Minnesota Building Performance Association (MBPA)

Energy Services that Minnesota Building Performance Association (MBPA) Rater Members can Offer You

MBPA Raters provide a full range of professional structural energy analysis, testing, consulting and housing energy evaluation services for homeowners, builders, real estate professionals and other building trade related businesses and organizations. These services include but are not limited to:

1. The Basic Energy Audit:

The basic energy audit completed in existing structures evaluates large mechanical equipment such as furnace, water heater and air conditioning including:

• Unit size (input, tonnage, etc.)
• Age, Efficiency and Present operating condition
• Combustion safety and efficiency of large gas appliances (furnace & water heater)

Evaluation of the existing insulation as it relates to:

• Quantity
• R-value
• Quality of installation
• Insulating codes at the time of construction

Raters look at building air leakage to identify:

• Opportunities for air sealing (sealing holes and weather stripping etc.)
• Ventilation in well sealed homes

The rater records all information in a comprehensive report of recommendations on the best ways to reduce energy consumption, improve comfort and safety, and save energy dollars. Raters provide a list of quality contractors for completion of needed work.

2. Blower Door Audits:

The blower door audit includes:

• The Basic Energy Audit (see above)
• A Blower Door Test - a measure for identifying leakage in residential structures

Using the blower door, an MBPA rater gives you a very accurate evaluation of the amount of air leakage both in and out of your home and determines where air sealing is needed.

3. Infrared Blower Door Energy Audit:

The Infrared Energy Audit includes:

• The Basic Energy Audit (see above)
• The Blower Door Test (see above)
• An Infrared Camera Scan of the structure that locates and records air leakage and voids in insulation

The blower door allows for year round application of infrared inspections. Infrared Blower Door Energy Audits are the most effective analytical tool for an existing high energy use structure.

4. Energy Star* Home Performance Ratings for Energy Loans:

A. Low interest energy loans, with government backing, for existing structures often require a Home Performance Rating through the federal Energy Star* program. Raters perform this audit prior to construction (remodeling, additions, energy improvements, etc.) which includes:

• Blower Door Infrared Energy Audit (see above)
• Several advanced tests such as:
• Worst case depressurization (identifies back drafting problems)
• Exhaust fan and air exchanger testing
• REMRATE computer evaluation
• Assignment of a home performance rating number

Rater provides all paper work related to your energy related loan.

B. After work is completed, raters return to:

• Retest all pertinent equipment
• Redo Blower Door Infrared Energy Audit with REMRATE
• Recalculate Home Performance Rating
• Complete paperwork needed for your loan

5. Energy Star* New Construction Services:

Builders and home owners both use Energy Star* New Construction Services to ensure the quality, durability and performance of the new home they are building by using a rater in the planning, construction and final testing of the home. The Energy Star Home program has four separate components:

A. Rater works with builders, architects and owners in pre-construction planning and help identify trouble spots in:

• Evaluating blueprint for potential design flaws
• Mechanical design consultation including:
• Sizing
• Alternative energy components
• Equipment alternatives
• Site planning, etc.

Raters deliver reports prior to breaking ground.

B. Pre-insulation inspection looking for energy related problems such as:

• Construction errors
• Heating distribution
• Foundation and slab insulation problems, etc.

Advising the contractor onsite and reporting within one day if problems are found.

C. Post-insulation inspection looking for:

• Insulation installation errors
• Heating equipment
• Distribution system
• Ventilation ducting
• Drainage plain errors, etc.

Advising the contractor onsite and reporting within one day to the client if problems do exist.

D. Final Testing:

• Blower Door Infrared Energy Audit
• Advanced testing such as:
• Worst case depressurization (identifies back drafting problems)
• Exhaust fan and air exchanger testing
• REMRATE computer evaluation and assign your home an Energy Star* Rating number along with all the services of the other audit types above

Rater provides you with all paper work related to your energy related loan rebates and tax credits.