Do Your Weatherization Standards Measure Up?

WARM CHOICE Program Standards and Procedures

Energy Essentials Core Contractor Training December 10 and 11, 2008

Four Points by Sheraton, Mars, PAA. Tamasin Sterner, Pure Energy

Benefits to Having Standards

• Consistency among Providers

• Saves time in the event of emergencies

• Quality Assurance

• Clear Guidelines and Rules for:

– Customers

– Contractor/Providers

– Columbia Gas Staff

Typical Standards Topics– WARM CHOICE Purpose

– Customer Eligibility and Enrollment

– Administration

– Paperwork/File Flow

– Completion Deadlines

– Auditing Steps

– Installation and Diagnostics Requirements

– Health and Safety

– Quality Assurance

WARM CHOICE Program Procedures and Policies Documents

• WARM CHOICE Standards and Procedures Document, distributed by Columbia Gas soon– This includes WARM CHOICE program policies

– July 2008 DCED Weatherization Standards and Field Guide for PA

• Comments will be accepted between now and late December

WARM CHOICE Objectives

• Safe, affordable energy for low-income customers

• Reduced uncollectible arrearages and write-offs

• Reduce wasted consumption

• Create affordable budgets/bills for customers

• Improved payment frequency

• Reduced CAP shortfall deficit by bill reduction

• Improved customer satisfaction

• Environmental awareness/protection

Customer Eligibility and Enrollment

Columbia Gas staff enrolls customers into WARM CHOICE. The customer qualifies if:

– Income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

– Winter seasonal gas use averages 180 ccf’s or higher per month

– 20% of the WC budget will be used to serve customers whose income is between 151% and 200% of the FPG

– CAP customers must participate!

Administration

• Columbia Gas employees

• Weatherization (Wx) Installation Contractors

• HVAC Clean and Tune, and Replacement Contractors

• Quality Assurance Contractors

Paperwork/File Flow Steps

• Columbia Gas qualifies customers and sends info to Auditor

• Auditor audits and sends info to HVAC and Weatherization Installer

• HVAC work done, notifies Weatherization Installation Provider

• Installation Completed, sends file to QA

• Final Inspection completed, paperwork sent to Columbia Gas

Paperwork Flow Continued…

• Request for clean and tune, and testing sent to the HVAC Contractor

• At the same time, completed audit form sent to the Weatherization Installation Provider

• Photos sent to HVAC Contractor and Weatherization Installation Provider

• Wx Installation Provider waits for HVAC contractor to finish his work and give the “all safe” prior to starting weatherization.

Paperwork Flow Continued…

• HVAC contractor sends copy of invoice/work completed to Wx Installation Provider for file

• Wx Installation Provider does his work and sends copy of HVAC contractor’s invoice and own invoice to Quality Assurance Contractor

• After Final Inspection, the file is mailed to Columbia Gas

Completion Deadlines

• Audit: 45 days

• HVAC work: 30 days

• Wx Installation: 60 days

• Final Inspection: 30 days

• Repair/Call Backs: 2 days for health or safety issues, 30 days for other issues

Auditing Steps

– Use Analysis – is the gas use low, mid, high?

– Customer Interview – how do they use gas in the home?

– Verification of income and home ownership - Complete the WARM CHOICE Program Verification Form

– Address Gas Baseload Opportunities; dryer, water heater, oven

– Structure Inspection – should Columbia Gas invest money in this house?

Auditing Steps Continued

– Determine the Building Tightness Limit (also known as BAS; MVG goal)

– Measure Air Leakage, pre-work (blower door testing)

– Pre-work Combustion Safety Testing

– Duct Evaluation for gas furnaces

– Customer Education, including customized action plan

– Referral to Electric Company LIURP Program – leave application and envelope

Audit “Leave Behind” Information

• Customized Action Plan

• Referral to LIURP

• Other Referrals

Installation and Diagnostics Standards

• Combustion Safety Testing:

– Follow the DCED Heating System Specifications sections in the most current Wx Standards and Field Guide for combustion safety testing and action levels

Installation and Diagnostics Continued

• For Building Tightness Limits and Diagnostic Testing:

– Follow the Building Tightness Limit found in the most current PA WAP DCED Weatherization Standards and Field Guide

Installation and Diagnostics Continued

• For Materials and Installation Methods:

– Follow the most current DCED Weatherization Standards and Field Guide for all measures except electric baseload measures. Leave these to DCED (WAP) or the electric company.

– Priority Lists available

HVAC

• For Heating System replacement standards:

– Follow the DCED Weatherization Standards and Field Guide for replacement, including for efficiency

– Be sure that the HVAC installer seals ductwork connections after installation of the new unit and/or insulates pipes

Health and Safety

Follow safe and healthy working practices

• This includes paying special attention to moisture, combustion gasses, asbestos, gas leaks, and other contaminants

• The Deferral Standards from PA WAP may be used for reference

• Use the Weatherization Release form – BEFORE air sealing and insulating

• Test in and Test out!

More Health and Safety• Homes with unvented combustion appliances will not receive air

sealing measures, including insulation unless the unvented appliance is removed prior to our work.

• Homes where combustion safety testing fails, including draft testing, will not receive measures until the problems are remediated.

• Homes with moisture issues will not be treated unless the cause of the moisture problem can be resolved by WARM CHOICE or resolved by the customer prior to installation of measures.

• Homes with other contaminants may be individually considered.• Homes with combustion appliances that fail the HVAC

Replacement Procedures for efficiency reasons may receive measures prior to the replacement of the system. Not so if they fail for combustion safety reasons.

HVAC and Appliance Replacement

• Heating systems may be replaced if they are inefficient or unsafe or too will cost too much to repair

• Water heaters may be replaced if they are inefficient or unsafe

Follow qualification guidelines found in the most current DCED Wx Standards and Field Guide

Quality Assurance

• At least 25% of the completed jobs receive Final Inspection

Field Guide

To get a copy of the DCED Weatherization Standards and Field Guide:

http://www.pct.edu/wdce/wtc/pdf/WeatherBook.pdf

Watch for the WARM CHOICE Policies and Procedures document for Columbia Gas policies

In the event procedures conflict, it is your responsibility to follow the most conservative and strict procedure.