Additional Resources

These links provide useful information for complying with the Washington State Energy Code, especially for those who are new to building science.

Building Components

Hot Water

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) - Advanced Water Heating Specification for single-family residences advances higher performing electric and gas heat pump water heaters.

Energy Star version 3.2 for Washington and Oregon

Insulation

North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Empowers homeowners and professionals to make informed insulation choices.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance
Develops tools designed to educate and influence the construction industry with the benefits of spray polyurethane foam roofing, insulation, coatings, and specialty installations.

Foam Sheathing Coalition
Educates building code officials, design professionals and residential builders about the benefits of using insulating foam sheathing products.

Structural Insulated Panel Association - educational resources

Fenestration - Windows & Doors

Thermal Envelope, Air Leakage & Testing

Air Barrier Association of America
Creates resources to help quantify energy savings based on using air barriers and increasing the airtightness of buildings.

Equipment & Appliance Efficiency

AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance - HVAC & DHW

Energy Star - Appliances

Building Codes & Best Practices

Better Built NW
Accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient building practices in residential new construction. Better Built NW is replacing the Energy Star program.

Energy Trust of Oregon

EPS Field Guide - Advanced Efficient Homebuilding: 2020 Edition

NEEA Codes and Standards Program
Supports stakeholders to develop, adopt, and implement energy codes.

2019-2020 Washington Residential New Construction Code Study, June 23, 2020
2018 Washington State Energy Code Progress Toward 2030: Report to Legislature, Nov. 25, 2020

Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO)
WABO activities include promoting building codes and standards that safeguard public health and safety, assisting in development of national and state codes, and preserving local government control of code administration.

Washington State Building Code Council
Provides independent analysis and advice to the legislature and the Governor's Office on state building code issues.

Washington State Department of Commerce - Building Strategy Update

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
   Manufactured Home Permits and Inspections, Tiny Houses

Building Science Consultants & Resources

NEEA HVAC Sizing Tool
This free, cloud-based tool for HVAC technicians, designers and home builders provides a quick room-by-room heating and cooling design load calculator for accurate HVAC system sizing. Find additional technical resources, live and online trainings, and marketing resources to support and promote energy-efficient home building at Better Built NW.

Building America Solution Center
Provides residential building professionals with access to expert information on high-performance design and construction topics, including air sealing and insulation, HVAC components, windows, indoor air quality, and much more.

Residential Energy Services Network
Strives to make the energy use of all homes transparent, thereby driving residential sector energy use toward net zero.

Building Performance Association
   Back to Work: COVID-19 Resource Guide

Air Conditioning Contractors of America
National trade association furthering the interests of HVAC residential contracting businesses.

Energy & Environmental Building Alliance
A building science leader that offers training and technical assistance for it members.

Home Ventilating Institute & HVI Certified Products Directory

Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS)
PTCS specifications help ensure heat pumps and duct sealing work results in a more comfortable home and more reliable energy.

Passive House Northwest
A group of Certified Passive House Consultants and other individuals and organizations who promote highly energy efficient construction through implementing the passive house concept.

Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
Empowers people through education to transform the built environment for long-term sustainability.

Testing Tools (envelope, duct work & HVAC commissioning)

Retrotec
Offers blower door systems, duct testing equipment, digital manometers, and other building science resources.

The Energy Conservatory (TEC)
Leading manufacturer of performance testing tools for the building science industry.

Residential Energy Dynamics Tools used by home performance analysts; WAP energy auditors, inspectors, and monitors; HERS raters; design professionals; building inspectors; engineers; and building science researchers.

Building Energy Optimization Tool (BEopt)
Evaluate residential building designs and identify cost-optimal efficiency packages at various levels of whole-house energy savings along the path to zero net energy.

Rebates & Tax Credits

Washington State Department of Commerce - Low-Income Energy Assistance Program

Bonneville Power Administration - Programs and measures for residential end users

Avista - Rebates available for qualified installations of residential energy-efficient equipment.

Puget Sound Energy - Efficiency Boost rebates can help make home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable.

Energy Star Product Finder

Air Leakage & Duct Testing Resources

Air Leakage Testing

Benefits of Duct Sealing

Blower Door Test Results Form

Duct and Blower Door Test Hand Calculator

Duct and Blower Door Test Calculator (Excel)

Duct Testing Standard (RS-33)

Duct Testing Affidavit (New Construction)

Duct Testing Affidavit (Existing Construction)

Getting to Know Your Vent. System: Exhaust Type

Videos

These videos are old but still provide useful information.

"Duct Sealing for Comfort, Energy, and Indoor Air Quality" (16:45 min.)

Air Leakage in Homes: The Invisible Thief (39.11 min)

Introduction (2:19)

Why Air Seal? (3:21) 

Air Sealing For New Homes (20:41)

Measuring Building Tightness (4:28)

Air Sealing for Existing Homes (5:12)

Combustion Safety (2:50)

Final Thoughts (1:40)

Fresh Air for a Healthier Home (29 min)

Play All - recommended (29 min)

Why Ventilate? (4:53)

Exhaust-only Systems (5:28)

Integrated Systems (4:07)

HRV/ERV Systems (4:26)

Installation & Inspection (5:10)

Upgrading Existing Homes (5:35)

Hot Topics Archive

ACEEE Ducts Inside

Additions and Ducts

Comparing the Moisture Performance of Wood-Framed Wall Systems

Efficient Water Heating

Electric Heat Lock Out on Heat Pumps

Energy Efficient Home Cooling

Externally Applied Building Insulation

Indoor Air Quality - Keeping Homes Dry

Inspecting Attic Insulation

Principles of Heat Transfer

Unvented Attics

Insuladd - Ceramic-Based Paint Additive

UltraCBF rFOIL - Foil-Faced Bubble Wrap

Unvented Crawl Spaces

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Code

Options for Code Compliance

The 2018 WSEC-R provides the following compliance options:

R402.1.1 Prescriptive Path: The simplest approach that allows for unlimited glazing in most cases. Use the single family worksheet for single family, townhomes and additions. Use the multifamily R2 worksheet for low rise multi-family corridor or non-corridor buildings up to three stories. This path also requires compliance with R406 fuel and energy credits.

R402.1.4 Total UA Alternative Approach Component Path: This approach is rarely used, especially when the glazing to floor area exceeds 15%. This path also requires compliance with R406 fuel and energy credits.

R405 Simulated Performance Alternative Path: WSU is not aware that this approach has ever been used. The path relies on energy simulation computer program modeling software. To date, WSU has not identified software that meets the energy simulation software requirements. If you are interested in using this compliance path approach, please contact us at energycode@energy.wsu.edu to discuss this issue before submitting permit forms.

Table R405.2 also requires R406 compliance.

R406 Additional Energy Efficiency Requirement: These requirements are based on energy and fuel credits required in WSEC-R. Use the single family and multifamily prescriptive worksheets.

R407 Passive House Path: This new compliance path in the 2018 WSEC-R allows certified Passive House projects to achieve compliance with WSEC-R. There are requirements for documentation at plan review and final site inspection. See Passive House Northwest for more information.

Example of a PHIUS Final Project Certificate

New 2018 Code Compliance Calculator: This new compliance tool is designed for both R402.1.1 (prescriptive) and R4021.4 (UA Component) paths. It includes the glazing calculator and simple heating system sizing all in one worksheet. This tool can also calculate Efficient Building Envelope Options 1.3 – 1.6 using the % UA reduction in R402.1.1 path, in lieu of using the specific measure receipts highlighted below. This option in this new tool provides more flexibility to optimize energy credits, based on custom envelope measures.