FEATURED NOTES MARCH 2010 RESNET to Embark on Effort to Develop Commercial Building Energy Rating Program RESNET has created the COMNET program for rating the building performance of commercial and high-rise multifamily buildings. RESNET was aided in this effort by technical and program leadership from the Architectural Energy Corporation, Institute for Market Transformation, the Natural Resources Defense Council and funding from the Energy Foundation and the Sea Change Foundation, the New Buildings Institute (NBI). The first task of COMNET was to develop guidelines for the energy modeling the energy performance of commercial buildings. The COMNET modeling guidelines serves three distinct purposes: Establishing eligibility for federal tax deductions per section 179D of the Internal Revenue Service code. Calculating the percentage savings for crediting energy performance for sustainable building rating systems such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED. Estimating the annual energy use for a building in the design phase for the purpose of energy labels. In 2009 NBI, the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council approached RESNET about bringing COMNET into RESNET. At its annual board meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, the RESNET Board voted to incorporate COMNET within RESNET. It also voted to create a RESNET COMNET Standing Committee chaired by Charles Eley. The standing committee will be composed of the major stakeholders who are involved in the process of developing COMNET and representatives of RESNET. The committee was charged with making the following recommendations to the RESNET Board: Develop a statement of principles regarding the integration of COMNET into RESNET. Propose a charter and mission statement for the COMNET standing committee. Propose a 2011 operating budget for COMNET activities including a strategy for funding these activities. Adopt the modeling guidelines as a RESNET publication. 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