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$2,000 45L Home Builder tax credit extended for 2022 homes!

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THE 45L NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES TAX CREDIT

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was signed into law today. As part of the legislation, the $2,000 per dwelling unit 45L tax credit was extended for homes sold or leased through December 31, 2022.

Other than dwellings sold or rented in 2022, there are still a large number of projects completed prior to this year that may qualify for the credit. Low-rise multifamily projects are also eligible and typically qualify given the stringent Title 24 energy standards.

Builders and HERS Raters can easily log into CHEERS and see which projects qualify for the tax credit.

ENERGYSTAR AND 45L
Dwellings certified under the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction or the ENERGY STAR Manufactured New Homes programs sold or rented after December 31, 2022 will be eligible for a $2,500 tax credit. This credit jumps to $5,000 if the units are certified under the Zero Energy Ready homes program (ZER).
Dwellings certified under the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction National Program will also be eligible for these benefits, including high-rise projects. These tax credits remain in effect through 2032.

ABOUT CHEERS
CHEERS is where building professionals register projects for California energy code compliance. More projects are registered with CHEERS for energy code compliance than anywhere else!

Calibrated Blower Door Test
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South Florida Blower Door Test

Blower Door Test Uncategorized

Our professional, accredited technicians at Blue Sky Energy run diagnostic tests to determine the efficacy of your HVAC system as well as the permeability of your home’s Thermal Envelope, inclusive of windows, doors, insulation, floors and more. Using a variety of solutions, Blue Sky Energy can repair or upgrade the ventilation of your home or commercial space to meet optimal energy standards, which both lowers energy costs and can qualify you for valuable tax credits.

 

Blower Door Testing

The air leakage test (or “Blower Door Test”) uses a calibrated fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door to either pressurize or depressurize a home to a standard test pressure of 50 Pascals (with respect to the outside) and measures the air leakage flow at that pressure, measured by digital pressure gauges. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a home or building. A single-point or multi-point blower test can be performed to test the home, where a multi-point, using more than one blower, can offer more granular results on exact placement of air leakage.

 

An accredited technician then performs a visual inspection and diagnostic testing throughout the home, dwelling or commercial space to identify sources of leakage or issue in the HVAC system and the structure’s thermal envelope.

 

Here’s what our visual test checks for:

  1. Proper Duct Sealing
  2. Duct Leakage
  3. Proper Supply and Return Functionality
  4. Air Handler Fan Efficacy
  5. Verified Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
  6. Verified Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
  7. Building Envelope Air Leakage
  8. High-Quality Insulation Installation (QII)

 

The blower door test and duct testing, combined with the visual inspection of our experienced HERS Raters, determines your home’s energy rating and pinpoints vulnerabilities that can be modified to decrease overall energy consumption and improve the rating.

 

Schedule Your Blower Door Test

 

When scheduling a blower door test, it’s important to work with an accredited provider like Blue Sky Energy, who employ the very best and most professional HVAC experts in the South Florida region. We understand the importance of professionalism as we work in your home, and are dedicated to delivering the most comprehensive solutions to ensure your South Florida home is as energy efficient as possible. Here is what you can expect during one of our home Blower Door Tests:

 

  1. Schedule: Use our online platform to request the day and time most convenient for your home’s diagnostic testing.
  2. Connect: One of our technicians will call you to confirm your testing needs, date and time.
  3. Testing: One of our technicians will visit your home and perform a Blower Door and Duct Test along with a comprehensive visual inspection and analysis.
  4. Results: We’ll deliver a custom report that shows your home’s energy rating, inclusive of its vulnerabilities and a recommended list of fixes to improve your homes energy consumption.

 

What you can expect during your test:

  • We’ll close all exterior doors and windows
  • We’ll open all interior doors
  • We’ll turn off the heating and cooling system(s)
  • We’ll turn off all fans that supply air to the house or exhaust air from it
  • Adjust thermostats so they do not come on during the test.
  • When present, closing fireplace doors and/or dampers and either vacuuming cold loose ashes or covering them.

 

Blue Sky Energy services homes and commercial spaces in the South Florida region. To schedule a Blower Door Test, call us at (PHONE NUMBER) or fill out this service request form (HERE). To learn more about air duct leakage testing and other services performed by Blue Sky Energy company in the South Florida region, visit our blog page:

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South Florida HERS Verification

HERS Rating

A HERS Verification (which stands for Home Energy Rating System) is required on all new construction buildings and dwellings in South Florida, and on qualifying renovations. Blue Sky Energy uses proven technology to determine your home’s HERS Rating by pinpointing leakage throughout the home (or commercial space) that leads to higher energy consumption and higher heating and cooling costs.

 

HERS Verification Report

 

Your custom HERS Verification Report includes a virtual model of your home and identifies each vulnerability in your home’s HVAC system and its thermal envelope, which includes insulation, windows, and doors. This custom calculation of energy loss determines the cost and excess output of energy on your home’s heating and cooling systems. Our expert team at Blue Sky Energy is then able to restore or replace issues to reduce energy loss and improve your home’s overall energy rating.

 

Individuals qualified to provide air leakage testing include energy auditors, energy raters, Class A or B air-conditioning contractors and mechanical contractors, plus approved third parties. At Blue Sky Energy, we employ only the best HVAC and testing experts in the South Florida region. We take pride in our professionalism as we conduct testing in your home to improve your overall indoor air quality and save you money in energy costs.

 

Why You Need A HERS Verification

Securing a HERS Rating is required for all new construction homes and commercial spaces, and may also be required for certain additions or renovations, or when new duct or HVAC system has been installed. In fact, the blower door test is often conducted in advance of receiving a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). Section 402.4.1.2 of the Florida Building Code, 5th Edition 2014 Energy Conservation now mandates blower door testing for New Residential Construction.

 

A HERS Rating may also identify if certain problems are leading to excessive energy consumption and higher energy costs. A low HERS Rating validates compliance and will also help keep energy costs low for the homeowner. A high HERS Rating helps underscore the need to retrofit changes to increase ventilation efficacy.

 

Understanding the Florida Building Code Guidelines

Since 2017, the state of Florida has required energy testing as part of the 2014 Florida Building Code. The requirements are listed in Section R402.4.1.2, a revisional code added to the 5th edition of the 2014 FBCEC (Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation). You can access this supplemental code here: https://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/thecode/2017_Code_Development/Glitch_2016/2016_Supplement_to_the_5th_Edition_2014_FBC.htm

 

Per Florida code, a home cannot change out its conditioned air more than 7x per hour in order to meet compliance itemized within the guidelines. As a comparison, an efficient home should change its air out about 3 times per hour. A Blower Door Test is capable of determining how many air changes happen per hour in your home using powerful wind-driven technology and by gauging the pressure versus the outside environment. When a test reveals a high level of air exchange, leaks and vulnerabilities in the homes HVAC System and Thermal Envelope must be fixed.

 

Even if your South Florida home or commercial space is not new construction, getting a comprehensive HERS Report can identify what changes you can make to lower your energy cost and consumption. Here’s how a HERS Report can help save you money and decrease your footprint on the environment:

  • Save money in utility costs
  • Improve your home’s energy rating (great for resale value)
  • Reduce your impact on the environment
  • Qualify for valuable tax credits

 

Blue Sky Energy offers comprehensive residential and commercial diagnostic testing in the South Florida region to determine a structures energy rating. Blue Sky Energy uses proven technology to determine your home’s HERS Rating by pinpointing leakage throughout the home (or commercial space) that leads to higher energy consumption and higher heating and cooling costs. With our help, you can actually achieve a “net zero” energy consumption by improving vulnerabilities shown during our comprehensive testing, and by installing recommended energy solutions to reduce your home’s overall energy consumption.

 

To learn more about our services, like Blower Door Testing, Air Duct Leakage Testing, and other services performed by Blue Sky Energy company in the South Florida region, visit our blog page:

 

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South Florida Duck Leakage Testing

Duct Testing

Did you know that the average South Florida home leaks around 30% of its conditioned air due to air duct leakage? Furthermore, a home’s insulation can also fall well below its “R” rating due to improper installation. Talk about throwing money out the window!

 

A comprehensive Blower Door Test, Air Duct Leakage Test and Comprehensive Visual Inspection will yield a valuable HERS Rating, while identifying system vulnerabilities. By fixing the issues that the HERS Rating uncovers, you can save thousands of dollars in wasted energy costs while lowering your impact on the environment, and you may even qualify for valuable tax credits, too!

 

What is Air Duct Leakage?

Loose duct connections or poor sealing results in air loss and air quality issues. These can be repaired by identifying the leaks during an air duct leakage test, and subsequently repairing the vulnerabilities.

 

In addition, poorly insulated ducts can contribute to energy loss and increased condensation, leading to mold growth. Air duct Return leaks can draw in polluted air from the attic or crawl space and cause condensation, or lead to dangerous mold growth.

 

Pinched, crushed or broken duct work, as well as clogged air filters, are also common problems leading to HVAC inefficiency. When possible, technicians will improve the duct system by using less turns and configurations to reduce air flow friction.

 

Most noticeably, supply leaks can depressurize areas and cause back-drifting. Imbalanced air supply throughout the dwelling leads to temperature variability and overall discomfort. This is why some rooms become colder or warmer than others.

 

Air Duct Leakage Test

An air duct leakage performance test involves pressurizing the duct system with a calibrated fan and simultaneously measuring the air flow through the fan and its effect on the pressure within the duct system. You need less air from the fan to create a change in duct system pressure, the tighter the duct system. Testing can be set up to measure leaks connected to the outside or can be set up to measure leaks connected to the outside and the inside of the house.

 

Thermal Envelope Test

Your home’s “thermal envelope” refers to the air ventilation and leakage through its floors, walls, ceilings, windows and doors. Both natural and mechanical air pressure affects the rate of seepage throughout your home. A poorly structured thermal envelope can lead to costly energy use and consumption, especially in the hot and humid South Florida region.

 

And the “leakier” a home or dwelling is, the more energy it takes to condition it! A Blower Door Test is one of the most accredited ways of getting an accurate HERS Rating. The HERS Rating will show, from 1-100, how efficient the home is at ventilating. This data can provide valuable information to help improve and optimize the home’s ventilation system. Furthermore, optimizing the HVAC system and Thermal Envelope will Improve IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) by reducing the amount of airborne contaminants and by stabilizing the moisture level in the air. This reduces moisture in the air and prevents harmful mold growth!

 

Mechanical Ventilation

In some cases, a dwelling is not ventilating enough. If your home changes its air out less than 3x per hour, then it must be mechanically ventilated. South Florida homes that do not ventilate 3x hourly maintain a higher moisture level which can lead to mold growth and indoor air quality issues. Properly working HVAC systems clean and purify the air, hence the name “conditioner”! Exchanging air 3x hourly ensures that the home’s air is optimally safe and healthy to breathe. When a Blower Door Test shows too little ventilation, whole-house ventilation systems are installed to mechanically exchange indoor air with outdoor air to bring the dwelling into compliance.

 

Blue Sky Energy services homes and commercial spaces in the South Florida region. To schedule an Air Duct Leakage Test, call us at (PHONE NUMBER) or fill out this service request form (HERE). To learn more about Blower Door Testing and other services performed by Blue Sky Energy company in the South Florida region, visit our blog page:

Weekdays: 8:00am - 5:00pm
South Florida
800 540-4330

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