Industry News

>>Cities and Businesses Commit to Improving Access to Energy Data
Source: energy.gov
As part of the Better Buildings Initiative, the White House formally announced new partnerships with 12 cities and states within DOE’s Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) Platform Collaborative to collect and manage building energy data and share best practices within the broader community. DOE also launched the Asset Score National Leadership Network, a diverse group of commercial building sector leaders spanning commercial real estate, global infrastructure, energy service providers, and governmental actors all dedicated to increase market uptake of BTO’s Asset Score.

>>White House Releases Fact Sheet About Better Buildings Energy Data
Source: betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov
The White House with the Energy Department released a Fact Sheet, profiling how the actions of its Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator partners led to a historic expansion of whole-building energy data access to building owners by 2017 – significantly increasing opportunities for building energy benchmarking. Also announced arenewpartnerships withcities, states, and companies, aimed atfinding new ways to utilize energy data and put it to work to create a cleaner, healthier, and more energy efficient America. Read the full White House Fact Sheet. Learn more about Energy Data Accelerator Partner Accomplishments and Results. 

>>User’s Manual to ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Green Standard Available
Source: ashrae.org
A newly published User’s Manual clarifies the intent and implementation of the building industry’s foremost green building standard by explaining its requirements and providing example applications. The User’s Manual to ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is intended to help engineers, architects, and contractors understand and comply with the standard and to help code officials and others enforce its requirements. This new version of the User’s Manual updates the version published in 2010, which covered the content of Standard 189.1-2009.

>>Two National Energy Codes Conference Keynote Speakers Announced
Source: energycodes.gov
Two keynote speakers for the National Energy Codes Conference were announced: John Tooley of Advanced Energy and C.R. Herro of Meritage Homes. The 2016 National Energy Codes Conference will take place March 21-24 in Tucson, Arizona. Registration is currently available. More information on the event, including the conference schedule and award nomination applications are available at www.energycodes.gov.

>>Polyurea Training Programs Announced for February and April 2016
VersaFlex Inc.'s 2016 Polyurea University Training Schools programs were announced for February and April 2016. Courses are taught by Dudley J. Primeaux, II, PCS, CCI. The informational class work sessions include handouts containing slide presentations of PowerPoint shows dealing with every aspect of polyurea technology; from the chemistry to the practical application techniques best suited to spray and install polyurea systems. Both classes are at the Houston campus.
February 22-26: Qualified Spray Applicator -- Register Online
April 25-29: Qualified Spray Applicator -- Register Online

>>Amendment to Energy Bill, the SAVE Act, Needs Your Support
Right now the Senate is debating passage of a comprehensive energy bill. One piece that was left out of the proposed bill -- but is being introduced as an amendment -- is the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act would do more to account for the value of energy efficiency in the home purchasing/mortgage process. Here's a one-pager about the SAVE Act, from last year.

Can you help out by taking 3 minutes to call your senators in support of the SAVE Act?
TAKE ACTION NOW >>> Call your senators and ask them to vote YES on the SAVE Act when it's voted on as an amendment to the Senate's energy bill.
Step-by-step:
1. Click here to find your senators' contact information.
2. Call your SENATE offices (both of them) 
3. When you speak to your Senate offices (or leave a message), tell them: 
1. Your name.
2. Your company, and that you operate and support jobs in their state.
3. Ask for the senator to support the SAVE Act (Amendment #3042) as an amendment to the comprehensive energy bill the Senate is discussing this week. 
4. Tell them that the SAVE Act should apply to all federal home mortgage rules -- and that the SAVE Act would make it easier for people to live in energy efficient homesand would help companies like yours do more projects. 
5. Email us at policy@efficiencyfirst.org to let us know who you called. 
The SAVE Act amendment could be voted on TODAY -- thanks for your quick help! 

>>Congress Passes $1.8 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill and $680 Billion Tax Extenders Package
Source: Craig Brightup
On December 18, 2015, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill and $680 billion tax extenders package that the President signed into law. The "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016" funds the federal government through September 2016 and the "Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015" (PATH Act) extends over 50 tax breaks for businesses and individuals. Full coverage of this news will be included in the next issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional.

>>Going Green Can Add Value to Your Home
Source: Washingtonpost.com
What is going "green" worth in Washington home real estate? If you rehab a house to exacting energy and environmental standards, or install a solar-panel array on your roof, does your house command more when you sell? If you seal up all the energy-leaking areas in your house, install a highly efficient heating and ventilating system, new windows and a long list of other green improvements, will a future buyer pay you a premium price for your efforts? A new study conducted by national appraisal experts says the answer most probably is yes — often tens of thousands of dollars more.