Identifying and eliminating widespread or recurring trouble hotspots in the construction process — which might be caused by product failure, inefficient installation, safety issues or poor communication — can be a key step in producing high-performance homes, according to Amber Wood, the manager of energy programs at the NAHB Research Center.

“As you get greener and more energy-efficient, the margin of error gets smaller,” Wood said. “As you get higher performing, it becomes more critical to get every detail right,” she said.

“With high-performance homes, one of the things you are trying to do is minimize heating and cooling loads,” Wood said.

“Your margin of error is much smaller as far as the air sealing, ventilation and the need for outside air,” she said. “In order to have control of the air leakage in the building envelope you have to use quality processes to make sure that the design is implemented properly.”

Taking care of hot spots involves a six-step process, according to Wood:

1. Review data — such as information about defects, warranty call backs, customer complaints —  to identify the specific problems.
   
   
2. Prioritize hotspots and identify the “top” hotspot — the one that has the greatest cost.
   
   
3. Find the root causes and create solutions.
   
   
4. Conduct training and update or create new processes, installation methods and scopes of work to support the solutions.
   
   
5. Implement the solution, starting out on a pilot basis with one home or a small number of homes to test the impact.
   
   
6. Monitor the impact of the implemented solutions. Make changes as necessary based on feedback. When the top hotspot has been eliminated or significantly reduced, then start the process anew to identify and address the remaining hotspots.

“A great way to do training is just to get on the site and get everybody together all at once,” Wood said.

“You need to consistently demonstrate to your internal team and to all your trades that quality is important,” she said.

“I recommend that builders develop a hot spot training log and make sure everybody signs it when they have gone through the training. Write down the dates and make sure you have all the names.”

The Research Center has found that builders should  spend money up-front on design, implementation and communications, because it is considerably less expensive to address potential problems in the design phase than in the warranty phase, especially when solving the problem involves getting into the walls, she said.

“You want to continually assess your progress,” Wood said. “Ultimately, you want to see those hotspot issues going down in number and eventually getting as close to zero as possible.”

Builders interested in green building and high-performance homes can visit the NAHBGreen website or Toolbase.org, a website developed by the Research Center to share technical information on home building.

The hotspot process for high performance homes was developed as part of the Research Center’s Building America Industry Partnership (NAHBRC-IP) through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The ultimate goal of the NAHBRC-IP is to achieve market-ready homes that use net-zero energy over the course of a year.

The NAHB Research Center leads a Building America Industry team comprised of energy consultants, builders, manufacturers, trade associations and other partners.

In its efforts to develop cost-effective solutions for energy-efficient homes, the Research Center is continuing to solicit partners for this team.

The team’s support for Building America’s systems engineering research has three components:

• Working with builders/remodelers and other partners from the design/re-design phase through construction to build prototype energy-efficient homes
  
  
• Using the lessons learned from prototype homes to enable builders to construct communities of energy-efficient homes and remodelers to replicate projects on similar houses within a neighborhood
  
  
• Researching and developing individual systems in homes to reduce the whole-house energy use

“The idea is to use quality methods throughout the building process so that your end-product meets the performance standards of the design,” Wood said.

For more information, email Amber Wood, or call her at 301-249-4000.

'National Green Building Standard’ Available at BuilderBooks.com

“The National Green Building Standard,” available through BuilderBooks.com, provides “green” practices that can be incorporated into multifamily and single-family new home construction, home remodeling and additions and site development.

The standard covers lot design, resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education.

Currently the first and only ANSI-approved green building rating system, the National Green Building Standard is the benchmark for green homes.

To view or purchase this publication online, click here.

'National Green Building Standard Commentary' Available at BuilderBooks.com

The "National Green Building Standard Commentary," available through BuilderBooks.com and a companion to the ANSI approved "National Green Building Standard," that provides valuable insight to the intention and implementations of the practices and provisions found in the green building standard.

The "Commentary" is a useful resource for any designer or builder using the ICC 700-2008 as a rating system for developing or renovating residential properties of all types to reduce their relative impact.

To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.

More Than 5,400 People Have Earned Their Certified Green Professional (CGP) Designation

The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.

Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 5,400 people have earned the CGP designation to date.

For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CGPinfo.

'Build Green and Save’ Available at BuilderBooks.com

“Build Green and Save: Protecting the Earth and Your Bottom Line,” available through BuilderBooks.com, is a comprehensive, easy-to-read reference that shows builders how to identify and select green building materials; implement green construction techniques; explain the benefits of green housing and offer affordable green building solutions to consumers; and use resources wisely and reduce water and energy consumption.

To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.