Second quarter status - BEACon

This year's energy impact report is progressing along.  Several successful test runs have taken place using BEACon with consumption data from Vectren.  Preliminary results have been sent to Weatherization providers based on those test runs with the Vectren data.  So some programs already have feedback on homes that were weatherized, shortening the time between completion and savings results.

There is still progress to be made on how to best incorporate the pre-weatherization consumption data back into the IWAP database.  Conversations are on going between IHCDA, Roeing, and INCAA to determine the best way to proceed.

So far requests for data have been made to nearly half of the state's metered fuel providers (54 providers, 45 percent).  Of those 54 providers, 40 have returned consumption data (34 percent).  And of those that have returned consumption data, 25 have had the data converted into a format usable by BEACon.  Both Vectren and Citizens Energy Group have returned consumption data.

The next major tasks are re-establishing data request procedures with NIPSCO, IPL, I&M, and Duke.  Data requests to the remaining electric and natural gas fuel providers will continue, as will converting the returned consumption data into a BEACon friendly format.

Update: consumption data has been entered for 170 non-investor owned utility customers consisting of over 6,000 meter readings at this time.

Preliminary BEACon results - Vectren

While little bits of missing data are being collected and sent back, BEACon has been put through a couple test runs with limited datasets.  Due to Vectren's fantastic cooperation by providing a speedy and secure turn-around for data, the early test runs are all based on Vectren customers.  That said, here are some preliminary rankings of top savers:
 

 

 



Please bear in mind that these savings results are gross results.  The provider savings results will almost definitely be lower after factoring in the comparison groups for each provider when the final provider reports are completed. 

 

 

 

Again, these percent savings results are gross, without any comparison group factored in.  So the savings results will be a bit lower (or could be totally different if your provider has other natural gas companies that have not been analyzed - NIPSCO, Ohio Valley Gas, Citizens Gas, etc.).

 

Preliminary provider reports will be coming out and sent to the providers very soon based on these initial runs.  Hopefully the feedback they provide will be more relevant being distributed before March!

 



Patents in the residential energy business

Please take a moment to read this article, touching on 'business method' patents. 

So what does that have to do with energy conservation?

This

The good news is that home inspectors (ASHI) are now looking into the issue since a suit has been filed (and ruled on).  The comments section of the GBA article are rather educational as well and worth a read.  I wonder if the folks in Mississippi realize those methods have been used in some way or another for at least two decades prior to their patent in thousands of homes?

BEACon is out of beta!

The first test run of consumption data from the 2011 - 2012 evaluation period was run on a small section of data from Vectren this morning.  Another larger run should be completed next week.  The quicker the additional information comes back in from all the CAPs, the quicker the formal requests for data can be made to all the utility vendors. 

I will do my best to share the weather normalized consumption data with Roeing so it can be fed back into the Weatherization database's waiting list in a timely manner!

Beginnings of the 2011-2012 Billing Analysis report

The 2011-2012 billing analysis report is slowing inching forward.  Requests for missing information have been sent out to program managers.  Once those have all been returned, the utility data requests can begin.  In the mean time, here is a breakdown of provider production during the reporting period.

Fifty seven percent of the homes weatherized were done by the legacy providers and 43% were weatherized by the new providers.  The six most productive providers weatherized about half (50.5%) of all the homes in Indiana:

• Indiana Builders Association - 1,852
• Northwest Indiana Community Action - 481
• Hoosier Energy REC - 412
• Real Services - 375
• Community Action of Northeast Indiana - 287
• South Central Community Action Program - 280 

But can you dense pack with it?

Two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grads are trying to turn a part of mushrooms into an insulation material.  Not the whole mushroom, just the mycelium. 

I don't know, just something about mold in a house seems funny to me.  I know it isn't really mold, but a part of the mold. 

The new start up, Ecovative Design is working on a SIPs-like product that has some filler material between the structural panels.  The mycelium feeds on that filler, growing in to fill the space while leaving behind a stronger, somewhat foam-like insulation behind.  Only there are no blowing agents involved, which is rather un-foam-like.  No harmful VOCs to off-gas! 

An interesting insight into the sausage making of mechancial ventilation standards...

Indiana's Weatherization program has been incorporating ASHRAE 62.2-2010 for just over a year and a half now with some pushing from DOE.  As can be expected of any change, there were some CAPs that wanted to learn how to do it, and do it well.  Others were skeptical and a little resistant to change. 

Nothing new or outrageous about any of that. 

This article at Green Building Advisor gives some insight between the difference of lowly anti-poverty energy conservation program's abilities compared to those of the New Home Construction industry. 

I'm not surprised if anyone is a little confused reading the article.  I was the first time I read it as well.  "Oh great, now we've got to put in even bigger fans!" ran through my head.  "After all, Lstiburek wouldn't throw a fit unless it is a fit worth throwing..."

But the clarification comes a little further down:

Defenders of the new ASHRAE formula point out that the newest version of the standard provides an alternate method of calculating the minimum ventilation rate — a method that may restore at least some of the infiltration credit.

The alternate calculation method requires that the home must be tested with a blower door. Once that’s done, and you have a cfm50 result from the blower-door test, you can get an infiltration credit that may reduce the need for mechanical ventilation. You have to use the following formula:
Infiltration credit = 0.052 • cfm50 • (story factor) • (weather factor)

The story factor is the number of stories raised to the 0.4 power. So, for a one-story building, the story factor is 1; for a 1 1/2 story building, the story factor is 1.18; for a 2-story building, the story factor is 1.32; for a 2 1/2 story building, the story factor is 1.44; and for a 3-story building, the story factor is 1.55.

What’s that you say? You’re not sure what your weather factor is? You'll have to look it up from a list of 1,100 locations.

Now,  this should look a little more familiar (but not totally).  Or maybe not if you don't look at the back end math of the current 62.2 calculator we've been using in Indiana.  The formula above is from the 2013 version of ASHRAE 62.2.  Indiana is currently using the 2010 version of ASHRAE 62.2. 

The nuance of the difference between 2010 and 2013 aren't the point.  Bottom line, Indiana's rag-tag group of Weatherization techs are able to maneuver this fan sizing process day in, day out.  While sophisticated new home Builders can't seem to be able to put a blower door in a new home, do some multiplication, and turn a dial in a fan housing. 

I do enjoy these little situations where the weatherization 'industry' here in Indiana has its act together better than what could be found in almost any new home.  It is a little sad for the state of new homes.  But it is something for our weatherization program to be a little proud about. 

If anyone is a little skeptical about the impacts a properly sized whole house ventilation system can have, try installing one in your home.  The difference isn't big, but it is the little things that aren't there any more.  Leaving for a day or two and the house doesn't smell like stuffy house is my personal favorite...