| BPI Encourages Stakeholder Input on Proposed National Home Energy Rating for Homes Program from U.S. DOE |
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| Written by John Richau |
| Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:41 |
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Rating program intended to offer consumers easy-to-understand, reliable information about the energy performance of existing homes
Malta, NY, June 16, 2010 - The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), is encouraging stakeholders in the home performance industry to review and provide input on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) proposal to create a National Energy Rating Program for Homes. DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 inviting interested parties to submit comments.
This rating program is intended to offer consumers easy-to-understand, reliable information about the energy performance of existing homes, and help them identify cost-effective energy efficiency investments. DOE expects an initial program design available by early fall 2010, with implementation collaboration with interested parties and ongoing residential energy efficiency retrofit programs.
In its RFI, DOE states, "Even though home energy retrofits are good investments that save families money, consumers often do not have the straightforward information on a home's energy use that they need to decide whether to retrofit their homes and what investments make the most sense. This national program will enable consumers to access additional information about their home's energy use. It will facilitate a new level of investment in home energy efficiency by developing a consistent way of measuring a home's energy performance and a clear method for conveying information to consumers."
The stated goal of the National Energy Rating Program for Homes is to create standardized approaches for evaluating home energy performance and options for conveying this information to consumers. Issues under consideration include: how to measure energy performance, what performance metrics to use, and how to best present information to consumers.
"We encourage the home energy retrofit contracting industry to review DOE's program plans and provide input based on experience in the field," said Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI. "We want to ensure that any label that is created provides value to both the contractor and their customers without adding appreciably to the cost of delivering the energy efficiency upgrades," he added.
The DOE RFI seeks public input on the following aspects of the program:
The deadline for submission of comments to DOE is July 10, 2010. Interested parties may review and download the proposed rating program at National Energy Rating Program for Homes and submit comments through the Request for Information page or via email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
with "RFI: National Energy Rating Program for Homes" in the subject line of the message.
About the Building Performance Institute
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) is the nation's premier building performance credentialing, quality assurance, and national standards setting organization. BPI supports the development of a highly professional building performance industry through individual and organizational credentialing and a rigorous quality assurance program. BPI offers the following:
BPI, in cooperation with the building performance industry stakeholders, establishes a professional performance bar at a level appropriate to ensuring the consistent delivery of exceptional building performance services for those entrusting the BPI brand.
For more information about Home Star and BPI, visit: www.bpi.org.
Building Performance Institute, Inc.
107 Hermes Road, Suite 110 Malta, NY 12020 Phone: (877) 274-1274 Fax: (866) 777-1274 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.bpi.org |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 June 2010 12:43 |