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WSU Energy Program
 

Applied Building Science Program

The Applied Building Science team manages the following programs for code officials, the construction industry, manufactured housing industry, public sector facility staff and homeowners in Washington as part of the Washington State University Energy Program:

  • The Northwest Building Efficiency Center is a US Department of Energy funded regional program to promote DOE goals of making buildings 30% more efficient. Targets include Resource Conservation Managers, builders and building professionals, state and local government program and building managers. NBEC answers technical questions and is building a content-rich website with links to regional program and technology resources.

  • Building Performance Rating Project - A market transformation pilot project that created a rating system for scoring the actual performance of commercial buildings. Performance factors addressed by the project were:
    • Building energy performance
    • Operation, maintenance, and performance of HVAC roof top units
    • Building occupant satisfaction
    • Building operation and management

    Six pilot project buildings in Washington State were recruited and used to obtain input from the building owner/manager, occupants, and O&M service providers and to field test the proposed rating system tools. The final report, which includes score cards developed and tested by the project, is available at: http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/building/project/Commercial_Bldg_O&M_Rating_System_Prill.pdf

  • Building Heat and Moisture Transport Research - To assure that buildings are both energy efficient and durable, a comprehensive study of the performance of building envelopes demonstrates the viability of numerous building assemblies.

  • Commercial Building Operation and Maintenance Rating Systems – LEED The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. The Washington State University Energy Program does not manage this program in Washington. However we support the LEED Green Building Rating System and provide this information for those interested in this program.

  • Energy Codes Technical Assistance - The WSU Energy Program provides support for the Washington State Energy Code and the Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Code for residential construction and in conjunction with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council provides support for the Non-Residential Energy Code.

  • Home Energy Raters - Contact information for certified home energy raters in Washington State. These individuals meet the minimum requirements of a rater as defined by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Mortgage Industry National Home Rating Standards, and operate under the rating providership of the WSU Extension Energy Program.

  • Non-Residential Energy Code – The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council provides technical assistance on the Non-Residential Energy Code.

  • Northwest Energy Code Group – Washington State University Extension Energy Program represents regional interests in the development and implementation of energy codes.

  • Energy Star – ENERGY STAR is a U.S. government-backed program that helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency in buildings and appliances.

  • Portable Classroom Project - Efforts to promote the adoption of energy-efficient portable classrooms in the Pacific Northwest.

  • Indoor Air Quality - Washington State University Extension Energy Program specialists provide technical assistance and recommend practices and procedures for improving indoor air quality in Northwest schools.
    • Tribal Indoor Air Quality - The Tribal Indoor Air Quality Project provides information, training and technical support for Northwest Tribes, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Resource Efficiency Management - WSU Energy Program provides support and information for Resource Efficiency Managers (REMs) or Resource Conservation Managers (RCMs) through web materials, newsletters and other information dissemination.

  • Northwest Solar Center – Providing technical expertise, market transformation, distributed renewable energy information for the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about any of these projects .