Sep 2019
Newsletter

A reminder that the updated Illinois Energy Conservation Code, based on the 2018 IECC with Illinois Amendments, is now effective as of July 1, 2019. Attend our upcoming training opportunities to learn about how to achieve compliance with the updated code. Participants who attend one of our workshops or webinars or take one of our online courses can earn continuing education credits from the International Code Council (ICC) and from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).  SEDAC is an ICC Preferred Education Provider. 

Webinar series
Attend SEDAC's webinar series, "Top 10 Requirements You Should Know: 2018 IECC." Does energy code compliance sometimes feel overwhelming? Do you want to know about the requirements that are most important, overlooked, or hard to comply with? Attend our webinar series for a focused discussion on the requirements you need to know and how to achieve compliance.
  • Top 10 Requirements: 2018 IECC Residential Provisions
    September 11, 2019 from noon to 1 pm. Register here. 
  • Top 10 Requirements: 2018 IECC Commercial Envelope Provisions
    October 16, 2019 from noon to 1 pm. Register here.
See our website for the dates and times of the later webinars in the series. 

Combined Energy Code/Accessibility Code workshops
SEDAC is partnering with the Capital Development Board (CDB) to offer combined Energy Code/Accessibility Code workshops in three convenient locations this fall!

The morning session (9am-noon) of each workshop will consist of an Illinois Accessibility Code Seminar by CDB. The afternoon session (1-4pm) will consist of the SEDAC Energy Code workshop, "Top 40 Requirements You Should Know: 2018 IECC."

Sign up for just the morning Accessibility Code session, just the afternoon Energy Code session, or both. 
  • October 2, 2019 in Chicago
  • October 30, 2019 in Belleville
  • November 15, 2019 in Aurora
Find out more and register here. 
SEDAC Steps to Energy Savings Success
 
What have you done recently to save energy and money? We recommend the following steps to become more energy efficient. 
  • Get inspired. Check out SEDAC's case studies for inspiring stories about the benefits of energy efficiency.
  • Consult with an expert. Contact SEDAC for quick advice, in-depth technical analysis, and referrals to other programs.
  • Benchmark. Work with SEDAC to understand how much energy your building uses, compared to similar buildings. 
  • Get an energy assessment. SEDAC can walk through your facility to inspect equipment, identify problems, and provide recommendations. 
  • Prioritize solutions. Select solutions that achieve high energy savings at low cost and that have long-term impact. SEDAC provides economic analysis and implementation assistance. 
  • Evaluate progress. Gather energy data to determine if actions have led to energy savings. SEDAC can provide historic bill analysis.
  • Stay current. Learn about the latest solutions by attending SEDAC workshops and webinars. 
Make SEDAC your energy efficiency partner.  Contact us at 800.214.7954 or [email protected], or go to apply.sedac.org to request an energy assessment .  
Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Efficiency Funding
 
In 2018, the Illinois EPA Office of Energy teamed up with SEDAC and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) to help municipalities reduce the cost of wastewater treatment through free energy assessments at wastewater treatment plants. SEDAC and ISTC have provided a number of these assessments since. 

It's a great time to receive an energy assessment because Illinois EPA will soon be opening a second round of competitive funding applications for WWTPs interested in implementing energy upgrades. To apply for this funding, you must have completed an energy assessment in the last five years. You can see the past IEPA WWTP funding opportunity here. 

Municipalities may still be able to receive an assessment in time to apply for the funding opportunity, which will open in late fall. Apply now and learn more about the program here .  
Energy Efficiency Workforce Outlook 

SEDAC is currently engaged in research on the energy efficiency workforce in Illinois. We're exploring current training programs, employer needs, gaps in training, future job opportunities and more. 

As part of this research, we're looking at the national outlook for energy efficiency jobs.  Here are a few highlights from a 2019 US Energy & Employment Report  by the National Association of State Energy Officials and the Energy Futures Initiative:
  • 2018 job growth. In 2018, the energy efficiency sector produced the most new jobs of any energy sector and experienced 3.4% job growth. 
  • Future job growth. Energy efficiency employers report a projected growth rate in 2019 of almost 8%. 
  • Energy efficiency jobs. Nearly 56% of the energy efficiency workforce work in construction firms, 20% work in professional and business services, and 14% work in the manufacturing of energy efficiency products. 
  • Difficulty hiring. Between 70-80% of energy efficiency employers report that it is somewhat or very difficult to hire new employees, suggesting a need for greater awareness and improved training opportunities. 
We are happy to be connected to so many members of the energy efficiency workforce in Illinois! Reach out to us if you'd like to join conversations about Illinois energy efficiency workforce development.  Contact us at 800.214.7954 or  [email protected] .  
Notes from the Field 

The importance of maintenance

Building maintenance is important for many reasons: to keep systems operating at maximum efficiency, to extend the life of systems, to promote occupant health and comfort, and more. SEDAC often sees the consequences of deferred or improper maintenance during our site visits, as shown in the example below.

Many new mechanical systems come with energy wheels. These wheels transfer energy between incoming fresh air and exhausted stale air. They can be very effective at preheating or cooling incoming air using exhaust air and are now in many instances required by the Energy Code. These heat wheels have a lot of air that moves through them that needs to first be filtered to keep the energy wheel from getting contaminated. 

As seen in the photo, this particular heat wheel is covered with a thick layer of dust. Not only will the energy wheel not accomplish its intended function, it is now imposing a restriction on air movement through the intake and exhaust. This energy saving feature is now costing the client extra money because the fan motors are encountering significant resistance to air movement. It is most likely affecting occupant comfort too. 

Since this dust should have been captured by air filters, it makes one wonder what the rest of the air distribution system looks like. What do the heating and cooling coils look like? A preventative maintenance program to regularly change air filters is critical to a properly functioning air supply system. 

SEDAC Smart Tip: Don't neglect regular building maintenance, especially in the air distribution system!  

sedac.org / 800.214.7954 / [email protected]
Providing effective energy efficiency strategies for buildings and communities