Comments on: How Much Extra Will the HVAC Cost for ENERGY STAR Version 3 Homes?

By: Jim Kate

Jim Kate — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:35:05 +0000

All Home Energy Rater
All Home Energy Rater partners are required to take ENERGY STAR for Homes Version 3 training and pass the national ENERGY STAR exam through a RESNET-accredited Training Provider by January 1, 2012, to be eligible to qualify homes under the new guidelines. This requirement applies to all existing ENERGY STAR rater partners, as well as any new raters who sign onto the program in the future, and includes field inspectors who are doing inspection and testing associated with ENERGY STAR qualified homes.
Air Conditioning Carmel

By: Jim Kate

Jim Kate — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:32:51 +0000

By: School of technology

School of technology — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:52:26 +0000

For new home construction,
For new home construction, continued achievement of ENERGY STAR certification under version 3.0 (or version 2.5 for homes permitted in 2011 and completed by June 30, 2012) will qualify homes for HFHM resources. Affiliates unable to partner with a credentialed HVAC contractor should complete and verify all work and checklists required for ENERGY STAR 3.0 certification except for the sections of the HVAC checklists that cannot be completed for lack of a credentialed contractor. Upon final verification, the house will be accepted as though it were certified to version 2.5 of the ENERGY STAR program.

By: scott suddreth

scott suddreth — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:06:53 +0000

Harris – I have been working
Harris – I have been working with Advanced Energy in NC for over 10 years working on System Vision Homes which are super efficient Habitat Homes that use the positive ventilation approach like you mentioned. However – they used a fixed damper. In your comment you said the bath fan creates a negative pressure and the tamarack damper opens. Is this because the house is so tight that your bath fan can depressurize the home? If so what prevents the Dryer (200-300 cfm) from pulling from this vent, or the kitchen exhaust. Do you pressure balance the homes to make sure that when operating the home doesn’t go under negative pressure due to supply duct leaks outside the envelope. Just curious. We used to use Air Cycler’s but they began creating comfort complaints from operation during the shoulder months.

By: Eric Kjelshus

Eric Kjelshus — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:23:11 +0000

I have been doing test and
I have been doing test and ballance HVAC for 15 years with in 10% each run, useing ACCA MJ8 & MD & MS. Its still more the buiding than the HVAC. I have a "energy star" V3 house that still is not sealed and I can not heat it in high wind. The duct work is sized at .05 SP and is 30% larger than most "3 ton" or my teck says I put in 5 ton duct in a 3 ton system and duct all return and seal with UL listed 181 mastic. I have 2.7 times more time and 2X mat. Up charge was $4500 for duct. sealing and 1.5"foam was done by foam wall installer his charge was $1500, plus $600 to do the Mj&D; or .25 sf

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:33:13 +0000

I think our cable operated
I think our cable operated balancing damper offers value to contractors trying to satisfy ESv3. Damper is mounted at the trunk with cable routed inside the ductwork and terminated right behind the register. Any noise is attenuated and Balancing tech can adjust through the face of the register/grille. D R Horton is putting in model homes to tryout. See http://metairtech.com/products-manual-damper-systems.aspx Feedback is appreciated…Mike

By: John Burke

John Burke — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:03:07 +0000

Cost of V3 is different based
Cost of V3 is different based on spec of house that you starting from. As far as paperwork and tech time you are looking at 600 to 800. Thats in DC metro area.

By: David Butler

David Butler — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:58:07 +0000

Energy Star did a study on
Energy Star did a study on the additional costs of v3 (http://1.usa.gov/3SXyYa). For HVAC, here’s what they came up with:
Contractor checklist: $400
Rater checklist: $50
IAQ/Ventilation: $500

By: B.P.

B.P. — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:32:56 +0000

The fresh air intake has
The fresh air intake has always come up with me when the house tests too tight , but I cant shoot from the hip and have to revert to saying " Its up to the mechanical engineer " . Now on the test and balancing I have been doing that for almost 10 years now so it comes second nature .I also think the key is testing the statics of a system(though they aren't always what I expect). Manufactures need to install ports on their system and they should be included in the supply/return plenums. If you think an 8 inch duct delivers 200 cfm all day , think again . Ive noticed maybe 1 out of 1000 ! Gotta go , wife is wanting to go online shopping but I am very interested in the feedback that comes from Energy Vanguards blogs and posts , keep up the knowledge Mr. Bailes...

By: bruce chyka

bruce chyka — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:06:17 +0000

In the KC area there are only
In the KC area there are only two HVAC contractors "credentialed" to do E* V3. Most of the builders (including one habitat group)are leaving the program. As other bloggers have indicated there is more than one way to meet ventilation requirements. However, the additional air requires conditioning and it does impact the heating and cooling loads of the home and must be considered in the sizing of equipment. Inexpensive attempts at ventilation are just that. The ventilation strategy must provide for controlled and conditioned air.