Archives

Raters play a vital role in helping builders, contractors, and developers navigate building code compliance and above-code program participation. Shaun Hassel, Earth Advantage Workforce Training Manager, will moderate this year’s Rater Roundtable during the BuildRight Conference + Expo. During the lunchtime session, participants will address challenges and brainstorm potential solutions for topics such as energy […]

This session introduces dual‑fuel heat pump systems—how they work, why they outperform conventional HVAC, and what Oregon’s 2026 residential energy‑code changes mean for builders and HVAC contractors. I’ll cover basic operation, sizing and installation implications, electrical and ducting considerations, and practical steps to ensure new homes meet the updated code while maximizing comfort and cost savings.

The new ORSC code is scheduled for adoption on October 1, 2026.  There are two new pathways to compliance – ERI (Energy Rating Index) and Simulated Building Performance.  In this session, we will learn about these major changes to the new ORSC.  We will also review some of the other significant changes to the ORSC […]

For too long, ventilation has been treated as a box to check—rarely designed, rarely measured, and almost never used as a selling point. In today’s performance-driven housing market, that mindset is costing builders both comfort and credibility. In this session, Dylan Tyndall reframes ventilation as a high-value system that directly impacts indoor air quality, energy […]

The proposed code will require, in most cases, homes being built with a central split system air conditioner to be built with a system that is capable of both cooling and heating, in other words, a heat pump. This requirement presents builders with a wide array of choices, ranging from a dual fuel system that […]

Once considered a stretch goal reserved for custom and high-performance homes, 1.5 ACH is now being achieved consistently by production and high-volume builders—without sacrificing schedule, labor efficiency, or cost control. This panel brings together a national production builder, a third-party verifier, and building-science specialists to share how airtightness has moved from a risky variable to […]

Builders today are navigating tighter margins, rising material costs, workforce shortages, and increasing documentation demands, all while buyers expect greater transparency and faster timelines. This session demystifies how residential builders are using practical, low-lift AI tools to improve performance across the entire lifecycle of a home, from permit to purchase and beyond. Attendees will learn […]

This overview is designed for building professionals to understand the core energy efficiency requirements for residential construction under the 2024 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC). We will focus specifically on the crucial compliance options and technical mandates. This class will explore the latest updates to the Washington State Energy Code—one of the most rigorous and […]