Session Descriptions
Below are session descriptions. Click on Presenter Name
for bio.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Track 1: Joe Uncensored about
Building Science
Time: 9:00-10:15
The Evolution of Building
Systems: Building Science Approach
Dr. Joe Lstiburek
Where did it all begin? You
won't want to miss this opportunity to hear Joe Lstiburek's
take on "the Next Generation House". What is it? What does
it look like? Why should we build it? How to can you make
money building it? And how can you build a million of them?
Oh, yeah, you can call it the zero carbon footprint houses,
or the zero energy houses or just a real good house with
real good stuff.
Time: 10:35-12 noon
The Role of Disaster and
Failure in Building Design: Litigation
Dr. Joe Lstiburek
The appropriate degree of
safety in structural design will be discussed based on a
simple formula for optimum reliability including parameters
such as the variation of lifetime maximum load, cost-up
constant and normalized failure cost. Joe will argue that in
discovering the causes of failure that progress may be made
in reducing or controlling the incidence of building
failures in the future.
Time: 1:45-3:00
Understanding the Primary
Function of HVAC and the Conflict between Green
Architecture, IAQ and Energy Efficiency
Dr. Joe Lstiburek
A flurry of "green" and
"sustainable" technologies and jargon is tossed about these
days blurring the lines of definition. This session will cut
to the core of what is useful, what is fluff, and what is
downright deceitful. It will explore how building, new and
retrofit, connects to the climate change, energy security,
peak oil, and disaster resistance issues. Learn about
current trends that will project what the future might look
like and the benefits of healthy, durable, energy efficient
homes as part of that future.
Time: 3:20-4:30
Ask the Expert Forum: No
Question Too Outlandish for the Two Doctors
Dr. Joe Lstiburek &
Dr. John Straube
Most people in the industry
would say Joe and John know a little about construction and
what works and what does not. But you have no idea of all
the stupid things they have seen over the years that has
provided them with a knowledge base like no other. Here is a
one-time opportunity to hear straight from the experts. This
will not be a session for the faint of heart. If you are
offended by tough language you may want to pass on this
session. This pair will lay it on the line!
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Track 2: Advanced Building Science
Time: 9:00-10:15
Intro to Advance Building
Science: Enclosure Design Principals of Energy Efficient
Buildings
Dr.
John Straube
Designing buildings to
operate at a maximum level of efficiency requires attention
to special features that can result in substantial savings
in energy costs. The amount of energy needed to operate a
building may be five to ten times higher than the usage
required. By including specific design principles in the
planning stages and using existing technology, new science
building science technologies can result in a reduction of
between 30 and 50 percent in energy costs.
Time: 10:35-12 noon
Understanding the Green
Architect as Master Builder: How Green Building can Destroy
or Save Architects
Dr.
John Straube
John will focus on the fact
that green architecture is for the project to work in
harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding
the site, to use materials that are recycled or easily
grown, and to maximize the efficiency of the building. Good
green architecture reduces waste, of both energy and
material. During construction phase, the goal is to reduce
the amount of material going to landfills. Well designed
buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by
the occupants as well, by providing onsite solutions such as
compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills. How can
you as a designer make these practices work for you?
Time: 1:45-3:00
Integrated Design for the
Control of Heat, Air and Moisture to Prevent Building
Failure
Dr.
John Straube
The basic function of the
envelope or enclosure of a building or structure is to
protect the covered or otherwise conditioned interior spaces
from the surrounding environment. This fundamental need for
shelter is a concept that is as old as the recorded history
of mankind. However, as our needs have evolved and
technologies have advanced, the demand placed on designers
to both understand, and integrate, a wide range of
increasingly complex materials, components, and systems into
the building enclosure has grown in equal proportion. John
will tell you that this is particularly true when one
considers the emerging problems with buildings and the
environment.
Time: 3:20-4:30
Zero Carbon Homes
Ren Anderson
The Supreme Court recently
ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate carbon
dioxide emissions. Buildings currently account for about 40%
of US annual carbon emissions. This session will provide an
update on DOE and NREL research aimed at reducing net annual
residential carbon emissions to zero, while also improving
home comfort and durability.
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Keynote Lunch
Sponsor:
Panasonic
12:20pm - 1:30pm
Lean is Green! – Building
Lean Means Green, For The Environment and Your Bottom-line
Scott Sedam
Practitioners of Green Building have understandably
focused 90% of their efforts on product improvement – using
products that are characteristically more “green” such as
high efficiency HVAC, tighter windows and better insulation.
Comparatively little effort, however, is spent examining the
building process itself, including manufacturing,
distributing, transportation as well as the generation of
and removal of scrap – all tremendous sources of waste with
a detrimental impact on both the environment and profits.
The advent of Lean Process is changing this, revealing new
opportunities. “Lean” is a set of operating practices that
have revolutionized nearly every industry on the planet –
except homebuilding. From the late 80’s until just recently,
we were simply making too much money to notice and we had no
foreign competition to challenge us. The recent housing
economy collapse has changed all of that, and now builders,
suppliers, manufacturers and trades are beginning to adopt
Lean Methods. Lean is all about the relentless pursuit,
identification and removal of waste in both product and
process. After this presentation, there will be no question
that building lean means building green – for the
environment and your wallet.
Key Leaning Points:
- Wasteful processes in the entire homebuilding supply
chain and construction practices result in higher costs
and negative environmental impact.
- The basic tools and techniques of Lean Operations
will enable you to you identify and remove waste in both
product and process at much higher levels.
- Builder case examples of how removing waste in
process resulted in 6 and 7 figure positive impact while
reducing pollutants.
- Case examples of builders, suppliers & trades
working together to eliminate waste in both product and
process, using Lean Methods.
Track 3: Sales and Marketing
Strategies
Time: 9:00 – 10:15
Selling High-Performance
Homes -- Changing the Way We Build and Sell
Gord
Cooke
Current market conditions mean homebuyers have higher
expectations than ever before. At the same time builders are
building homes that are more durable, more efficient,
healthier and safer at yet more affordable than ever. Learn
how to meet the ever increasing expectations of today's
discriminating homebuyers using the important elements of
high performance homes.
Time: 10:35 – 12:00
Selling
High-Performance Homes -- 12 Benefits of High Performance
Homes Other than Energy Savings
Gord Cooke
Builders have added dozens of new technical features to
high performance homes and this means there are at least 12
new valuable benefits that your high performance homes offer
to ever more demanding home buyers. Learn how to turn
technical features into benefits your homebuyers will be
expecting from you and your competition.
Time: 1:45 – 3:00
Selling
High-Performance Homes -- Finding out the "Must Haves" of
Your Clients and Demonstrating Your Difference
Gord Cooke
What are the top 5 questions your homebuyers want you to
ask so that you can help them find the house of their
dreams? Meet those dreams by demonstrating the benefits of
the leading high performance products offered by your
builder. Practice techniques for identifying buyer needs and
create dynamic presentations of technical features that will
be remembered and desired by more buyers.
Time: 3:20 – 4:30
Selling
High-Performance Homes -- Creating Urgency and Showing
Compelling Reasons Why Clients Should Buy Now
Gord Cooke
Use you technical knowledge and professional sales skills
to help show clients why there has never been a better time
to buy. Show why high performance homes offer the best
return on investment than any other currently available
investment strategy.
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Track 4: Where are the National
Programs Headed
Time 9:00-10:15
Five
Strategies for Surviving a Soft Real Estate Market
Sam Rashkin
”Build it and they will come” is officially over. The
housing market across the country is reeling from
unprecedented foreclosure rates, extremely tight credit,
loss of consumer confidence in the search for bottom,
rapidly escalating energy costs, and ripple effects through
the entire economy. Builders need a compelling value
proposition to avoid merely competing on price and making
endless buyer concessions. More than ever, ENERGY STAR
Qualified Homes addresses builders’ business objectives with
unique opportunities to help them survive this soft market.
As evidence, the number of ENERGY STAR Builder Partners has
increased from approximately 35 per month to more than 300
per month over the last 18 months since the market began to
weaken; almost a ten-fold increase. This presentation will
address five business strategies builders can employ with
ENERGY STAR to help them weather this storm.
10:35- 12 noon
EPA Indoor
Air Plus - More than a Package!
Eric Werling
In late 2005, EPA piloted it's ENERGY STAR Indoor Air
Package (IAP) in Denver, a new home label that recognized
ENERGY STAR qualified homes that are also designed to
improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) from the ground up. Based
on Denver participant feedback, IAP program requirements
were streamlined and marketing concepts were developed. The
pilot was expanded in 2007 to ENERGY STAR partners around
the country. In 2008, EPA set out to develop a more
noticeable IAP brand and continued to improve the IAP
program requirements in response to builder needs across the
U.S. Now, the program is ready for prime time. In this
session, you'll learn about the new EPA Indoor Air Plus, see
the exciting new logo and marketing materials, along with
highlights of the streamlined 1-page verification checklist.
1:45-3:00
Using ENERGY
STAR Qualified Lighting to Add Value to New Homes
Chris Primous
This presentation will highlight the latest information
in ENERGY STAR qualified residential lighting and outline
details about the Advanced Lighting Package(ALP) including
how to put together an ALP, costs and benefits, and using
ALP marketing tools for promotions. Additionally, nationwide
incentives for qualified fixtures will be discussed.
Energy Star Designed to Earn
Zak Shadid
Homebuyers today increasingly identify energy efficiency as
an important consideration when they select their new home.
In fact, a recent survey Energy Pulse 2006: Where America
Stands on Electric Utilities, Renewable Energy, Energy
Efficiency and Conservation. The Shelton Group, 2007. found
that most Americans (86 percent) planning to build or buy a
home within the next two years said they would choose one
home over another based on energy efficiency.
Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR’ is a new partnership
opportunity for architects and plan designers whose Home
Plans incorporate energy-efficient specifications and
details meeting rigorous guidelines set by U.S. EPA’s ENERGY
STAR program. Home Plans that are ‘Designed to Earn the
ENERGY STAR’ will typically include energy-efficient details
and specifications for features such as tight construction
and duct systems, properly-installed insulation, high
performance windows, efficient heating and cooling
equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and
appliances.
3:20-4:30
LEED for
Homes Technical Update
Brendan Owens
LEED is rapidly becoming one of the most recognizable
brands in the buildings industry. With the launch of LEED
for Homes in 2006 USGBC is working to achieve residential
market transformation similar to what the LEED brand has
catalyzed on the commercial side of the industry. This
session deals with the LEED for Homes rating system’s future
from a technical perspective.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Track 1: Home Performance with Energy
Star
9:00-10:15
Growing Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR Nationally and in Colorado
Matt Thornberry & Chandler Von Schrader
Come learn the rigors, requirements and rewards of
putting together a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES)
program. Emphasis will be twofold - both starting up a
program and how to manage one successfully. Chandler will
focus on the national growth of HPwES, and what we have
learned after 6 years and 50,000 installations that will
either jump start your emerging program or give you guidance
on managing your current program. Matt will discuss the
evolving Colorado HPwES program and the importance of
regional stakeholder involvement from the state, utilities,
manufactures and the contractors.
10:35-12 noon
Mechanical Ventilation Problems: How to Avoid and Fix
(Existing Home Focus)
Joe Nagan
This session will review some of the newest, most
effective ventilation systems now being used to satisfy even
the most stringent of ventilation requirements for new homes
. Find out how to get better 'tested' performance out of
smaller units while improving customer satisfaction and
staying within budget.
1:45-3:00
From Audits
to Jobs – Part 1 (Getting the Phone to Ring)
Joe Kuonen & Chandler Von Schrader
Now that you understand all this
residential BS (Building Science) - you now must get
yourself in front of customers if you intend to stay in
business. Come learn some effective "boots instead of your
wallet" marketing strategies that are making the phone ring
in other parts of the country. Marketing is everything
that happens before you ring the doorbell; selling is what
happens next. This is the first of a two part session that
emphasizes the importance of becoming the local efficiency
expert with smart marketing and effective sales
presentation.
3:20-4:30
From Audits
to Jobs – Part 2 (Closing the Deal)
Joe Kuonen
Now that you are in the door, have all the diagnostic
tools to perform a top notch assessment - you better know
how to move through the house slowing building repertoire
and enthusiasm that closes the deal. Home Performance is not
about doing energy audits - it's about getting efficiency
work installed... and that means SELLING! Come learn from
one of the industry's best on how to move a job from
introduction to accepting a deposit check. Joe will offer
contractor insights that will best position you and your
company to close more HP deals!
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Track 2: What is Front Page News in
Colorado?
9:00-10:15
The Energy
and Carbon Connection: Making Sense of Carbon Offsets
Susan Innis
This session will provide an overview of Colorado's
Climate Action Plan, and provide information about
efficiency's role in carbon trading.
10:35-12 noon
Better Wall
Assemblies- Thermal Bypass Checklist versus IECC 2008: and
the winner is…
Robby Schwarz and
Steve Byers
The Thermal Bypass Checklist a case study why it works
and why the 2006 IECC does not. The 2006 IECC is an energy
code that purports to be concerned about energy use in a
home. Yet it promotes assemblies that field research shows
do not work. Come learn how each are structured and how they
ultimately play out in the field.
1:45- 3:00 pm
Beyond Basic
Enforcement: The Progression of the Energy Code, and What
Really is Code?
Jim Meyers and
Gil Rossmiller
Examine the progress from the 2003 IRC/IECC to the 2006
IRC/IECC. This presentation includes where and how the code
requires sound construction practices and what the role of
building departments, enforcement, contractors and
performance is in relation to code. This will be an open
discussion on how following 'code requirements' can produce
houses that perform 'above code'. And of course the
question, 'What is a code house?'
3:20-4:30
Changes for
2009 IECC Code and Energy Star- Are We Closer?
Jim Meyers and
Gil Rossmiller
With final action hearings over, Gil and Jim will give an
update on the 2009 code and answer the question, are we
closer to an Energy Star level of performance? We will
review the major changes in the 2009 IECC and if the new
code changes meet Energy Star requirements.
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Track 3: Energy Star for New Homes in
Colorado
9:00-10:15
Energy Star
for New Homes: Government Support Panel
TBD
The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) is working with more
than 50 local governments, community organizations,
utilities, home builder associations, homebuilders and Home
Energy Raters to support the statewide construction and
testing of new energy-efficient single family homes built to
ENERGY STAR® standards. The program provides resources to
local communities while empowering them to be champions for
ENERGY STAR® in residential new construction.
10:35- 12 noon
ENERGY STAR
Builder Panel: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Melissa Knott, Aaron Everitt,
Jim Guida
A distinguished group of senior executives/owners
representing Colorado builders have been collected for a
frank discussion about the challenges, benefits, and
lessons-learned building and selling ENERGY STAR Qualified
Homes. Rather than structured presentations, this session
will be moderated with hard questions about real costs of
energy efficiency improvements; value provided by the
verification process; marketing messages that work; what it
takes to get sales agents to effectively sell energy
efficiency; impacts on customer service center expenses;
technologies that have crashed-and-burned vs. exceeded
expectations; changes in consumer interest in energy
efficiency and green; and trends in consumer preferences.
This is a must-attend session for builders, raters, and
other housing industry professionals seeking insights to the
business challenges and opportunities constructing ENERGY
STAR Qualified Homes.
1:45-3:00
Raters
Panel: Business Models & Opportunities- What Works? What is
Missing?
Robby Schwarz,
Paul Kriescher,
Matt Thornberry
Energy Rating has continued to be one of the hottest
growth industries in the State of Colorado. Come find out
what the industry is all about. Structure of the industry.
The hurdles to entry. Our panel will be available to answer
all your questions so come ready to ask.
3:20-4:30
The
Energy-Efficient Business Coalition: A Public Policy Voice
for the Energy-Efficient Business Community
Paul Kriescher
This panel presentation will include Paul Kriescher,
Principal of Lightly Treading, Inc. and President of the
EEBC along with members of the Coalition representing the
HVAC, Insulation and Window industries to talk about their
efforts in representing residential and small commercial
industries as an intervener before the Colorado Public
Utility Commission (PUC) on the recent dockets to initiate a
minimum of $700 million spent between now and 2020 on
energy-efficiency incentives across Colorado.
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Track 4: Built Green with Energy Star
9:00- 10:15
Building home efficiency
through Built Green® and ENERGY STAR® (Part I, Classroom
Session)
Justin Wilson
There’s a lot of talk out there about ENERGY STAR for New
Homes, and Built Green Colorado has recently made it their
minimum energy threshold, but how do you actually comply and
build to the program specifications? This session will help
the builder understand building science fundamentals and how
they relate to ENERGY STAR compliance, and hence Built
Green’s new energy efficiency requirement. The training will
cover the essential elements of ENERGY STAR, giving
participants an understanding of the technical requirements
of the program, including: understanding energy, heat, air,
and moisture flows; insulation installation and RESNET
inspection requirements; compliance with ENERGY STAR Thermal
By-Pass Checklist; mechanical systems, load calculation and
lighting appliance requirements.
10:35- 12 noon
Building
home efficiency through Built Green® and ENERGY STAR® (Part
II, Classroom Session)
Justin Wilson
Continuation of Part I
1:45- 4:30
Building
Home Efficiency through Built Green and ENERGY STAR® (Part
III & IV, On-site Field Demonstration will continue through
4:30 pm)
Justin Wilson
This field training takes the ENERGY STAR classroom
instruction covered in Part I and II, and applies it to a
real-life setting, giving the participants hands-on
experience. The on-site demonstration will include: a
pre-drywall rough stage mechanical, insulation, and thermal
by-pass inspection, infiltration blower door, duct leakage
test, and air sealing and framing techniques with infrared
camera diagnostic demonstration. Directions to the
demonstration home will be available during the classroom
session conducted in the morning.
3:20-4:30
High Value
Energy Efficiency and Photovoltaic Strategies in New Homes
Joseph McCabe
This presentation will capture Energy Star opportunities
including work from the California Energy Commission (CEC)
on Zero Energy New Homes (ZENH); ZENH and Zero Energy Homes
(ZEH) which include photovoltaic (PV) systems. Utilities in
California, like Pacific Gas and Electric and the Sacramento
Municipal Utility District, are excited about the
opportunities to utilize ZEH strategies, shift peak demand
to later in the day hours, and possibly charge
plug-in-hybrid cars, thus reducing electric rates for all
customers of the utility. Software tools from NREL like
BEopt and PVWatts will be discussed.
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