Building Departments have a number of issues they face every day. Beginning this month the 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards became effective. These standards raise the bar for home builders to become compliant in the new standards, requirements for duct testing and 3rd party verification when an HVAC system is replaced. Further, new SEER 13 requirements taking affect on 1/23/06 make the job of the building department that much more complicated.
CHEERS® understands these issues and is ready to support your efforts for enforcement In fact CHEERS® has designed a brochure specifically for local building departments.
CHEERS® has heard from many that the new standards for the replacement market will cause even fewer building permits to be pulled. By listening to the local jurisdictions, CHEERS® has responded by creating an informative consumer advertising program designed to communicate the importance and benefits of meeting the permit requirement.
It's worth noting that CHEERS® has also developed a program planned to encourage contractors to pull permits and have the work they've done verified.
CHEERS® is can be a great resource for you. Many of the issues raised by local jurisdictions concern a place to go for accurate, timely and helpful information. CHEERS® has the collateral material, training, reporting and technological skills to provide the jurisdictions what you need to do your job. Along with CHEERS®, you may find the following resources helpful:
Our Goal is to Help put 30 - 40 Million Dollars Into California's Local Municipalities.
30-40 million dollars. That's a lot of money in anybody's book. But that's the amount we figure is being lost to California's towns and cities.
The energy industry is predicting that, on average, about 400,000 California homes will require "HVAC change-outs." That's where a homeowner believes he or she needs new heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.
A change-out starts with a call to a local HVAC contractor. Smart owners will call three contractors, ask for bids and then, if things run true to form, they'll pick the lowest bid. The problem is that they rarely ask why one bid is lower than another. Getting bids is always smart…picking the lowest bid isn't.
The change-out business is fiercely competitive. And many contractors, even those with C20 licenses, cut corners to make sure they offer the lowest possible price. And one corner they cut is the permit corner! To hear them tell it, pulling permits for change-out job is a waste of time and money. That's just plain short-sighted. it cheats the homeowner, the municipality and even the contractor.
If you figure that the permit for an HVAC change-out is $100, it's not hard to see how, on annual basis, the revenues lost total 30-40 million dollars!
Aside from local laws, holding a C20 license means you're required to pull appropriate permits. But, the average homeowner doesn't know this…and probably knows even less about heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. So we're telling them.
We're telling California homeowners to ask contractors 5 simple questions. This is the first question:
"1. Will permits be pulled? If a contractor says he doesn't need to pull the proper permits, you don't need that contractor. Because if a contractor has a "C20" state license, California state law says he has to. Not pulling permits may save the contractor a bit of time, but down the road it could cost you. In some locales, for example, when a house is sold all work done without required permits must be disclosed. That's when permit costs, plus penalties, have to be paid."
It doesn't get any clearer than that.
When homeowners know more they'll expect more from their contractors. And the fast reading brochure shown here will be distributed to homeowners and contractors across throughout the state.
Here's the crazy part: HVAC contractors really don't like cutting corners. That's why we're also distributing a brand new brochure suggesting that it's time to get out of the low bid change-out business. The brochure explains that while a low bid may keep them busy, cutting corners is bad for profits. The brochure also outlines a special support program CHEERS® has developed and will be launching.
The way we see it, the more people we can help the more people will begin helping increase energy efficiency at home. And it all starts with pulling the right permit.
CHEERS® is the first organization approved by the California Energy Commission to train and certify energy efficiency raters.
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. The commission supports the promotion of energy efficiency for a better environment. That's why CHEERS® , a nonprofit organization supported by a coalition of utilities, the building industry, environmental organizations and consumer groups has become preeminent in the development of energy efficiency rating programs and rater training and certification.
Our mission is simple: we want to ensure that, whether existing of newly built, California's homes meet or exceed all California energy efficiency requirements and standards; a home that's comfortable, economical and energy efficient.
PDF Brochure (1.2M)
Want to know more? Just contact CHEERS®.