Touchstone Energy Home Program Standards

This program is available to all builders willing to comply to the new Touchstone Energy Home^SM program standards set forth by SSVEC.

SSVEC’s Program Qualifications:
To qualify for Touchstone Energy Home^SM certification, new homes must meet or exceed SSVEC’s prescriptive thermal criteria or the heat gain characteristics and incorporate five additional energy features into each home.

Prescriptive Standards

Energy Saving Features

1. Slab Insulation (under slab or perimeter)
2. Infiltration Control (sealing all top plate penetrations, electrical boxes, and windows & doors.)
3. 13 SEER Electric Heat Pump
4. .90 efficiency Electric Water Heating
5. Exhaust System with Controlled Dampers in Kitchen and Baths
6. Duct Work Located in Conditioned Area
7. 3 Compact Fluorescent Fixtures (screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs do not qualify)
8. Programmable Set Back Thermostat
9. Dryer Exhaust Venting must not have any Turns (dryer located on outside wall)
10. Mastic Sealed Duct Work (supply & return)
11. Multiple Returns
12. Dual Fuel System
13. Metal Sealed Return Plenums

Split and Packaged Heat Pumps certified must demonstrate a minimum SEER of 13 or more. Minimum Heat Season Performance Factor (HSPF) must be 7 to qualify for incentives.

HVAC equipment will be sized per the Manual “J” calculation plus 6,000 Btu’s or 25% whichever is less, or to the next available size.

Thermal Performance Standard

A. Building Envelope
Total design heat gain per ACCA Manual J shall not exceed the following:

14 BTU/Hr./Sq. Ft. Conditioned spaces less than 1,350 sq. ft.
12 BTU/Hr./Sq. Ft. Conditioned spaces 1,350 - 1850 sq. ft.
11 BTU/Hr./Sq. Ft. Conditioned spaces 1,850 - 2,350 sq. ft.
10 BTU/Hr./Sq. Ft. Conditioned spaces greater than 2,350 sq. ft.

In addition to meeting the SSVEC’s program guidelines, each new home must incorporate five additional energy saving features to qualify for SSVEC’s Touchstone Energy Home. These Energy Saving Features are listed above.

B. Walls
Cumulative R-Value for exterior walls will be no less than R-18. Fiberglass batts should be faced stapled to the studs. Fibrous batt insulation should not be cut short or cut long and forced/compressed into small areas. Fibrous batts should be cut around electrical boxes to minimize compression and split around plumbing and wiring. Wet spray cellulose will be cropped smoothly to prevent convective channels and void cavities between the insulation and sheetrock. Fiberglass may not be used as a packing material around window or doorframes, plumbing stacks or gaps in framing. These areas should be filled with a foam product(s) or caulking.

C. Ceiling
R-values for various ceiling cavities depend on the area of space and construction techniques. Listed below are the various R-values for different ceiling/roof areas.

1. Conventional Ventilated Attic – R-38 will be installed in all conventional ventilated ceiling areas. This R-rating can be reached by installing any combination of fibrous, cellulose or mineral wool insulation. Member services representatives should be consulted per blown application for approximate insulation thickness.
2. Roof/Ceiling Combinations – A minimum R-30 insulation will be installed in Roof/Ceiling applications.
3. Knee Walls – Knee walls will be insulated with a minimum R-19insulation.
4. Knee wall insulation should have a covering to keep the insulation in place without compressing it on the unconditioned side.

D. Attic Ventilation
Proper ventilation is essential for attic heat removal. The recommended method for attic ventilation is continuous ridge, birdboard, gable, turbine, and soffit vents. Thermostatically controlled power vents can only be utilized when the manufacturer data is used to match the home square footage and ventilation rate for proper intake.

E. Floor Insulation
Three foundation approaches are typical in this area for residential construction: open crawl spaces, enclosed crawl spaces and concrete slabs. Insulation requirements for each are outlined below.

1. Enclosed Crawl Space – a minimum of R-19 faced batt insulation will be placed between the floor joist above the crawl space. Ground cover, vapor barrier, will reduce the evaporation of moisture from the ground into the crawl space. A 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier must be installed with overlapping joints and 100% coverage.
2. Concrete Slab – none required.
3. Open crawl space – a minimum of R-19 faced batt insulation will be placed between the floor joist above the crawl space.

F. Windows
Windows must be double- pane with a thermal break between the panes. A thermal break separates inside and outside pieces of the window frame with an insulating material. Windows constructed with a thermal break are identified by a AT.I.M.@ symbol. When a home faces east and west and 50% of the glass area is exposed to direct sunlight, it is recommended that the windows have a low Ae@ coating. The low Ae@ coating is an invisible metallic coating and/ or Argon fill which allows sunlight to pass but blocks radiant heat. This microscopic low-e coating is applied to one of the inner glass surfaces of a sealed double- pane window, which keeps the inside window surface warmer in the winter.

G. Doors
Doors in the Touchstone Energy Home^SM program should be metal insulted. Glass doors, French or sliding style, should meet the standards for conventional windows, double pane with a thermal break. Precautions should be taken in sealing the rough openings. Solid wood doors are allowed in limited use. Metal insulated doors are recommended for attic access entrances.

H. Infiltration Control
All exterior joints around windows, door frames, corner joints, and all penetrations, including but not limited to electrical, television and phone through the exterior building envelope must be caulked, gasketed, weather-stripped, or otherwise sealed. All sole plates must be caulked or have a sill sealer installed.

Fireplaces should have glass fronts or glass doors and combustion air should be ducted in from the outside. Chimney flues and fireplaces must have tight fitting dampers.

Outside vented exhaust fans with back draft dampers should be installed in all full bathrooms and kitchens.

Recessed lighting will be a UL Listed type that is airtight and rated for an insulated ceiling.

I. HVAC Equipment
HVAC equipment will per sized per the Manual AJ@ calculation plus 6,000 Btu’s or 25%, whichever is smaller, or to the next available size. Air source heat pumps and package systems (split & package) must be ARI rated with a minimum 13 SEER. It is recommended that all heat pumps have outdoor thermostats to control the supplemental heat operation. The outdoor thermostats should be staged on a balance point for each home. It is recommended that electric heat pumps 3 and1/2 tons or smaller have 10kw strip heat. For electric heat pumps in excess of 3 and ½ tons, it is recommended they have 15kw strip heat.

NOTE: Due to structural requirements, accepted building practices and optional construction techniques, variations in program recommendations may occur.

SSVEC reserves the right to refuse Touchstone Energy Home^SM program qualifications of any dwelling and to change or modify the program as deemed necessary. SSVEC assumes no responsibility for quality of construction, material, equipment, appliances or workmanship. SSVEC will perform random inspections to verify compliance of program guidelines, not to check the working functions of equipment, appliances, etc.

J. Heating and Cooling Applications
Not fuel specific, must be 12 SEER for Heat Pumps and AC or 80% AFUE for gas.

K. Cooking Applications
Not fuel specific.

Rebates and Incentives:
The Touchstone Energy Home^SM program currently offers rebates. When a new home in SSVEC’s service area meets approved Touchstone Energy Home^SM program standards, with an approved 14 SEER electric heat pump or .90 efficiency electric water heater, SSVEC may provide rebates. (Rebate programs may be subject to change at any time.) The Touchstone Energy Home^SM program efficiency rebates will be administered by the same process as currently. SSVEC will have the flexibility to rebate dollar amounts to appropriate, i.e. customer, HVAC contractor or builder /developer. However, SSVEC will only pay up to the current approved rebate amounts. All rebates will be paid by SSVEC. Only one rebate will be paid for heat pumps and one rebate for electric water heaters per residence.

Procedure:
Sign the Builder Agreement to become a Qualified Touchstone Energy Home Builder. SSVEC will supply home signs, stickers, completion sheets, logos and other necessary papers on disk for your use, and certificates for qualified homes. When beginning to build a home, send SSVEC a start sheet, plan, or blueprint for our records. Upon completion of the home, send SSVEC the Touchstone Energy Home Completion and Certification Form. SSVEC will perform random inspections of homes.