David Heslam

Heslam is known nationally for building with sustainable practices and educating others on best practices of green building.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@Jon_Creyts @RockyMtnInst @AmoryLovins @JulesKortenhors Congratulations!

[David Heslam @dheslam]

2/2 The Neighborhood Investment Act (NHIA) can be the third leg to this platform. If NHIA includes requirements for superior home performance, then healthier, safer and emission free homes could be within reach for all Americans.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

1/2, It was great to speak with @moskwtz today about opportunities to move U.S. housing stock towards a zero emissions future by 2050. @ZEReadyOregon supports #HOPE4HOMES Act and Sen. @RonWyden’s Clean Energy for America Act as key means to reach that end goal.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon @SunrisePDX The tiny house community did get involved back in 2017. After Gov Brown signed EO 17-20 which provide code change goals, BCD morphed a legislative request for tiny house code clarity into a proposed roll back of small home energy codes. They showed up and stopped the roll back.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon Another route is for a code change proposal backed by supporting documentation that made the connection between “scarce resources” and the climate crisis. Current energy codes are an ongoing reaction to the energy price crisis of 1973, the climate crisis presents other issues.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon The clearest way to reinterpret this would be with a bill that changed Oregon statute. Of course, that’s risky because once a bill starts a discussion then opponents can use it to make switch in the other direction.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon ORSC is the acronym for the statewide residential code. Our proposal did stir up conversation, and some support, by the advisory boards. I expect this topic to resurface later this year when the process to adopt the 2023 ORSC starts up. The ZERO coaltion likely propose it again.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon Topics like embodied carbon of materials, demand flexibility capacity and climate resilience are very relevant. In Oregon, it may be necessary to change state law to embed those concerns within code changes. At a minimum, it will require new interpretations of current state law.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@tmccormick @markasaurus @PassiveHouseBB @autoblography @ZEReadyOregon Our 2020 proposal for the ORSC proposed the code would tier requirements based on size. This was a nod to the lower total energy use of a smaller home, even though that home likely uses the energy more intensively per square foot than a larger home. WA code already does this.

[Earth Advantage @EarthAdvantage]

Home Energy Score: What are leading Oregon realtors saying? Read the synopsis by our HES Manager, MacKenzie Winchel and download the new case study. https://t.co/6pR3JQqpqm #homeenergyscore

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@EarthAdvantage @cantrellisgreat I could not agree more. The more people talking and thinking about it will provide many more possible solutions.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

I'm looking forward to this! #greenrealestate

[Earth Advantage @EarthAdvantage]

Join us for an Agent Roundtable webinar: Use of Energy Efficiency Information in Real Estate Listings and Energy Labeling Policies.
REGISTER HERE: https://t.co/e3uOb2F1kQ
#greendata #energyefficiency #realestate #greenbuildingregistry

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @GregGershuny @TanujDeora @MLiebreich @DBaird13 @EarthAdvantage Nate, there are 174 homes with HERS ratings now showing up in Hudson at https://t.co/GvBWFB7oiP. Lots of those ratings are in the mid-50s on the scale, pretty good!

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @GregGershuny @TanujDeora @MLiebreich @DBaird13 @EarthAdvantage The Appraisal Institute Green and Energy Efficiency Addendum can be downloaded for any home with 3rd-party documentation of green or energy performance. Solar PV data is in there too where we’ve managed to get it.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @MLiebreich @DBaird13 In fact the low savings estimates from HES are a primary complaint from proponents of energy efficiency. They typically want higher savings shown. But, a home with HES=1 can save 31% on average with only the 10-year payback measures done. Imagine what an HP job could deliver!

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @MLiebreich @DBaird13 I have not seen a realization rate analysis from a utility program using this. My educated guess is they are very high with HES because it’s estimate are very conservative compared to tools that have been historically used in utility programs where savings might be gamed.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @MLiebreich @DBaird13 Also, heating and water heating equipment upgrades may show up if the incremental cost of purchasing a high efficiency option has a 10-year payback, those get couched as being something to consider when replacement is needed.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @MLiebreich @DBaird13 Depending on climate, house condition and locally assumed install costs they are commonly shown as attic insulation, less often wall insulation, air sealing, duct sealing and insulation, typical weatherization.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio Gotta go now, but it’s been great connecting on this today. It’s frustrating to hear that folks are still not seeing returns on their investments in some cases, but I think some of these national efforts could be real game changers in the next few years.

[David Heslam @dheslam]

@energysmartohio @MLiebreich @DBaird13 Use HES programmatically to get people interested, then allow a trained contractor to scope and sell the job that fits the home and homeowner. Then use HES programmatically to document the project in a way that can be taken to the bank, literally.