This guide to climate zones is an update to Volume 7 in the Best Practices series of guides for home builders produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Program. This guide describes the climate zone designations used by Building America and compares them with the climate zone designations used in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Building America welcomes reader feedback on all volumes of the Best Practices Series. Please submit your comments via e-mail to George James
This best practices guide is part of a series produced by Building America. The guide book is a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the mixed-humid climate. The savings are in comparison with the 1993 Model Energy Code. The guide contains chapters for every member of the builder's team-from the manager to the site planner to the designers, site supervisors, the trades, and marketers. There is also a chapter for homeowners on how to use the book to provide help in selecting a new home or builder.• Homeowners will find how energy-efficient homes package value, comfort, economy, durability, and performance. This chapter is a great introduction to energy-efficient home technologies and provides helpful checklists of what to look for when home shopping.• Managers will learn why building energy-efficient homes makes business sense. They will find out how much consumers value energy efficiency and the quality that comes with it, and how their company can gain market advantage by building energy-efficient homes.• Marketers will learn about great resources for selling energy-efficient homes, including getting plugged into the ENERGY STAR ® nationally recognized branding program.• Site Planners will discover the huge impact building orientation, landscaping, and shading can have on energy costs, plus learn tips on moisture management and pest control.• Designers will learn about the systems approach to home design backed up by building science. They will get guidance on key building components for designing energy-efficient homes.• Site Supervisors will get guidance on contract specifications, tips on scheduling and training, and handy checklists for quality assurance and commissioning inspections.• Trades will find step-by-step, easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for adding key energy efficiency technologies.The last chapter has case studies showing real-life examples of builders who are designing and constructing energy-efficient houses in the mixed-humid climate zone.We designed this guidebook to be taken apart, passed around, and updated. Give the sections of the book to the right people in your organization. Pass on pieces to subcontractors to help them understand your objectives. Copy it as needed.This first series of guides helps builders understand and implement the Building America process to reach 30% energy savings in space heating and cooling and water heating. Future guides will aim at even higher levels of efficiency based on the latest Building America research, giving builders the knowledge they need to build even more efficient and durable houses.The practices in this book are intended for the mixed-humid climate zone. Visit www.buildingamerica.gov for information on handbooks covering other climate regions.
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