FEATURED NOTES MARCH 2010 State of Maine Adopts RESNET Home Energy Rating Standard for Labeling of Residential Buildings The Maine State Legislature adopted Resolve, Regarding Building Energy Efficiency and Carbon Performance Ratings. The legislation directed the Maine Public Utilities Commission to undertake the following measures regarding building energy efficiency rating systems: Develop or select a standardized rating system and reporting form for building energy efficiency and carbon performance Include the standardized rating system and reporting form in professional education and training programs sponsored by the Public Utilities Commission Encourage real estate and professionals and other stakeholders to promote voluntary use of the standardized rating system and reporting form by residential and commercial property owners, including, but not limited to, voluntary disclosure of building ratings in the context of real estate transactions Encourage voluntary use of the standardized rating system and reporting form by large scale property owners and managers, including the state, municipalities and other public and private entities Develop a voluntary library or repository of ratings based on the standardized ratings system and reporting form. The legislation also required the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder group to assist with directive and report to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy by February 1, 2010. The stakeholder group met twice and included representatives of seventeen organizations. Through consensus for new and existing residential buildings, the stakeholder group identified RESNET’s HERS rating system as the only national-scale platform available today. While the technical aspects of the rating system are sound, the rating group did raise several practical considerations such as the expense of HERS ratings and a lack of certified auditors in Maine. Efficiency Maine is considering whether there are ways to incorporate this rating system into its current Maine Home Performance Program and the Maine State Housing Weatherization Assistance Program. The report recommends that ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager as the best available option for providing an energy rating for existing commercial buildings. Since Portfolio Manager does not apply to new construction, the stakeholder group identified, Efficiency Maine’s Advanced Building Program to be used in the design phases of construction. The report of the Maine Public Utilities Commission is posted on RESNET’s web site at http://www.resnet.us/hotnews/Building_Energy_Ratings.pdf OTHER NOTES Momentum Increasing for Home Star Retrofit Program Proposed program would allocate $6 billion for retrofits Action in Senate to Extend Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit Legislation passes Senate to extend tax credit to December 31, 2010 RESNET Recruiting Building Performance Labeling Task Force Volunteers being sought to assist develop RESNET guidelines for labeling State of Maine Adopts RESNET Home Energy Rating Standard for Labeling of Residential Buildings State sets standards for the labeling of the energy performance of buildings Charles Eley Appointed to RESNET Board of Directors Introducing RESNET's newest board member Philip Fairey Appointed as Chair of RESNET Standards Committee Replaces Michael Holtz 2010 Officers of RESNET Board Elected Meet your new board officers RESNET Adopts New Vision and Mission Statements Reflects expansion of scope of organization RESNET to Embark on Effort to Develop Commercial Building Energy Rating Program Introducing COMNET commercial and high-rise multifamily rating program 2010 RESNET Building Performance Conference Served as Catalyst for the Building Performance Industry 2010 RESNET Conference breaks all attendance records RESNET Presents 2010 Rating Industry Leadership Awards E-ON US and Texas Home Energy Rating Organization presenting with leadership awards David Goldstein Publishes New Book, Invisible Energy: Strategies to Rescue the Economy and Save the Planet Book was focus of 2010 RESNET Conference general session Save the Dates - February 28 - March 4, 2011 RESNET Building Performance Conference Make plans to attend the 2011 RESNET Conference in Orlando, Florida