EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) have been around for many years. Also referred to as “granny flats,” or “mother-in-law suites,” they are simply a secondary unit to a main house. Attached ADU’s are just that - attached to the principal dwelling. Examples include an apartment above a garage or in a daylight basement - with its own entrance. Detached ADU’s are secondary structures that usually sit next to a main structure or in a backyard (also with their own entrance). Photo courtesy ASMBL Proponents of ADU’s have been working hard to make the adoption of these types of structures more acceptable in many cities around the United States. California, Portland, and Seattle are a few areas that have seen laws passed recently that should help with the approval process. Many ADU’s are put in place for secondary income or to provide solutions for low-income housing options. They are also used as studio or office spaces. And now, with many schools operating with online-only options... 

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In his recent blog, “Where Are the For Sale Signs,” Housing Tides’ Jeff Whiton proposed that the present shortage of housing inventory will end if government foreclosure protections are not extended. Housing finance firm Black Knight estimates that as of July 21, 4.1 million homeowners continue to receive mortgage forbearance benefits from their lenders, making up 7.8% of U.S. mortgages. 1.87 million of these homeowners are “seriously delinquent,” or 90+ days late on their payments.

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School administrators have been working hard to determine whether or not it’s safe enough to allow their students to return to classrooms for in-person education. Every state is a bit different, each city or county, even more so. A friend and private school administrator in Washington State recently shared with me their plan to return in-person and mentioned one of the major tasks they completed was having their entire HVAC system tested and updated. And this got me wondering...how many schools are unable to go back to in-person teaching simply because of failing HVAC systems and lack of funds (and/or time) to fix them? In a United States Government Accountability Office Report titled: “School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacement,” they found that more than half (54%) of the school districts need to “update or replace at least two building systems in many of their schools.” The report estimates that 41% of school districts need ... read more

As millions of people stay isolated many begin to scrutinize every cubic inch of their home, they start asking important questions. How healthy is my home? How airtight is it? If I can get a “Bio-Weapon Defense Mode” in my Tesla, why can’t I get something similar in the place where I now work *and* sleep? The business as usual (BAU) paradigm around homebuilding has been to provide little more than basic shelter and a degree of comfort since the demise of most craft homebuilding shortly after WW2 (fodder for a future post). Today, people expect, and are learning more about, what makes a home healthy, efficient, resilient, sustainable and long lasting. These types of homes are now often referred to as “High Performance Homes” (HPH). Dr. Joe Lstiburek — The Dean of building science said it best: “A high-performance home is a home where people don’t get sick, where they feel comfortable, a HPH lasts a very long time, has very low utility bills, and has a light touch on the... read more

The Ultimate Zero Energy Now (Z.E.N.) Home in Denver, Colorado was built by Thrive Home Builders in collaboration with ProBuilder Media and the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance. Due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, the model home, which was intended to be a feature attraction at the EEBA 2020 High Performance Summit has been altered to a virtual format, but as EEBA’s Digital Media Intern, I was fortunate to have the chance to visit the Ultimate Z.E.N. home in person during a private tour with Thrive Home Builders CEO Gene Myers! Not only is the home top of the line in high performance home building, it also manages to maintain the hominess that buyers are looking for. The entire house is open floorplan living, starting with the largest kitchen counter I have ever seen connected to the living room as soon as you walk in. The finishes and fixtures are straight out of a magazine, and the kitchen is from my dreams. Continuing the open feel of the house, the traditional dining room ...

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The news that the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and TEAM ZERO formed a new alliance to move residential construction toward a zero-impact future is a game-changer for the industry. The deal combines the long-established education and training resources of EEBA with TEAM ZERO's crucial role in generating consumer demand. Q: What was the impetus for this alliance? A: Both EEBA and TEAM ZERO realized that together we provide a unique offering. It's a perfect example of a synergistic alliance where one plus one makes three. Builders who respond to this inevitable demand for zero-impact homes will lead the marketplace. It's not "if" but "when" zero impact housing will be the norm. EEBA and TEAM ZERO are committed to accelerating this timeline by arming builders with the skills needed to get there while queuing up consumer demand. But you can't have a zero-impact-home future without builders who know how to build them and buyers who demand them. We are... read more

Since 1982 EEBA has been providing the highest level of education surrounding building science. Beginning as the Energy Efficient Building Association they evolved into the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance in 2008 as their goals expanded to include a focus on the environment and high performance building initiatives. And now, as EEBA continues to push the industry forward on the path to net zero, they knew it was time to align their goals with their branding. After many months, and a great deal of input from the EEBA Board, intern Brooke Bratrud has designed a new, modern-looking logo to refresh and replace the original design. The colors, fonts, and shapes in the logo all possess important meaning that support EEBA’s clear intent to push the building industry forward. Since 1982 EEBA has been providing the highest level of education surrounding building science. Beginning as the Energy Efficient Building Association they evolved into the Energy and Environmental... read more

If you’ve been wanting to learn more about SIPs, SIPA (Structural Insulated Panel Association) recently published two documents to help designers and builders better understand the process of using this high-performance building system. Building with SIPs: NEED TO KNOW provides readers with Building Considerations for right- sized HVAC equipment, plumbing design, the reduction of electrical labor due to factory cut chases, and more. The extensive document also includes Checklists for anything from the High-Performance Building Envelope to Shop Drawings to Roof and Wall Assemblies. In the High-Performance Building Envelope section, you are walked through steps to make sure the SIP envelope is as high-performing as possible while using the correct mechanical systems to create the most optimal, healthy, indoor air quality. Also included is a reminder to seal all penetrations and have a blower door test performed to verify you have no leakage.

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New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, recently announced an innovative public-private partnership aimed at creating energy efficiency equality for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households and affordable multifamily buildings. This announcement supports New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by providing access to clean energy solutions for all. Many LMI households experience huge energy burdens, sometimes exceeding 20 percent of their household income. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been actively searching for improved housing solutions for new affordable housing projects. More than 350,000 low-to-moderate income households throughout the state of New York will receive energy efficiency services such as insulation, air sealing, electric load reduction, and HVAC improvements. The initiative will invest almost $1 billion through 2025 and will include participation from NYSERDA, Central Hudson, Con Edison, National Fuel Gas, National Grid, ... read more

With many homeowners spending so much more time at home, many are discovering their living spaces may not be as comfortable as they once thought. Poor energy efficiency in a home can cause all types of issues - most can be easily fixed, but sometimes come with an upfront price tag that most homeowners don’t have cash on hand for. Whether you need to switch out your single paned windows, upgrade insulation or install a new HVAC system, an Energy Efficient Mortgage may be just what you need. Windows are responsible for almost 25% of annual heating and cooling costs. In some cold climates, double-paned windows can reduce energy use by up to 24% in the winter and up to 18% in hot climates. Additionally, updating your home’s insulation can save you around 20% on heating and cooling bills while technology, such as programmable thermostats, can translate to almost $200 in savings per year on heating and cooling bills. Energy Efficient Mortgages can be applied for when you’re doing... read more