Duct & Envelope Tightness (DET) Verification
Green Verification Inspections
Energy Audits and HERS Ratings
Builders
Hargrove Inspection Services can provide consulting and green verification services for the NGBS. We are also an ENERGYSTAR partner and have a HERS rater on staff. Read on to learn about our services for builders!
Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verification
In January 2011, Georgia officially adopted the 2009 Energy code (IECC). While the prescriptive requirements of the new code have been in effect since day one, Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) testing was given a waiver, but is now required for all homes permitted after July 1, 2011.
The tightness of the building’s envelope is tested by using a blower door. The apparatus is set up in an exterior doorway, with all exterior doors and windows closed, and all interior doors opened. The home is then depressurized to -50 Paschals, and the amount of leakage is recorded (CFM@50). By using the volume of the home, the ACH@50 is then calculated, and the home passes the code requirement if the ACH@50 is less than 7.
Additionally, the HVAC ducts are tested at the rough-in stage for total leakage (must be less than 6 CFM leakage per 100 sq. ft. for the system to pass), or the duct leakage outside of the building’s conditioned area is tested at the completion of construction (must be less than 8 CFM per 100 sq. ft. for the system to pass). There are several testing methods; the test method performed by GHIS is by using a Duct Blaster along with the blower door post-construction, testing the duct leakage to the outdoors.
Green Verification 
Inspections
It is estimated that the Green Building Marketplace will grow to between $40-$70 billion annually by the year 2012. Also, an NAHB study found that 64 percent of consumers will consider buying a Green home. As accredited verifiers, Hargrove Inspection Services is already helping local builders achieve Green certification for their homes currently under construction.
What is "Green Certification"?
The National Assocation of Home Builders has partnered with the ICC (International Code Council) and ANSI to develop the first national "Green" certification program - the NAHB National Green Building Program. This process utilizes independent, 3rd party Verifiers to confirm that a home is "Green." The program focuses on Green building principles in the following areas:
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Resource Efficiency
- Lot and Site Development
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Are knowledgeable in building science and green building principles
- Must complete the Research Center's required training and pass the required exams
- Can verify homes to either the Guidelines or the ANSI National Green Building Standard
- Conduct and document pre-drywall site inspections and final inspections
- Review documentation justifying points claimed by the builder
- Suggest opportunities for the builder to earn points not originally claimed
- Submit all verification reports in support of certification to the NAHB Research Center
Energy Audits and HERS Ratings
We are proud to provide rating services to qualify new homes for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Even in states with more rigorous energy codes, the U.S. EPA ensures the ENERGY STAR remains the symbol for truly energy-efficient performance. These homes are good for businesses, consumers, and the environment. Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at http://www.energystar.gov.
An Energy Audit is the first step in assessing how much energy a home consumes and in evaluating what measures can be taken to make a home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, we can pinpoint where the house is losing energy. A variety of techniques and equipment are used to determine the energy efficiency of the structure, including blower door testing (pictured above), which measures the extent of leaks in the building envelope, a duct blast test, which measures the extent of leaks in the duct system outside of the building envelope, and an infrared camera, which can reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) ratings performed by RESNET-certified Home Energy Raters provide a standardized evaluation of a home's energy efficiency by calculating the relative energy use index, called the HERS® index. A HERS index of 100 represents the energy use of the "American Standard Building" and an index of 0 (zero) indicates that the Proposed Building uses no net purcahsed energy (a Zero Energy Building). Blower door and duct blast test results, along with other measurements and software inputs gathered from the home at the time of the rating (or from the plans for the home) are placed into the software program to generate the HERS index. In short, a HERS rating is a more complex evaluation of the home compared to a simple energy audit.
A HERS rating is used to certify a newly constructed home under several "Green" building programs, including the ENERGY STAR program, LEED-Homes or the Department of Energy's Builder's Challenge program. A HERS rating can also qualify a home owner or home buyer for an energy efficient mortgage (EEM) or an energy improvement mortgage (EIM). Finally, a HERS rating can give a homeowner invaluable information regarding a home's energy performance (or lack thereof), and can not only provide guidance in making decisions regarding energy efficiency upgrades but can model the projected energy savings and aid in equipment selection.
Hargrove Inspection Services is now offering the latest in home inspection technology!
With the use of an Infrared Camera, we can now:
- Locate damaged or missing insulation.
- Detect moisture in the building's envelope.
- Locate air leaks in walls, floors, ceilings, and around doors and windows.
- Perform an energy audit locating heat loss causing high utility bills.
Here's how it works: An Infrared Camera produces thermal images. All objects emit infrared radiation as a result of their temperature. The higher the temperature of an object the greater the motion of the molecules and atoms will be; therefore, the more infrared energy emitted by the object. An Infrared Camera has the ability to produce an image of invisible infrared light emitted by objects due to heat or lack of heat, otherwise known as an object's Thermal Condition. The camera produces a picture similar to a television picture of heat radiation. In layman's terms, an IR Camera can "see" where the naked eye cannot!
There are countless other uses of Thermography. Our Military uses it for surveillance. Firefighters use the camera to locate people in burning buildings and it has security applications as well.
Call TODAY for more information about Thermography and the Home Inspection performed by our Level 1 Thermographer!
See our Energy Provider's Website: www.energyvanguard.com
706.860.0797 706.860.2155