Home Energy Auditors | Energy Commissions | Energy Conservation Tips | Energy Efficient Development | Energy and Historic Preservation | Home Energy Score | Home Inspectors | Property Assessed Clean Energy Districts (PACE) | Solar | Wind Resources | Zero Net Energy Homes
Home Energy Auditors
- The New Hampshire Residential Energy Performance Association lists firms providing home energy audit services. Full REPA members have been vetted for their energy auditing qualifications.
- Home Energy Audits, US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Assessments
- Training Tomorrow's Energy Auditors
Unitil and other New Hampshire electric utilities have joined forces with the state's community colleges to establish an energy auditor training program. The eight-week training courses will prepare students to earn a nationally-recognized Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification, which is an essential accreditation for leading home energy auditors and weatherization contractors. The course is useful for students who wish to become auditors, or who are pursuing other aspects of construction, such as architecture, building, weatherization, or craft work. Whatever their choice, students will learn to identify the need and specifications for energy efficiency improvements in homes, to resolve air leakage and moisture problems, to measure carbon monoxide, and to resolve any health and safety issues relating to carbon monoxide and appliances or heating systems within a residence. BPI certification insures that homes are weatherized to a national standard, while protecting the health and safety of occupants. To learn more about these programs, visit the Building Performance Institute or contact Manchester or Laconia Community Colleges directly.
Energy Commissions
- Chapter 38-D Energy Commissions
- Listing of Energy Commissions and Energy Committees in NH municipalities
Energy Conservation Tips
Energy Efficient Development
- Information Briefs from UNH Cooperative Extension
- Energy Planning & Implementation Guidebook for Vermont CommunitiesÂ
2001
- See the model energy-efficient development ordinance in the Innovative Land Use Planning Techniques Handbook
- See the results of the Municipal Land Use Regulation Annual Survey for municipalities with Energy Efficient Development regulations.
- Legal Issues Presented by Municipalities' Pursuit of a More Sustainable Built Environment and Use of the LEED® Standard, by John McGowan, Esq.
These articles are a two-part series exploring the unique role of municipalities in creating a more sustainable built environment. The first article explores the role of the municipality as a "land user" - as the owner and operator of a substantial stock of public buildings and property. The second article explores the role of the municipality as a "land use regulator" - as the creator and enforcer of codes and regulations that determine how private-sector buildings are sited and constructed.
Energy and Historic Preservation
Home Energy Score
- The Home Energy Score is similar to a vehicle's miles-per-gallon rating. It helps homeowners and homebuyers understand how much energy a home is expected to use and provides suggestions for improving its energy efficiency. It also allows homeowners to compare the energy performance of their homes to other homes nationwide. The Home Energy Score includes: 1) the Score itself, 2) facts about the home including data collected and energy use breakdown, and 3) recommendations to improve the Score and the energy efficiency of the home.
Home Inspectors
- American Society of Home Inspectors - Contact Brian Dumais at (603) 424-6629.
- NH Building Officials Association
- Effective July 1, 2008, the Board of Home Inspectors was added to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Property Assessed Clean Energy Districts (PACE)
- RSA 53-F Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts
- C-PACE, Coming to a Municipality Near You...Soon!, New Hampshire Town and City, July/August, 2015
With unanimous support by both the New Hampshire House and Senate, a dramatically rewritten C-PACE statute will become law in 2015. The C-PACE acronym stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for Commercial buildings. C-PACE enables municipalities to create special assessment districts so that owners of privately held commercial buildings can voluntarily finance cash-positive energy-efficiency upgrades and/or install renewable energy systems on their properties, then tying repayment of project costs to the properties through special-assessment liens.
- Commercial-PACE Financing Moves Forward, New Hampshire Town and City, September/October 2014
New Hampshire's legislature overwhelmingly supported improvements to existing but ineffective enabling legislation originally passed in 2010, and in statute under RSA 53-F. Many believe that House Bill (HB) 532, relative to energy efficiency and clean energy districts, will provide a much-needed tool for businesses to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Solar
- Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
In light of recent increases in the development of solar facilities, New Hampshire communities must now determine how they wish to regulate and permit solar arrays. The New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association’s Model Solar Zoning Ordinance builds on existing work in the state of New Hampshire and provides a framework for communities to regulate a wide range of solar systems. The approach for the Model provides basic education about the scale of arrays and suggests a step-by-step approach to developing reasonable ordinances and regulations based on traditional regulatory methods.
Wind Resources
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Wind Turbines/Wind Resources
This page contains useful information and links to many wind resources.
Zero Net Energy Homes
- The Zero Energy Homes Project
The NAHB Research Center - The Net-Zero Energy Home (NZEH) Coalition
The Net-Zero Energy Home (NZEH) Coalition is an incorporated, multi-stakeholder organization comprised of Canadian champions in advanced energy efficient residential construction and building products, the utility sector, research and development and, manufacturing and deployment of onsite renewable energy technologies. - Moving Toward Zero Energy Homes
The US Department of Energy's Zero Energy Homes research initiative is bringing a new concept to homebuilders across the United States.