGY STAR products were emphasized throughout Michigan focus with all construction examples

Energy Use Comparison

Exterior 1” layer of XPS insulating sheathing seams taped Air Flow Retarder System

MI Homebuilders Training: Partners Michigan Energy Office plus: Michigan Energy Demonstration Centers (nonprofit education organizations) Building America partner Venture, Inc. Home Energy Raters (workshop presenters) Homebuilders Association Professional Program Evaluator

MI Homebuilders Training: Results 7 sessions completed Geographic spread: Detroit area (2 sessions), Ann Arbor (2 sessions), Lansing, Grand Rapids, Marquette 167 participants Pre-surveys completed before the sessions (assess current building practices & knowledge)

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Post-surveys completed after the session (gather info. on participant reactions to the workshops) Home Energy Raters provided practical info. to building professionals

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Evaluation included: Assessment of the operation - delivery of the program (review of project materials – interviews with project managers and staff) Estimations of potential energy savings as a result of the project (qualitative methods)

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Evaluation: Program was well administered Deliverables within budget Despite concentrated delivery time, sessions were completed as planned “Front-end” presentation preparation from SEO was helpful

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Evaluation: Workshop presenters exhibited good experience in the field Project managers attended sessions to monitor content quality

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Attendee breakdown: 113 – direct housing construction ties 54 – related professionals (gov., nonprofit, utilities etc.)

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Pre-survey results: Previously built an ENERGY STAR home: 26% (8% built more than 1) Had a HERS rating on their home: 30% (8% had more than 1) Always or usually offer extra EE options: 62%

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Pre-survey results: Are very familiar with the Michigan energy code: 25% Are somewhat familiar with the Michigan energy code: 50% Know the requirements of the federal tax credit for new homes: 23% Applied for a federal tax credit: 19%

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Pre-survey results: Relatively low pre-existing level of knowledge & experience w/ advanced EE construction (suggesting even lower levels of knowledge from other builders)

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Post-survey results: Positive assessment of workshops from attendees Purpose of training was clear: 93% Met or exceeded expectations: 96% Very useful or fairly useful: 97% Learned new building science info: 86%

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Post-survey results: Most important finding: 95% said they would apply info learned to their own building practices

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Energy Savings Impact: Training programs present challenges for estimating energy savings impact Hypothetical scenario: ½ of the attendees responsible for 3 additional ENERGY STAR rated homes following the training (conservative assumption)

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Energy Savings Impact: Energy savings per home: estimates provided from HERS presenters with software modeling Average estimated annual energy cost savings per medium sized home built to ENERGY STAR standards: $ attendees X 3 homes X $700 = $174,300 annual savings

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Energy Savings Impact: Conservative estimation suggests 1 year of resulting energy savings is more than twice the project budget cost ($74,000) Translates to about ½ year payback period for the project Assuming a 40 yr. lifetime of a new home, lifetime energy savings are approx. $7 million at current energy prices – exceeding project costs by almost 100 fold

MI Homebuilders Training: Results Energy Savings Impact: This all assumes no “spill-over” savings potentially resulting from the training beyond the 3 new homes per 83 attendees

MI Homebuilders Training: Conclusions In the absence of actual impact evaluation results, a conservative projection of energy savings far exceeds the project costs HERS providers/workshop presenters provided valuable insights to evaluator regarding: perceived marketplace obstacles effective EE features to promote to customers, and suggestions of how to increase the # of ENERGY STAR rated new homes

MI Homebuilders Training: Recommendations The evaluation suggested this type of training approach should be reproduced on a larger statewide scale reaching more builders Couple the training effort with utility sponsored financial incentives to builders and/or home buyers Concentrate future training sessions during builder’s off-season Diversify future training to accommodate builders new to the EE concept and seasoned EE experienced builders Consider having the program pay for one home energy rating for each builder attending a workshop

MI Homebuilders Training: Conclusions Project was well-designed & delivered w/ responsible administration & good quality control Existing level of EE knowledge of builders attending was fairly low – suggesting builders who did NOT attend would feature a lower level of EE knowledge Attendees rated the training very high Using conservative assumptions, the project will likely result in total energy savings far in excess of the costs of the project

Finished Cape Cod

Michigan Homebuilders Training: Integrating Building Codes, ENERGY STAR, and Building America