PNNL

Abstract

The Building America Solution Center focuses primarily on providing best practices information on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and water efficiency. While gathering information to address building practices that can improve disaster resistance, resilience, and recovery, it became apparent that there is a significant amount of overlap in areas of home construction related to energy efficiency and in areas related to resiliency. This paper will explore three areas where mutual goals and/or experience may be beneficial to both camps in meeting objectives related to efficient, resistant, resilient, and recoverable homes. The first is the common basis in building science that each industry must draw on to design and build adequate houses. This portion of the paper will include a discussion of photovoltaics. The second is the shared experiences each industry faces in market transformation and achieving changes in building codes. We will explore lessons that these industries may share around economic criteria, incentives, and prescriptive measures in code. And finally, this paper will address the role that insurance companies play in achieving changes in building practices related to energy efficiency and disaster planning.