Open Forum Meeting CalCERTS Nov 21. 2011 Rancho Cordova (East Sacramento)
Mindy Craig of Blue Point Planning & MIG, chaired a discussion with 27 HERS Raters, as well as CalCERTS employees Michael Bachand, President; Russ King, PE, VP Technical Services; Mark Weiss, Trainer & QA Inspector; Kevin Beck, Buidling Performance Contractor Trainer. The discussion was filmed and Mindy will provide a link to the topics and details discussed.
1) ENFORCEMENT! The #1 issue was the need for town/city builidng officials as well as the CEC to ENFORCE their own energy code. CalCERTS is relying on HERS raters to educate the building officials on an informal basis. Officials will not go to a free seminar unless they are paid to. CalCERTS is going to a training meeting with Oakland building officials early next year because the inspectors agreed to. An idea was floated for the CEC to track serial numbers of HVAC units and impose heavy fines on distributors if units are sold to unlicenced mechanical contractors or if those contractors do not pull a permit or HERS rating.
2) CHANGES Russ King stated that there will be 20 hours of continuiing education requirement in 2012 to maintain your certification. This must be completed by Dec 31, 2012. The CEC is currently seeking public comment on the 2013 Title 24 Energy Code. There have only been 2 HERS raters that have gone to these meetings. They NEED TO HEAR FROM HERS RATERS! The HVAC Contractors and manufacturers certainly have been attending. The CEC needs your voice! Major changes can be made now if you speak up. As time goes on in the process, only smaller and smaller details can be made. Here are some already on the table: i) Duct testing required for all climate zones. ii) An electronic device "plug" being attached by manufacturer to AC condensors sold in CA, so that HERS testing of refrigerant charge does not require opening up condensor, put attaching gages to this electronic "plug" This will reduce the need for the EPA training requirement iii) Whole house HERSII raters MUST have solar training to be certified iv) CEC may strike down Flow Hood testing and require flow grid or pressure plenum matching.. HERS RATERS NEED TO SPEAK UP ON THIS!
3) OTHER ISSUES Raters need feedback, both good and bad, when they undergo QA inspection regardless of whether or not they pass or fail. Raters can learn from their weekness even if they pass! A instantaneous technical help line for Raters in the field when they need answers NOW! A technical blog, so that raters can flip through tough technical issues to find answers, when they can get no one on the phone to help them. Reduce the need to type twice the information onf the 6R and 4R -- maybe a transfer data button? The need for training and feedback for how to use the CalCERTS registry. The issue needs to be solved in cold weather, when escrow is tied to the occupancy permit, which will not be issued until a MECH 24 is obtained and not a MECH 26. Building officials need to be educated by CEC and CalCERTS about releasing the permit on a MECH 26!
4) QUALITY ASSURANCE New contract language is being developed to hold the employer of the rater (partially/fully?) liable for mistakes made by the rater. Those agreements will have to be signed to hold rater certification.
5) GOING FORWARD New State law being dabated to require whole house HERS ratings of residences going through a real estate transfer (? AB788 ?)
That is about it! Thanks for reading and remember to input your voice into the new 2013 Title 24 code changes throught the CEC!
Brian Treece
Open Forum Meeting CalCERTS Nov 21. 2011 Rancho Cordova (East Sacramento)
