Guide

Energy Efficiency Checklist

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Guide

Training Solution 2: Utilities, DERs, & Interconnection

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Guide

Southface Terms Glossary

Use Southface’s Terms Glossary to peel back the mystery behind terms like R-value, Manual J, and thermal envelope to better start on your own path to a more energy-efficient home.

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Guide

BIT Building One Sheet

Learn more about the BIT Building program and how its’ flexible pathways can help you reduce your building’s operating costs.

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Georgia Power IRP – Introduction & Overview

This overview was designed as a companion guide for the first of the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) training and roundtable discussion series, entitled “Georgia Power IRP – Introduction and Overview.”

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Utility Avoided Cost Summary

A tool for valuing renewable energy and utility energy efficiency programs in Georgia.

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Guide

Glossary for Georgia’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan

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Assessment Toolkit

2020 Georgia Energy Code Certificate, Fillable PDF

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Case Study

Savannah Trees Case Study

The City of Savannah has encouraged green infrastructure through a “tree lawn” requirement for some commercial developments. This helps to mitigate flooding among other negative impacts caused, in part, by the built environment and will strengthen the regenerative nature of …

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Case Study

Historic Fourth Ward Park Case Study

Historic Fourth Ward Park, specifically its crowning jewel, Clear Creek Basin, has dramatically reduced flooding in the area, which was once a brownfield filled with abandoned warehouses and parking lots.

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Case Study

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design: Built Environment Impacts in the Southeast

The Living Building Challenge (LBC), an initiative of the International Living Future Institute, is a green building certification program that envisions and celebrates the true meaning of regenerative design: design that goes beyond a net-zero impact and positively benefits its …

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Report

Applying the PAYS® System to On-Site Solar to Expand Access for All – Summary

The purpose of this three-part paper is to determine whether and how the PAYS® system for tariffed on-bill investment could make on-site solar systems available to low- and moderate-income customers and renters.

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Guide

Alabama Commercial Energy Code Field Guide

The 2015 IECC / ASHRAE 90.1-2013 Alabama Commercial Energy Code was adopted on January 1, 2016. This Commercial Energy Code Field Guide is primarily intended for use by code officials when inspecting commercial construction projects for compliance with the ASHRAE …

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Guide

Energy Code FAQs

What are the new targets for house air leakage?

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

UA Trade Off Tool

This worksheet calculates the total envelope UA of a building based on user inputs. The calculator provides a final estimate of a proposed building’s performance compared to the prescriptive U-factors of the 2020 Georgia Residential Energy Code (and based on …

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Report

Applying the PAYS® System to On-Site Solar to Expand Access for All

The purpose of this three-part paper is to determine whether and how the PAYS® system for tariffed on-bill investment could make on-site solar systems available to low- and moderate-income customers and renters.

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Guide

Fulton County Community Resilience Hub

In order to improve the climate resilience of local residents, Fulton County Government and Southface Institute are partnering to establish a community resilience hub at one of the County’s community-serving facilities.

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Report

LIFT Solar Customer Experience Benchmarking Analysis

The LIFT Solar Everywhere research project has developed a three-part research report to determine whether and how the PAYS® system for tariffed on-bill investment could make on-site solar systems available to low- and moderate-income (LMI) customers. The PAYS system is …

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Guide

Código de Energía Residencial de Alabama Guía de Campo

Esta guía tiene por objeto ayudar a explicar la parte residencial del Código de energía de Alabama 2020 y no necesariamente incluye todos los aspectos y detalles.

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Guide

Alabama Residential Energy Code Field Code 2020

This guide is intended to help explain the residential portion of the 2020 Alabama Energy Code and does not necessarily include all aspects and details.

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Guide

GA 2020 Energy Code Overview

As of January 1, 2020, Georgia’s new energy code is the 2015 IECC + 2020 GA Supplements and Amendments, which supersedes the 2009 IECC (with 2011 GA Supplements and Amendments).

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Case Study
Report

Climate Change and Displacement in U.S. Communities

Climate change is playing a bigger role in determining where and how we live, and is limiting access to and availability of affordable healthy housing, healthy food choices, transportation choices and social networks, which is forcing displacement of individuals and …

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Utility Guide to Tariffed On-Bill Programs

This document guides the reader through resources about on-bill financing, tariffed on-bill programs and the Pay as You Save® PAYS system. An understanding of these resources is necessary for the design and implementation of a successful tariffed on-bill program.

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Guide

GA 2020 Supplements and Amendments

The INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, 2015 Edition, published by the International Code Council, when used in conjunction with these Georgia State Supplements and Amendments and any other Georgia State Amendments, shall constitute the official Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code.

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Guide

Building Code Training

Presentation on best practices to control commercial lighting.

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Guide

Lighting Controls Handbook for Commercial Buildings

This guide is intended to help explain the lighting controls portion of the energy code and does not necessarily include all aspects and details. This guide attempts to compile all relevant information and key practices related to each component.

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Guide

Georgia Residential Air Sealing Handbook

This guide is intended to help explain the residential portion of the 2020 Georgia Energy Code and does not necessarily include all aspects and details.

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Guide

Simplified Mechanical Approach Quick Guide

This guide is intended to help explain the commercial portion of the energy code and does not necessarily include all aspects and details. This guide is organized by building component and attempts to compile all relevant information and key practices …

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Guide

Quick Facts – Major Difference Between 2015 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 2013

Georgia has amended the IECC 2015 code but left ASHRAE 90.1 2013 as-is and only ASHRAE recognizes semi-heated spaces.

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Guide

Building Code Training

This presentation was created to help students understand Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code air barrier requirements and learn thermal boundary requirements of the Georgia energy code.

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Report

Commercial Energy Code Building Envelope Difference Between IECC 2015 and ASHRAE 90.1 – 2013

Understand the major differences between IECC 2015 and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 in commercial buildings. Apply design and construction strategies in building projects to comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2013 / IECC 2015. Appreciate COMcheck software and its application in helping show compliance with …

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Turn to Southface for Sustainability Services Brochure

Southface Institute’s Sustainability Services are designed to help organizations steamline every aspect of their resource use, operations and sustainability strategy.

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The EarthCraft Standard of Excellence 2019

The EarthCraft family of programs is developed and maintained in close partnership with builders and industry leaders to create better buildings, better communities and better living.

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White Paper

Keeping the Lights On: Energy Efficiency and Community Solar for All Georgians

Many Georgia families struggle with high energy bills in 2018. The Georgia Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) served 140,795 families in need of assistance with their energy bills.

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Assessment Toolkit
Case Study

Fort Benning Indianhead Townhome Renovation

As part of the National Association of Home Builders Research Centers Partnership for High Performance Homes, Southface Institute completed a post-renovation analysis of the Fort Benning, Georgia Indianhead townhomes renovation project.

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Guide

Appendix RA: Air Barrier and Insulation Installation Component Guide

2015 IECC (2019 Georgia Energy Code)

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Guide

2020 Guía de Campo Comerical

Esta guía tiene por objeto ayudar a explicar la parte comercial del código de energía y no incluye necesariamente todos los aspectos y detalles. Esta guía está organizada por componente de construcción e intenta recopilar toda la información relevante y …

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Guide

2020 Guía de Campo Residential 2020

Esta guía tiene por objeto ayudar a explicar la parte residencial del Código de energía de Georgia 2020 y no necesariamente incluye todos los aspectos y detalles. Esta guía está organizada por componente de construcción e intenta recopilar toda la …

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Atlanta CREW One Sheet

In the City of Atlanta, one inch of rainfall can generate as much as 640 million gallons of stormwater runoff, water that damages homes, businesses and the environment.

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Commercial Energy Code 2015 IECC & ASHRAE 90.1‐2013

Understand the scope, application and methods of demonstrating compliance with IECC 2015 and ASHRAE 90.1‐2013 in commercial buildings.

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Guide

Water Audit Guidance for Commercial Buildings

This document is an initial attempt to develop water audit guidance based on a multi-year process drawing upon input from a working group of industry experts. Building water audits offer clear benefits to facility managers and owners, municipalities encouraging greater …

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Report

Resilient Southeast: Exploring Opportunities for Solar + Storage in Atlanta, GA

Resilient Southeast – Atlanta is one in a series of reports that explores the obstacles and opportunities for solar PV and battery storage (solar + storage) to strengthen the resilience of communities throughout the Southeast.

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Guide

Georgia Energy Code Appendix RA Airsealing Insulation Keypoints 2019

A continuous air barrier shall be installed in the building envelope.

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Guide

Small Commercial Building Assessment Combustion Appliance Guidelines

When assessing a commercial building, combustion equipment will often be encountered. Buildings are systems and how combustion appliances interact with the building is an important consideration that every commercial auditor should understand.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Southface Small Commercial Combustion Assessment Workbook – Blank

Created using industry procedures*, this combustion appliance assessment tool is intended to help an assessor: perform calculations and testing associated with combustion equipment, and determine the relative safeness of the installed combustion equipment with respect to the building occupants’ breathing …

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Report

Building Science 101

A guide to understanding a systems approach to building better homes and giving customers what they want. Knowledge of building science can help you improve building performance and meet homebuyers’ needs in terms of the comfort, durability and energy efficiency …

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Southface Weighted Avg Calculator (U and SHGC)

Weighted Average Calculator: U Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

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White Paper

Appropriate Ventilation Strategies for Homes (in Mixed‐Hot Humid Climates)

Buildings are tight and getting tighter thanks to better energy code implementation and the extensive use of sheet‐good materials and more careful attention to sealing penetrations during construction.

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GA 2020 Residential Energy Code

Learning objectives include: Understand Georgia Energy Code air barrier & insulation requirements, identify house air sealing key points, learn thermal boundary requirements of the Georgia Energy Code, recognize common insulation challenges, understand HVAC and water heating provisions, and know how …

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Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon

This Guide answers important questions about radon and lung cancer risk. It also answers questions about testing and fixing for anyone buying or selling a home.

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Guide

Home Energy Projects

The Home Energy Project Checklist will help you decide which energy conservation measures to adopt. The Energy Conservation Measures are projects such as insulating and sealing air leaks. These projects are appropriate for many do-it-yourselfers.

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DCA Construction Codes Program Update

Key Changes in the 2018 International Building Code for Georgia.

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Report

Clean Energy Atlanta

A Vision for a 100% Clean Energy Future

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Guide

Quick Compliance Guide

Commercial buildings are the single largest consumer of energy within the city of Atlanta, and as a result, the largest source of polluting emissions.

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White Paper

Georgia Climate Research Roadmap

We identified 40 important research that, if answered, could lay the groundwork for effective, science-based climate action in Georgia.

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Report

Solar for Georgia Nonprofits

In 2015, Southface launched its Solar for Georgia’s Underserved Markets initiative. Through this initiative Southface seeks to facilitate the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on nonprofits and communities of faith (collectively referred to herein as “nonprofits”), municipalities, and multifamily …

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Guide
Report

Made to Last: A Field Guide to Community Resilience, Vol 1

Resilience is shaped by context. How we adapt to physical and social vulnerabilities is a function of our location, resources, and relationships.

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Report

Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan

Building on the significant success already achieved by the City of Atlanta, the Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan promotes and supports the implementation of green infrastructure (GI) throughout the City by all City departments, our partners and the private sector.

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White Paper

The Water-Energy Nexus

Southface Institute and the Southern Environmental Law Center are pleased to present “The Water-Energy Nexus in Georgia: A Detailed Examination of Consumptive Water Use in the Power Sector.” Our goals in commissioning this analysis were to clarify the scale and …

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Guide

Appendix RA Air Sealing and Insulation Key Points

A continuous air barrier shall be installed in the building envelope.

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Report

The Microgrid and the Living Building Challenge

The Living Building at Georgia Tech will meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), an initiative of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The LBC is the most environmentally-beneficial and efficient standard in the building industry.

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Guide
Report

Georgia Residential Energy Code Field Study: Baseline Report

A research project in the State of Georgia identified opportunities to reduce homeowner utility bills in residential single-family new construction by increasing compliance with the state energy code. The study was initiated in April 2015 and continued through November 2015.

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Report

West LaFayette Transformation Plan

The purpose of the West LaFayette Transformation Plan is to help the community capitalize on investments in housing.

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Guide

Water Heating

Upgrading hot water system efficiency can produce both energy and water savings, leading to financial savings for business owners.

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Guide

Water Fixture Efficiency

The commercial building sector accounts for 17 percent of public water use (excluding irrigation), and the cost of water varies greatly by location.

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Guide

Ventilation – Strategies for Small Commercial Buildings

Creating a tight building envelope is critically important to reducing air leakage and cutting energy consumption in a commercial building.

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Case Study
Report

Measuring Campus Performance

Many college campuses are billed for utilities based on a small number of meters shared by multiple buildings. As a result, utility tracking systems provide aggregate usage measurements, instead of providing building-level data.

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Guide

Small Commercial Efficiency Programs for Nonprofits

Nonprofits are good targets for efficiency programs as typically they are under pressure to reduce expenses, and they often occupy inefficient buildings that needlessly waste energy, water and other resources.

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Assessment Toolkit

Small Commercial Combustion Appliance Assessment Workbook – Case Study AP 16 May 2016

The workbook consists of 5 pages that walk the user through the assessment process as described below. When used on a tablet or laptop computer, the workbook will auto-populate the shaded fields based on user inputs in the non-shaded fields.

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Report

Recreation Center Efficiency Solutions Package

The Recreation Center Efficiency Solutions Package aims to support municipalities nationwide with selecting efficiency improvements to reduce energy and water use at existing recreation centers by at least 20%.

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Guide

Plug Load & Appliances

Up to 33 percent of a small commercial building’s energy use is consumed by the appliances that occupants use daily.

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Guide

Fostering Occupant Engagement for Resource Efficiency

The human element is perhaps the most significant contributor to energy consumption in small commercial buildings.

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Guide

Lighting & Lighting Controls

Lighting accounts for 10 percent of energy consumption in small commercial buildings on average.

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Guide

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Controls

Ensuring your equipment is operating as efficiently as possible is critical to reducing your building’s energy consumption and cutting operational costs while maintaining occupant comfort.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Fire Station Efficiency Solutions Package

The Fire Station Efficiency Solutions Package aims to assist municipalities nationwide reduce carbon footprints, lower utility bills, and increase resiliency by selecting improvements that will reduce energy and water use in existing buildings by at least 20%.

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Case Study

Chatsworth Boys and Girls Club

The Chatsworth project supports the Boys and Girls Club commitment to providing vibrant, healthy spaces for children to play and learn in an environmentally responsible building.

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Case Study
Guide

Manage Campus Building Performance through Benchmarking to Save Energy and Water

College campuses spend nearly two billion dollars every year on utility costs, a figure that is forecasted to rise as energy and water costs become increasingly volatile in the future

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Report

Building Envelope

The envelope is determined by the physical, thermal and moisture boundary in a building.

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Report

Buildings Are Complex Systems

A small commercial building could be viewed as a type of organism. It consists of multiple isolated systems, each of which play a role in its overall health.

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Case Study

Atlanta International School

Atlanta International School Early Learning Center (AIS-ELC) is a 17,231 square foot, two-story pre-school that was certified in the EarthCraft Light Commercial (ECLC) green building certification program. The school partnered with Southface to analyze building design and performance through the …

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Case Study

A Friend’s House

A Friend’s House is a 25,285 square foot lodging facility in McDonough, GA that implemented several energy conservation measures in 2014 through the GoodUse program (formerly Grants to Green). A Friend’s House partnered with Southface to analyze building performance before …

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Case Study

Greenstone on Fifth

Greenstone on Fifth Community Building at Blue Ridge Apartments in Charlottesville, Virginia is a 3,531 square foot, two-story commercial building that was certified in the EarthCraft Light Commercial (ECLC) green building program in 2014.

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Assessment Toolkit

Small Commercial Water Savings Calculator

The following workbook is intended to support assessors with data collection, analysis, and some of the calculations performed when conducting water assessments on small commercial buildings (≤50,000 s.f.).

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Assessment Toolkit

Generic DET results form-fillable (2012)

2012 IECC Residential Energy Code – Duct & Envelope Testing Results*

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Assessment Toolkit

South Carolina DET Results Form

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Assessment Toolkit

Louisiana DET Results Form

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Assessment Toolkit

Alabama DET results form

Alabama Residential Energy Code Duct and Envelope Testing Results*

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Assessment Toolkit

Small Commercial Energy And Water Assessment Workbook

The following workbook is intended to support assessors with data collection, analysis and some of the calculations (lighting and plumbing related to potable water fixtures) performed when conducting energy and water assessments on small commercial buildings.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Multiple Fan Blower Door Toolkit Appendix

Intended to be used as a supplement to The Energy Conservatory and Camroden Associate’s Blower Door Applications Guide: Beyond Single Family Residential, the toolkit contains a field guide, data collection forms, test sheet, sign template, and report template, and was …

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Guide

Multiple Fan Blower Door Testing ‐ Lessons Learned

Southface’s multi‐year study of small commercial buildings’ energy and water consumption includes a study of building air leakage testing. Learn the details of how the testing was performed, how the results were normalized and how the various buildings stacked up.

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Assessment Toolkit

Georgia Power Commercial Rate Plan Calculator

The following workbook is intended to support assessors with the evaluation of Georgia Power utility bills.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Envelope Air Leakage Testing Procedure

Use data collection forms to capture basic description of building (e.g., type of occupancy, number of stories, wall, roof and foundation assembly type, orientation, etc.)

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Southface Blower Door Field Guide

Equipment needed checklist, roles and responsibilities for testing and step-by-step testing procedures.

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Guide

Georgia Code Summary – Supplements and Amendments 2009

The 2009 IECC was adopted by reference by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (with 2011 Georgia-specific amendments) and is effective January 1, 2011.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Select a Radon Contractor

Choose a contractor to fix a radon problem just as carefully as you would choose someone to do other home repairs. Be sure to choose a contractor certified by the National Environmental Health Association or the National Radon Safety Board.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

IECC Residential Energy Code – Duct & Envelope Testing Results

Air barrier and insulation inspection

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Guide

Mississippi Residential Energy Code for Builders Factsheet

Energy codes directly benefit Mississippi home builders by helping ensure quality installation of energy features, thus reducing customer complaints and call backs, and delivering a house with lower utility bills, improved indoor air quality, and a higher comfort level.

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Assessment Toolkit

Mississippi Energy Code Adoption

Mississippi consumers, design and construction professionals, utility companies, economy, public health, and environment will all benefit from adoption of a statewide building energy code.

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Guide

Duct & Envelope Tightness (DET) FAQ

Information for residential building industry professionals

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Guide

Portfolio Manager® Quick Start Guide

EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool helps you measure and track the energy and water use, waste and materials, and greenhouse gas emissions of your buildings, all in a secure online environment.

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Case Study

City of Atlanta Tiny House Feasibility Study

Tiny houses can address the changing needs of households in Atlanta, Georgia, by providing a more affordable and efficient housing stock while simultaneously making the region more competitive in attracting talent and an increasingly mobile workforce.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Procedures for Small Commercial Energy & Water Assessments

The process and scope developed in this guide is based on ASHRAE’s “Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits, Second Edition”. It is strongly recommended that all users read the ASHRAE guide prior to using this resource.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Benchmarking Your Building Using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®

A step‐by‐step guide to completing an energy and water benchmarking in Portfolio Manager®

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Appendix – Combustion Appliance Assessment Resources

Southface has found the following list of resources useful when conducting combustion appliance assessments.

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Assessment Toolkit
Report

Building Air Tightness Test Report

Test Company performed a blower door test for Client Name at the Property Name located at Property Address, on BD Test Date.

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Assessment Toolkit

Small Commercial Energy and Water Assessment Workbook for Non-Energy Star Portfolio Manager Users

The following workbook is intended to support accessors with data collection, analysis, and some of the calculations (lighting and plumbing related to potable water fixtures) performed when conducting energy and water assessments on small commercial buildings.

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Assessment Toolkit

Southface Small Commercial Energy and Water Assessment Toolkit

This toolkit was developed by Southface through the Advanced Commercial Buildings Initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Radon-Resistant Construction Factsheet

Protect the occupants in the home you’re building against the threat of radon gas.

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Case Study

Efficient Solutions for New Homes: Savannah Gardens

The Savannah Housing Department is leading sustainable and affordable housing development in Georgia. It partnered with Southface Energy Institute, a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Partnership for Home Innovation Building America research team, to seek cost-effective solutions for …

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Report
White Paper

The Impact of Green Affordable Housing

The impact of green building certification programs on the cost and energy performance multifamily affordable housing has long been misunderstood due to a lack of data and analysis, particularly in the Southeast United States.

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Guide

Chapter 4 2015 IECC Excerpt

R401.1 Scope. This chapter applies to residential buildings.

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Report

High-Performance New Construction in Climate Zones 2 – 4

The purpose of this report is to document the design process, computational energy modeling, construction, envelope performance metrics, and long term monitoring results of three high-performance homes in three different Southeastern Climate Zones (CZ).

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Report

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Sustainability Action Plan

Atlanta made a community-based decision in 2005 to advance the Atlanta BeltLine, originating as a Master’s thesis, in the largest, most comprehensive and most “sustainable” redevelopment project in the city’s history.

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Case Study

City of Decatur High Performance Building Standard

Making homes and businesses more efficient is a great way to cut energy consumption and reduce our impact on the environment.

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Report

Georgia Clean Energy Census 2014

Georgia spends billions a year to import energy. About $30 billion leaves Georgia annually to pay for petroleum, natural gas, and coal. The clean energy industry offers Georgia the opportunity to keep a larger portion of money spent on energy …

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Guide

Mississippi Commercial Energy Code Field Guide

The Commercial Energy Code Field Guide is intended for use by code officials when inspecting commercial construction projects for compliance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2007.

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Case Study

Brookhaven-Oglethorpe MARTA Station Charrette

Southface and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) facilitated a four-day transit-oriented development (TOD) charrette in October 2013, focused on the redevelopment of the Brookhaven-Oglethorpe MARTA station parking lots.

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Guide

Blower Door and Duct Pressure Testing for Duct & Envelope Tightness Verification

Air leakage can increase heating and cooling costs over 30% and contribute to comfort, health and safety problems. Finding hidden air leakage sites, called bypasses, can be difficult without the use of a blower door.

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White Paper

2012 IECC Performance Testing: Lessons from the Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verifier Program

The 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requires new homes and major renovations to have a pressure test of the building envelope and duct systems that are located outside of the thermal envelope.

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Case Study

TaC Studios New Construction Test House

As part of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Industry Partnership, Southface partnered with TaC Studios, an Atlanta-based architecture firm specializing in residential and light commercial design, on the construction of a new test home in Atlanta …

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Case Study

Serenbe Nest Cottages

With the support of the DOE Building America (BA) Program, Southface partnered with Martin Dodson Builders to build a new construction test house (NCTH). The Serenbe community is located 32 miles southeast of Atlanta, Georgia, in mixed humid climate zone …

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Case Study

Greenprint Midtown Sustainability Action Plan

The Greenprint Midtown sustainability action plan was created to spur actions that further enhanced Midtown’s development as one of the nation’s most livable, innovative, economically successful and sustainable communities.

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Guide

Alabama Commercial Energy Code Field Guide IECC 2009

The Commercial Energy Code Field Guide is intended for use by code officials when inspecting commercial construction projects for compliance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2007.

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Report
White Paper

Guidance on Effective Enforcement of Georgia’s Energy Code

Among other efforts to save energy for Georgians, energy efficiency is considered one of the easiest and most effective strategies available to decision-makers, consumers and industry.

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Guide

Alabama Residential Energy Code Field Guide IRC 2009

Alabama is adopting the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) including the energy chapter (Chapter 11) as the state residential energy code. This field guide includes a detailed walkthrough of the requirements of the code and applicable state amendments.

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Assessment Toolkit

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – 2009 with 2011 Georgia Amendments

The Georgia residential energy code consists of Chapter 4 of the 2009 IECC with the 2011 Georgia supplements and amendments. It sets minimum insulation levels for ceilings, walls and floors.

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Case Study

Williamson Local Energy Action Plan

Southface developed the Williamson Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) which seeks to achieve energy savings by investing in cost-effective and low impact technologies.

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Guide

Georgia Residential Energy Code Field Guide 2009 IECC + 2011 Georgia Amendments

The Residential Energy Code Field Guide is intended for use by code officials when inspecting residential construction projects.

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Case Study

Chattahoochee Hill Country Livable Centers Initiative

Chattahoochee Hill Country is a rural community 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.

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White Paper

Energy Efficiency Tax Credit for Solar and Renewables

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. This law extends, but alters, the tax credits for energy efficiency available in 2011.

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Assessment Toolkit

Georgia Supplements and Ammendments IECC 2011

The International Energy Conservation Code, 2009 Edition, published by the International Code Council, when used in conjunction with these Georgia State Supplements and Amendments, shall constitute the official Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code.

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

Insulation and Air Sealing Retrofit Measures

This guide provides renovators and retrofit contractors an overview of considerations when including wall air sealing and insulation in an energy retrofit project. It also outlines the potential project risks, various materials for insulating, possible field inspections needed, installation procedures, …

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White Paper

Energy Efficiency in the South

The economic recession, climate change concerns and rising electricity costs have motivated many states to embrace energy efficiency as a way to create new local jobs, lower energy bills, and promote environmental sustainability.

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White Paper

Energy Efficiency is a Georgia Priority

The 2006 report of the Governor’s Energy Policy Council states: “The Council recommends as its highest priority that Georgia should aggressively pursue all cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities.”

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Guide

Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction

You have tested your home for radon, but now what? This booklet is for people who have tested their home for radon and confirmed that they have elevated radon levels — 4 pCi/L or higher.

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Assessment Toolkit

Generic DET results form-fillable (2009)

2009 IREC Residential Energy Code – Duct and Envelope Testing Results*

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Guide

Residential Energy Code – Chapter 4 2009 IECC

An excerpt from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.

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Report
White Paper

Water and Watts

The Southeast faces immense challenges in meeting the water and energy needs of a growing population. Efforts to ensure an adequate supply of one resource must recognize impacts on the other.

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White Paper

Power of Efficiency

Abundant efficiency opportunities in the Southeast can help meet regional energy needs. Efficiency investments can lead to economic and environmental benefits across several sectors by reducing demand for electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuels.

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White Paper

Local Clean Power

Southeast states seeking solutions to current and future energy challenges have a major opportunity to use existing technology to harness local renewable energy resources.

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White Paper

Energy by the Numbers

Policymakers in the United States are facing significant energy challenges. Increasing demand for energy combined with concerns about energy security, fossil fuel price volatility, and the effects of global warming have many policymakers looking for ways to develop a cleaner, …

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Assessment Toolkit
Guide

EPA Citizen’s Guide to Radon

The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon.You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.

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Guide

Indoor Air Quality in the Home

Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Therefore, many people face greater risks to their …

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Case Study

Lampkin Street Cottages

The Lampkin Street development of 12 modest cottages on little more than a half-acre infill site creates market solutions for diverse housing in gentrifying neighborhoods.

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Guide

Builder’s Guide to an Energy Efficient Envelope

When properly used in home construction, energy features save money, improve indoor air quality, enhance comfort, prevent moisture problems,

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Report

Sustainable Community Development

Sprawling growth in the Southeast is degrading the region’s air quality, water resources, open space, natural systems, and general quality of life. It costs everyone more for sprawl development than for compact, sustainable development.

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Guide

Schools and Large Buildings Radon Guide

When building in an area with the potential for elevated radon levels, architects and engineers should use a combination of radon prevention construction techniques.

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