Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things. - Jesse Jackson   The advent of a new year naturally brings broader thinking, more introspection, and the creation of future goals. What future goal has RESNET’s board recently adopted? What near-term initiatives create the path to that goal? How confident is RESNET in meeting that goal? What is “embodied passion index?”  In 2024’s inaugural episode of RESTALK, Steve Baden and Mark Johnson discuss RESNET’s ambitious goal of achieving one million ratings by the end of 2028. This goal represents a significant shift towards a goal-driven budget, breaking away from traditional year-to-year budgeting. The board's decision to set such an audacious goal is based on several factors, including the increasing demand for housing, the need for energy efficiency in homes, and the availability of new tools and initiatives.   One key initiative is the collaboration between RESNET and the International Code Council (ICC) to improve compliance with energy codes. This involves training and certifying RESNET HERS (Home Energy Rating System) raters who can play a crucial role in ensuring compliance. The extension and amendment of the 45L tax credit also provides incentives for builders to focus on energy efficiency in homes. Additionally, the use of HERS index scores as a matrix for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting by production builders and the growth of green bond programs by finance organizations further demonstrate the industry's commitment to sustainability.   The interview also highlights RESNET’s efforts in developing a water efficiency index, a carbon index for homes, and the promising build-to-rent movement, which addresses the housing shortage while promoting energy-efficient homes. The conversation concludes with both Steve and Mark expressing confidence in RESNET’s ability to achieve its ambitious goal, driven by the passion and commitment of the industry and the growing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable homes. RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

That’s the funny thing about time. It is only in looking back that it’s easy to connect the dots.  To see exactly why everything needed to happen the way that it did. - Rebecca Serle   11 episodes, 11 topics, 17 different guests and over 5 hours of RES-Talking in 2023! We covered a lot of ground in the RESTalk podcast in 2023, now going into our 6th year of episodes. We hope we stimulated your thinking and moved you into action in this ever-evolving world of home energy ratings and peripheral topics. Listen in to this fast-paced recap of the year in RESTalk, maybe you missed a detail or two in these nuggets we have mined. If you’d like to dig a little deeper into the topics covered in these episodes, see the list mentioned in each section below. PART A: Organization. Systems & Affiliates Episode Speaker(s) Topic LINK 112 Steve Baden John Hensley 2023 RESNET Mission, Goals and Priorities LINK 114 Mark Johnson and Cy Kilbourn Meet the new RESNET board leaders LINK 121 Clara Hedrick and Emma Bennett Back Together and Stronger, the RESNET 2023 Conference LINK PART B: Buildings and Building Data Episode Speaker(s) Topic LINK 116 Ryan Meres RESNET Data Sheds Light on Energy Efficient Home Trends LINK 117 James Rodriguez & Ned Munoz Learn about the HERS Index and Texas House Bill 3215 LINK 120 Robert Broad Energy Efficient Homebuilding at Scale with Robert Broad of AMH Development LINK 122 Michael Lee Best Practices in Construction Technology Education LINK PART C: Carbon, ESG and HERS Zero Episode Speaker(s) Topic LINK 113 Phililp Fairey David Goldstein Update on RESNET Carbon Index LINK 115 Chris Magwood The New RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee LINK 118 Rob Lochner & David Best Santa Fe's Habitat for Humanity building homes with HERS-ZERO scores LINK 119 Matthew Cooper RESNET® Appoints New ESG Advisory Group LINK RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

Whatever good things we build end up building us. -Jim Rohn   In today’s episode we chat with Michael Lee coordinator of the Construction Technology Program at Texarkana College in Texarkana, TX.   We learn of his back story which led him to this role. He thoughtfully describes the approach he has taken to build the construction technology department at Texarkana College.   Michael describes the students that come through the program, where they come from, what they’re taught, and where they end up working.    He spends extra effort in enriching his instruction by getting the students out into the field at events, (like the recent RESNET Texas Home Builders Association event), into factories or by bringing in guest instructors.   We also discuss how he includes the principles of energy efficient construction including the house as a system approach, HERS scoring and using the latest techniques and materials.   Details on the construction program in the following links:   https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/programs/construction-technology/ https://catalog.texarkanacollege.edu/article/construction-technology-associate-applied-science/ Degree plan: https://catalog.texarkanacollege.edu/article/construction-technology-associate-applied-science/ The Construction Technology program making the news: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/oct/11/tc-construction-students-build-new-picnic-tables/ A couple of Mike’s favorite learning resources: https://www.apawood.org/publication-search https://buildshownetwork.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@essentialcraftsman You can reach Michael via the Texarkana college website at: https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/?     RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress; working together is success. -Edward Everett Hale   On today’s podcast we welcome Clara Hedrick and Emma Bennett to give us up to date and inside information about the Upcoming RESNET conference: Nov 15-17, 2023 in San Diego, CA. Since the last face to face conference was in 2020, and after virtual conferences in 2021 and 2022, Emma shares what will be the same and what will be different as compared to past conferences. We also over a few of the specific events that attendees can look forward to as well as recommend activities outside of the conference. Breakout session topics include Carbon/ESG, Water Efficiency & HERSH2O®, HERS® as the Gold Standard, California – Here We Come, New Opportunities for the Rating Industry, Energy Codes, Tapping the Existing Homes Market, Latest Developments in Building Science, Workforce Development, and Financing Improving the Energy Efficiency of Homes We close by sharing what we are each most looking forward to about the conference.   Links Mentioned in the episode: View the schedule, find travel details and learn more about the conference at: https://www.resnet.us/conference-2023/ Find details on the KB Homes Microgrid home tour: https://www.resnet.us/conference-2023/kb-homes-microgrid-tour/ Learn more about the RESNET Emerging Leadership council at: https://www.resnet.us/raters/emerging-leadership-council-elc/ The RESTALK Podcast EP 115 with Chris Magwood on the Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee: https://restalk.libsyn.com/ep115-the-new-resnet-embodied-carbon-advisory-committee-with-chris-magwood-from-rmi   RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.   -Jochen Zeitz   In this episode of the RESTalk podcast we are joined by Robert Broad, Senior Vice President of Development at AMH (NYSE: AMH), where he oversees new home and community development operations - including land acquisition, land development, purchasing, product development, and construction.   Robert shares with us AMH’s focus on a desire to create more energy efficient homes using scalable techniques and measurable goals. During this conversation we learn of some new and innovative approaches by AMH.    Robert also shares with us why AMH chooses to have its homes HERS® Rated and what he feels are the special aspects of a HERS® Rated home.   We hear that in 2022, AMH built 2,183 homes with an average HERS® score of 61.9 or 0.9 better than 2021.   Robert tells us how RESNET offers builders a quantifiable program where you can excel with a wide range of markers that’s compatible across multiple regions and climate zones.    With AMH investing in being long-term owner-operator, durability is key operating metric in their new builds. RESNET helps AMH establish their baseline in sustainability efforts to create a strong foundation they can use to track progress year over year.   Robert’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-broad-a182384/   https://www.resnet.us/articles/american-homes-4-rent-sets-path-to-zero-energy-homes-through-hers-ratings/   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMMFx-3m2g4     RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It is a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.   -Ban Ki-moon   ESG has become an integral factor in the financial world. The Structured Finance Association estimates that $11.6 trillion, or $1 of every $4 invested in the United States, was invested under ESG investment strategies.  RESNET® HERS® Ratings are increasingly becoming the metric for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting on the energy performance of homes. How will RESNET keep track of the needs and opportunities presented by this movement in the industry?   RESNET® Executive Director Steve Baden has recently appointed a RESNET ESG Advisory Group  to better track these emerging opportunities and to develop recommendations on how RESNET® should position itself to take advantage of them. The group is composed of a select group of rating companies and builder representatives that are active in this area of the industry. We are joined on this podcast by Matthew Cooper of PEG chair of the advisory group.  Matthew shares with us his insights and details on the initial efforts of the task group which will be targeted on increasing the presence of RESNET® and HERS® Ratings to financers investing in this economic activity. Other members of the group are: Jacob Atalla, KB Home Erin Bordelon, D.R. Horton Thomas Cochran, ARCXIS Ian Hughes, Meritage Homes Eric Johnson, US Eco-Logic Nathan Kahre, EnergyLogic Chris Urbanus, Burgess Construction Consultants, Inc. Links: Matthew’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-cooper-peg/   https://www.resnet.us/articles/green-bond-market-for-single-family-energy-efficient-homes-grows/   https://www.resnet.us/articles/american-homes-4-rent-sets-path-to-zero-energy-homes-through-hers-ratings/   https://www.resnet.us/articles/the-nations-big-builders-drive-up-hers-ratings-in-2020/   RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” -Albert Schweitzer   Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to help families build and improve places to call home. In the process developing strong and stable communities with affordable housing. Often household utility costs make affordability a challenge. What factors need to fall into place to address this challenge of affordability? How are cozy, comfortable, attractive homes that use no net energy being built in the Habit for Humanity model?   Join us as Rob Lochner, Construction Director at Habit for Humanity, Santa Fe and David Best, HERS Rater with Evergreen Building Solutions (www.evergreenbuildingsolutions.com/) share with us the fascinating story of how 15 NetZero / HERS-ZERO homes have been built in the Habitat for Humanity program in Santa Fe, New Mexico. David describes some of the straightforward technical practices and measures that have been used as the program has evolved since 2020. While these homes are attracting interest and providing influence, Rob shares insights into what seems to be preventing more widespread adoption of these practices in more projects. To learn more or contact our guests, refer to the links below. Links for our guests: David Best: drb713@gmail.comDavid’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-best-30359a33/ Rob Lochner: rob@santafehabitat.org Video with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/build-block-building-systems_video-icfs-and-habitat-for-humanity-activity-6947958189782958080-Uh5d?   Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity Website: https://santafehabitat.org/habitat-homes/ Albuquerque Journal Story: https://www.abqjournal.com/2599030/headline-goes-here-258.html     RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

“The trend is your friend.” -Mark Zweig    With Texas as the leading state in new home starts, we can expect some housing trends first to arise there. Why was House Bill 3215 developed and enacted in Texas? What entities and organizations participated in developing the language in the bill? How will this impact the HERS industry in Texas and elsewhere?   Joining us on today’s podcast is Ned Munoz, V.P. of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel at Texas Association of Builders, and James Rodriguez, Executive Vice President at Fox Energy Specialists. James shares with us the desire to set up a hybrid approach- that is, to introduce a second universal pathway of state energy compliance that is performance-based. Which means Texas now recognizes the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index scores as a standalone compliance pathway which untangles it from the current ICC/IRC versions of the energy rating index (ERI) pathway. Ned explains how the Texas Association of Builders recognizes the impact that mandated energy codes have on housing affordability while still encouraging energy-efficient home building and how these concepts influenced the wording of the bill. It's important to note that the State of Texas overlay energy code for single-family new construction was not updated or changed by the bill.  Below are the HERS Index pathway thresholds remaining in effect for 10 years. TIMELINE Climate Zone 2 HERS Index Climate Zone 3 HERS Index 09/1/19 to 08/31/22 63 63 09/1/22 to 08/31/25 59 59 09/1/25 to 08/31/28 57 57 09/1/28 to 09/01/31 55 55 Note: 2018 IECC mandatory items and building envelope thresholds must be upheld as part of these HERS scores.   LINKS: 2 articles on the topic: https://www.resnet.us/builders/hb3215/ https://www.foxenergyspecialists.com/news/texas-house-bill-hb-3215-to-take-effect-on-september-1st James Rodriguez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rodriguez-0523001/ Ned Munoz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ned-mu%C3%B1oz-13a5606/ FAQs on TX HB: 3125: https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/HB-3215-FAQs_08062021.pdf The actual TX HB 3215: https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/87R-HB-3215-Enrolled-version.pdf   RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

“Data is the most valuable asset in the world.” - Brittany Kaiser    Housing trends have significant importance to the RESNET community. In addition to tracking progress with RESNET HERS Ratings, the hundreds of data points collected on each home provide insights into the trends in energy efficiency, component selection and electrification.  What are some of the latest trends in HERS Rated homes? What value can this data provide to all the stakeholders in RESNET?   RESTALK welcomes back RESNET’s Program Director, Ryan Meres, to share with us some insights he has gathered from the 2023 report: Trends in HERS Rated Homes, a statistical abstract. Ryan shares with us the impetus of this report, as well as the latest trends in its third year of publication. Some of the big picture trends he notes are: 129% increase in annual Ratings from 2013 to 2022  Just shy of 338,000 Ratings last year (80% single family/20% multifamily)  Have seen year-over-year increases for a decade  Massachusetts is number one again with 82% of new homes receiving a Rating  Indiana comes in second with 68%  8 states achieved 50% or more of new homes rated  When looking only at the number of total ratings, Texas comes out on top with over 81,000 ratings.   Note: in the upcoming RESTALK Episode 117 we will learn about the HERS Index and Texas House Bill 3215. We also cover other topics in the report including efficiency, component types and usage and trends toward electrification. A link to the 2021 report:  https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/2021-Data-Trends-Report-of-HERS-Rated-Homes.pdf A link to the 2022 Report: https://t.e2ma.net/click/6263j7/ysd8cfc/u5splqh A link to the 2023 report will be available in the RESNET Newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, please subscribe here: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1878040/1889360/ RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

“Doing your best in this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” -Oprah Winfrey    A critical element in the decarbonization of homes is the embodied carbon produced in the construction of homes. As the current RESNET Carbon Index® only covers the carbon produced due to energy used in a home, what do we do next? What type of standards exists to perform this assessment? What are the challenges and roadmap ahead? Recently, the RESNET Board of Directors formally authorized the creation of an effort to explore the development of a residential embodied carbon standard. The first step in this process is the creation of an advisory committee that will review the development of the standard, provide suggestions on how to proceed, and vet drafts of the guidelines. Our guest today is Chris Magwood, Chair of the RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee. Chris’ full-time role is the Manager of Carbon-Free Buildings at RMI. I found this topic fascinating as we explored the data and the impact on people, businesses, and the environment. My big takeaway was that the stacked benefits are wins all the way around, and pursuing these efforts is not likely to be cost-prohibitive, perhaps cost-beneficial. LINKS: Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-magwood-8a8a9738/ RESNET blog post on The RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee:  https://www.resnet.us/about/resnet-carbon-rating-index/resnet-appoints-advisory-committee-to-investigate-development-of-standard-to-calculate-the-embodied-carbon-in-homes/   RESTalk EP113 on the Carbon Index update: https://restalk.libsyn.com/ep113-update-on-resnet-carbon-index-with-philip-fairey-and-david-goldstein   Info on the RESNET Carbon Index: https://www.resnet.us/about/resnet-carbon-rating-index/     RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US