Energy OutWest

Welcome to the redesigned Energy OutWest website. With our new site we hope to provide an easy to use source of both fundamental weatherization knowledge and up to date news involving or affecting the weatherization profession. One of our most important goals is to engage the weatherization community in conversation about how we can best support and help our profession thrive. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact us through our email listed on the contact page or interact with us on facebook or linkedin.

In December the Building Performance Institute issued a clarification concerning Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) limits for Building Analysts. This deals specifically with “reclassification of an orphaned natural draft water heater converted to a stand-alone water heater”.  BPI’s notice is available here: BPI CAZ news and the detailed clarification is available here: Amended Clarification

Recent energy program budget cuts will affect many Americans who are least able to afford such cuts. Despite weatherization being an effort that the DOE has described as its most cost effective program, funding for low income weatherization assistance has been reduced by 60%. Energy assistance funds which allow many low-income citizens to pay their energy bills and have heat during the winter have also been substantially reduced. more budget cut reports

The movement to reduce asthma triggers in homes in combination with weatherization gained momentum in 2011.  A series of regional conferences across the United States were held to educate weatherization program and community health administrative staff on how simple measures can be added to traditional weatherization to reduce the onset of asthma attacks for household members with a range of resulting benefits.

More information about the conferences and Weatherization Plus Health can be found here: Weatherization Plus Health

The Dept. of Energy released a guidance document on October 14, 2011 with procedures for completion and closure of weatherization grants for ARRA funded work. Weatherization funding officially ends at the end of 2011.  This document is available online: ARRA Grant Closeout.  A complete and up-to-date collection of guidance documents for weatherization programs is maintained here: WAPTAC weatherization guidance.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council invited public comment November 7, 2011 on its new standard:  IREC Standard 14732: 2012, Requirements for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Certificate Programs.  After the month long comment period, the final standards document is expected to be released in early January, 2012.  This standard will describe curriculum, administrative, personnel, facilities, and equipment requirements for certificate programs training the energy efficiency/weatherization and renewable energy workforce.  More detail about the new standard can be found at IREC comment period open.