The Seven Steps of a Super Rating

1. Getting to Know the Builder

E-Star will meet with the builder’s key personnel in the builder’s office prior to the testing phase in order to obtain as many insights as possible into the builder’s perspective. Key personnel include, but are not limited to, VP of Operations, Construction Superintendent(s), Purchasing Manager, and VP of Sales & Marketing. E-Star will ask a series of core questions, including:

1. What are your goals? Why are you interested in the E-Star Super Rating?
   • Are there any particular branding programs, such as ENERGY STAR ®, in which you are interested in participating?
   • Are you interested in reducing any specific recurring callback problems?
   • Are you interested in marketing improved comfort or indoor air quality or lower energy bills to your prospective buyers?
2. Describe your current product, including the energy and performance package.
3. What changes have you thought about making?

E-Star will provide the builder with a copy of EEBA’s Builder Guide: Cold Climates. In addition, E-Star will provide the builder with two articles: (1) one article on “house-as-a-system” thinking, and (2) a second article that explains how key internal organizational structures and processes can help facilitate high-performance homebuilding practices. Lastly, E-Star will share some initial recommendations based on what has been learned from working with other builders based on the above resources.

E-Star will explain the testing and design assistance process in more detail and reiterate expectations for the rest of the process. E-Star and the builder will discuss the logistical details for the next three steps in the E-Star Super Rating process. Finally, the builder will provide E-Star with copies of current plans and building specifications for the homes to be rated in the next phase.

2. From-Plans Rating

E-Star will conduct an analysis on two plans used by the builder for their current product line(s).

3. Testing

Beginning early in the morning, E-Star personnel will do walk-through inspections on three houses at three different stages of construction (see below). In addition, E-Star personnel will conduct performance testing on one of the houses inspected (the completed house). These houses must represent the builder’s typical construction practices, with no special treatments or deviation from original plan. Inspections and testing shall consist of the following:

1. House that has been framed, sheathed (but no insulation or siding)
   • Staff will assess foundation, framing and drainage plan
2. House that has been insulated (but no wallboard)
   • Staff will assess air sealing, insulation, windows, heating/cooling distribution systems, ventilation ducting
3. Completed house
   • Staff will conduct performance testing as follows:
     1. Blower door test to measure air leakage and identify key air leakage sites;
     2. Zonal pressure measurements to assess pressure imbalances and connections between the house and attached buffer spaces;
     3. Infrared scan to check integrity of thermal shell (depending on the season and equipment availability);
     4. Temperature measurements with infrared radiometer;
     5. Duct leakage tests;
     6. Duct flow measurements at the air handler and at all registers;
     7. HVAC equipment tests including external static pressure, furnace heat rise, air conditioning refrigerant charge;
     8. Combustion safety for all combustion appliances;
     9. Temperature and humidity measurements in several zones (including beneath basement wood subfloor, if applicable);

Photos will be taken to illustrate important points.

4. Presentation of Results

Beginning at 2 pm the day of the testing, E-Star personnel will present the testing and analysis findings to the builder’s team on site. Key builder personnel, as described upon in Step 1 outlined above, mustattend the presentation of results. The builder’s trade contractors are also strongly encouraged to attend, including framing, insulation, air-sealing, HVAC trades. Questions and discussion will be strongly encouraged. The presentation includes the following:

1. Executive summary . Provide a 5- to 10-minute overview on the key findings of the testing work, including “house-as-a-system” interactions. Compare testing results from this project with results from other recently built Colorado homes and high-performance home standards.
2. Review of from-plans rating. Hand out and review copies of E-Star from-plans rating.
3. Demonstration of testing procedures . This will include:
   • Blower-door testing for air leakage
   • Infrared scan
   • Duct leakage
4. Behind-the-wallboard tour. Team will visit the two homes under construction and point out items that help explain the performance results.
5. Discussion. Team will discuss problems, potential solutions and potential for moving to higher levels of performance.
6. Code compliance review. Share a handout on codes, pointing out the potentially applicable code standards (IECC) and how close the builder is to meeting them. Review the three compliance paths and the benefits of the systems path to compliance.
7. Certification program review. Explore the builder’s interest in branding/labeling programs and available marketing and sales support.

5. Written Report

Within 2 weeks, E-Star staff will provide the builder with a detailed report. This report will include the following:

1. Written report (4-7 pages) summarizing major points discussed and demonstrated at the site;
2. Full final rating packet for the tested home; and
3. A “what-if” rating with recommended upgrades and rating scenarios.

In addition, E-Star staff will follow-up with a phone call to the builder to briefly discuss the packet and schedule a follow-up meeting.

6. Follow-up Meeting

This meeting is an opportunity for more discussion about issues and opportunities identified in earlier steps, and next steps to follow. E-Star staff anticipates securing a decision from the builder on the level of improvement the builder is committed to achieving.

7. Ongoing Design Assistance and Analysis Phase

E-Star staff will provide at least 20 hours of follow-up services to the builder. Based on the agreed-upon level of improvement that results from Step 6 above, E-Star will assist the builder in developing a set of performance standards and building specifications that define performance target expectations. These can then be distributed to all internal and external team members so that all parties can play their role effectively in order to achieve the overall objective of higher-performance homebuilding. E-Star will also assist with performance testing as the builder transitions to the new performance level.

Follow-up may also include E-Star staff attendance at builder/contractor meetings, conducting product and/or cost-benefit research, seeking Building America Team input on design recommendations, reviewing design changes on plans, performing heating and cooling load calculations, or any assistance which the builder needs to help them make a systematic shift in building practices. A key objective is to bring systems thinking to the table such that if a builder decides to make changes, costs for those improvements are, to the degree possible, offset by systems savings elsewhere.