West Village Community: 

Quality Management Processes 

and Preliminary Heat Pump 

Water Heater Performance 

B. Dakin, C. Backman, M. Hoeschele, and 

A. German

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation

November 2012
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iii

West Village Community: 

Quality Management Processes and 

Preliminary Heat Pump Water Heater Performance

Prepared for: 

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program 

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

15013 Denver West Parkway 

Golden, CO 80401 

NREL Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 

Prepared by: 

B. Dakin, C. Backman, M. Hoeschele, A. German

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation

Davis Energy Group, Team Lead 

123 C Street 

Davis, California 95616 

NREL Technical Monitor: Mike Gestwick

Prepared under Subcontract No. KNDJ-0-40340-00 

October 2012 
iv

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v 

Contents

List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ vi

List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. vi

Definitions .................................................................................................................................................. vii

Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................... 8

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................... 9

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 10

1.1 Background and Motivation ..............................................................................................10

1.2 Research Questions ............................................................................................................11

2 Project Description............................................................................................................................. 12

2.1 Measure Details .................................................................................................................14

2.1.1 Thermal Envelope ..................................................................................................16

2.1.2 Mechanical Systems...............................................................................................16

2.1.3 Lighting and Appliances ........................................................................................19

2.1.4 Photovoltaic System...............................................................................................19

2.2 Preliminary Savings Estimations .......................................................................................19

3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 20

3.1 Heat Pump Water Heater ...................................................................................................20

3.1.1 General Technical Approach .................................................................................20

3.1.2 Operating Conditions .............................................................................................20

3.1.3 Measurements ........................................................................................................20

3.1.4 Monitoring Data Points ..........................................................................................20

3.1.5 Equipment ..............................................................................................................22

3.1.6 Computation of Monitoring Variables ...................................................................23

3.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness .............................................................24

3.2.1 General Technical Approach .................................................................................24

3.2.2 Measurements ........................................................................................................25

4 Results................................................................................................................................................. 26

4.1 Heat Pump Water Heater ...................................................................................................26

4.1.1 System Commissioning .........................................................................................26

4.1.2 Heat Pump Water Heater Performance ..................................................................27

4.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness .............................................................28

4.2.1 Home Energy Rating System Measure Summary .................................................28

4.2.2 Home Energy Rating System Provider Registration .............................................31

5 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 33

5.1 Heat Pump Water Heater ...................................................................................................33

5.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness .............................................................33

6 References .......................................................................................................................................... 36
vi 

List of Figures

Figure 1. Photograph of the completed village square surrounded by mixed use and student 

housing buildings............................................................................................................................... 12

Figure 2. Exterior window sunshades on the student apartment buildings....................................... 14

Figure 3. HPWH installed on Ramble Building #1 ................................................................................. 17

Figure 4. Flow meter installed on the hot water supply line leaving the heat pump unit.................. 18

Figure 5. Two hot water storage tanks with electric resistance auxiliary heat and water piping. 

Flow meter and temperature sensor can be seen on the hot water supply line between the two 

tanks. ................................................................................................................................................... 18

Figure 6. Water heating monitoring sensor locations........................................................................... 22

Figure 7. West Village HPWH system monitoring data (November 21–27, 2011)............................... 28

Figure 8. Initial QII training with subcontractors ................................................................................... 29

Unless otherwise noted, all figures were created by the Alliance for Residential Building 

Innovation. 

List of Tables

Table 1. Breakdown of Apartment Units for Phase I of the Student Apartment Buildings ............... 13

Table 2. Student Housing Energy Efficiency Measure Package .......................................................... 15

Table 3. Measurement Points................................................................................................................... 21

Table 4. Sensor Specifications ................................................................................................................ 23

Unless otherwise noted, all tables were created by the Alliance for Residential Building 

Innovation. 
vii 

Definitions

ACH50

ACCA

ARBI

CARB

COP

DEG

DHW

EEM

EER

HERS

HPWH

HVAC

PV

QII

QA/QC

Air changes per hour at 50 Pascals

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings 

Coefficient of performance 

Davis Energy Group 

Domestic hot water

Energy efficiency measure

Energy Efficiency Ratio

Home Energy Rating System 

Heat pump water heater

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Photovoltaic 

Quality insulation installation

Quality assurance and quality control 

SLA

WVCP

Specific leakage area (dimensionless)

West Village Community Partners
8 

Acknowledgments

Davis Energy Group would like to acknowledge the U.S. Department of Energy Building 

America program and its funding and support of development of this technical report as well as 

research that informed it. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the University of California, 

Davis, and the developer West Village Community Partners for their ongoing cooperation 

throughout the design, construction, and monitoring stages of this project.
9 

Executive Summary

West Village, a multiuse project underway at the University of California Davis, represents a 

groundbreaking sustainable community that incorporates energy efficiency measures and on-site 

renewable generation to achieve community-level goals of ultra high efficiency. The project, 

when complete, will provide housing for students, faculty, and staff, and maintain a vision to 

minimize the community’s environmental impact by reducing building energy use, providing onsite renewable energy generation, and encouraging alternative forms of transportation. The focus 

of this research concerns the 192 student apartments completed in 2011 under Phase I of the 

West Village multi-year project. The developer implemented numerous aggressive energy 

efficiency measures that are estimated to achieve 37% source energy savings over the Building 

America Benchmark. 

There are two primary objectives of this research. The first is to evaluate performance and 

efficiency of central heat pump water heaters for domestic water heating in ultra-efficient 

buildings. The second is to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance and quality control 

processes in ensuring proper system startup and operation and documenting compliance with 

efficiency programs. This research additionally recommends measures to promote successful 

implementation of quality processes in large-scale, high performance communities. 
10 

1 Introduction

1.1 Background and Motivation

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) West Village is a new campus neighborhood under 

construction on UC Davis land adjacent to the core campus in Davis, California. West Village is 

designed to enable faculty, staff, and students to live near campus, take advantage of 

environmentally friendly transportation options, and participate fully in campus life. When 

complete, the 200-acre community will consist of housing for almost 2,000 students, 343 homes 

for faculty and staff, a 10-acre recreation complex, and possibly the first community college 

center on a university campus. Faculty and staff housing will be priced at below-market values, 

and student residences will be competitively priced.

This research focuses on the 192 student apartments that were completed in 2011 under Phase I 

of the West Village multiyear project. The numerous aggressive energy efficiency measures 

incorporated into these apartments include central heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), high 

efficiency heat pumps for heating and cooling, increased wall and attic insulation, high 

performance windows, 100% high efficacy lighting, and miscellaneous electrical load (MEL) 

controls. These measures are estimated to save 37% over the Building America Benchmark for 

hot-dry climates. The package of measures incorporated at West Village has the potential to lead 

to market-ready solutions that cost-effectively provide comfort in multifamily buildings while 

being efficient, safe, and durable. 

Along with the growing interest in ultra-efficient buildings, the need for efficient and reliable 

electric water heating equipment becomes increasingly important. The West Village 

development aspires to generate all its energy needs, on an annual basis, from on-site clean and 

renewable resources. In alignment with this goal, the developer chose to create an all-electric 

development. 

To heat water efficiently, centralized HPWHs were selected for each student apartment building. 

Compared to electric resistance water heaters, HPWHs are more than twice as efficient and, 

hence, offer the potential for significant water heating energy savings. Roughly 40% of U.S. 

households currently use electric resistance water heaters, which make the technology a 

potentially valuable solution on a national scale (DOE 2009). The Building America Hot Water 

Standing Technical Committee has identified the gap in the knowledge of field performance of 

HPWH as a barrier to market adoption. 

Although there has been a lot of recent research on single-family HPWH performance, there is 

considerably less research on larger central HPWH systems. In part, this is because there are few 

central HPWH installations and even fewer product options for central installation. As opposed 

to single-family HPWH. which are self-contained units, central HPWH systems are split systems 

in which an outdoor heat pump is paired with a hot water storage tank of sufficient capacity to 

meet the building’s domestic hot water (DHW) loads. The HPWH installed at West Village is a 

commercial-scale unit, nominally rated at 127,000 Btu/h. While previous field testing of single 

household HPWHs showed lower-than-rated performance due to a variety of factors (Amaranth 

and Trueblood 2010; GTI 2010; PGE 2010), monitoring of this central HPWH will help aid the 

understanding of the effect of usage patterns on system efficiency. The hot water usage patterns 

of the West Village units are more diversified than those for a typical single-family application 
11 

because they are student-occupied residences. Demonstrating HPWH field performance in a 

multifamily application will provide useful information on the in-situ benefits and costs.

In 1999, California began implementing field verification and diagnostic testing of duct leakage 

and building envelope leakage by third-party Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters into 

the Title 24, Part 6 of the California Building Efficiency Standards compliance procedures. Since 

that time, third-party HERS verification and testing measures have expanded to include quality 

insulation installation (QII), equivalent to ENERGY STAR’s Thermal Bypass Checklist, and 

additional HVAC-related verification and testing measures designed to ensure that HVAC 

systems are installed correctly and to design specifications. 

Yet, because of poor construction practices and projects that are cost driven to the lowest bidder, 

proper building construction practices are frequently not followed. Previous California studies 

identified poor quality insulation installations (voids and compression of insulation), poor air 

sealing, and poorly operating mechanical systems due to improperly charged air conditioning 

equipment, inadequate airflow, and leaky ductwork on homes without HERS inspections (DEG

2002; Proctor et al. 2011). Several of these tests and inspections are required elements in 

ENERGY STAR, utility, and green building programs and key elements in any quality assurance 

and quality control (QA/QC) process. Since these tests and inspections have been in place for 

several years, Alliance for Residential Building Innovation (ARBI) was interested in determining 

how beneficial the tests and inspections are in ensuring proper installation and if they result in 

improved construction quality and system performance. 

1.2 Research Questions

The primary objective of this project is to evaluate performance and efficiency of the central 

HPWHs as a strategy to provide efficient electric water heating in ultra-efficient all-electric 

buildings and in buildings where natural gas is not available. In addition, effectiveness of the 

quality assurance and quality control processes were evaluated to identify recommendations for 

large-scale, high performance communities. 

The following research questions will be answered in this study: 

• What is the measured performance and reliability of the central HPWH and how does it 

compare to expectations from modeling and manufacturer claims? 

• In construction of the apartments, which quality control mechanisms were effective and 

which processes need improvement for successful implementation of a large-scale high 

performance community? 

Monitoring of the HPWH was initiated at the end of 2011 and will continue for a full year. 

Therefore, preliminary monitoring results of the HPWH are presented. 
12 

2 Project Description 

UC Davis’s goal for West Village is to minimize the community’s energy use and greenhouse 

gas emission by encouraging bicycle use and public transportation, reducing building energy use, 

and providing on-site energy generation from a mix of renewable sources. 

Figure 1. Photograph of the completed village square surrounded by mixed use and student 

housing buildings 

(courtesy of University of California, Davis)1

In late 2008, the Davis Energy Group (DEG) began to work with Chevron Energy Solutions 

(CES) and developer West Village Community Partners (WVCP) to design, evaluate, and 

quantify the cost effectiveness of energy-efficiency packages for each of the key building types 

in the project. The goal was to develop optimal efficiency strategies and packages to accomplish 

the ultra high efficiency objective that would be offset, annually, by on-site renewable energy 

generation. 

In 2009, DEG worked with CES and WVCP to develop energy efficiency measure packages for 

the multifamily and mixed-use buildings. Results of this work were described in case studies 

(CARB 2009; CARB 2010; DEG 2010; Dakin et al. 2010). 

 

1 West Village UC Davis (2011). Apartment Living. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from 

http://westvillage.ucdavis.edu/image-gallery/atct_album_view?b_start:int=0&-C= on October 28, 2011. 
13 

Construction of the first phase of student apartments began in 2010 and was completed in 

September 2011, in time for fall quarter occupancy. This first phase consists of 16, three-story 

buildings, each with 12 units for a total of 192 units (see Table 1). The buildings are of two 

similar styles, Ramble A and Ramble B. Ramble A is 16,011 ft2, and has six, 4-bedroom and six, 

3-bedroom apartments. Ramble B is 14,202 ft2 with six, 4-bedroom and six, 2-bedroom 

apartments. Phase I of the project was completed and occupied by September 2011. All phases of 

the project are scheduled to be completed at the end of 2013. The buildings completed under 

Phase I are being certified under the LEED for Homes certification program. Along with 

providing the certification services, DEG also provided third party HERS verification and testing 

for these buildings for LEED certification. 

Table 1. Breakdown of Apartment Units for Phase I of the Student Apartment Buildings 

Number of Buildings Total Number of Units

Ramble A 13 156

Ramble B 3 36

Total 16 192

Energy efficiency measure (EEM) packages were developed and finalized using an iterative 

process involving all stakeholders. DEG initially provided a list of potential EEMs for each 

building type. The project team evaluated and amended the list, vetting it through a process that 

considered the community energy and cost goals, as well as the builder’s feedback and concerns. 

Since WVCP had limited experience constructing high performance buildings, DEG supplied 

substantial documentation to support the case for individual measure cost effectiveness. 

At the request of WVCP, DEG performed additional evaluations of certain measures and 

packages. DEG conducted parametric simulation runs to better illustrate the interaction between 

individual measures and identify the most cost effective measures. This preliminary exercise 

helped WVCP better understand the relative benefits of individual measures and illustrated that 

the cost savings of a package of EEMs is not necessarily equal to the sum of individual EEM

savings. For example, WVCP initially had reservations about implementing rigid foam insulation 

under exterior horizontal siding due to lack of familiarity with installation. However, they 

decided to include it in the EEM package after modeling demonstrated the measure’s 

significance to total energy savings. 

Several HVAC and water heating system types were evaluated, including central electric boilers 

for water heating, central gas boilers for space and water heating, individual tankless water 

heaters for space and water heating, and central HPWH, as well as several solar water heating 

options. To simplify offsetting building energy use with on-site renewables, the development 

team chose all-electric buildings. Based on DEG’s analysis, the builder selected air-source heat 

pumps for space conditioning and central HPWH for domestic water heating. Later fine tuning of 

system costs by the developer resulted in lower incremental costs for the HPWH than originally 

estimated. 

Later iterations of the West Village Ramble building design included exterior window shading as 

both a building architectural feature and an energy efficiency measure. The horizontal and 
14 

vertical shading elements reduce solar gains entering the individual apartments (Figure 2). While 

the exterior shading elements were not cost effective as an efficiency measure alone, the 

developer chose to incorporate them in the south-, east-, and west-facing facades of the student 

buildings for aesthetics and comfort. The developer also felt that the exterior shades put a visual 

element to the buildings that celebrated the goals of the community. 

Figure 2. Exterior window sunshades on the student apartment buildings 

(courtesy of University of California, Davis)

2.1 Measure Details

Table 2 summarizes the energy efficiency measures and their associated incremental costs 

incorporated in the student housing Ramble buildings. DEG and WVCP completed the 

incremental cost evaluations for the EEMs in 2009. WVCP provided most of the cost 

information with DEG’s assistance in determining costs for EEMs for which WVCP had little or 

no experience. These costs, along with the projected energy savings, were used to conduct 

economic evaluations and develop and optimize the EEM packages. Costs are presented for a 

single building, Ramble A, which includes 12 units. Total incremental cost is estimated to be 

about $56,000 more than a building built to code (Title 24 regional standard), not including 

photovoltaic (PV) systems. With utility incentives for energy efficiency, the incremental cost is 

$50,763. This equates to a net incremental cost of $4,230 per apartment. DEG continues to work 

with WVCP to provide final as-built cost data.
15 

Table 2. Student Housing Energy Efficiency Measure Package

Measure Specification Incremental 

Cost

Basic Building Characteristics

Building Type/Stories Multifamily, 3 stories

Number of Buildings 16

Total Number of Units 192

Envelope

Exterior Wall Construction 2 × 6, 16 in. o.c.

Exterior Wall Insulation R-21 batt with 1⁄2 in. R-3 exterior sheathing $5,418

Shared/Party Wall Insulation R-21 Batt

Foundation Type and Insulation Slab—uninsulated

Roofing Material and Color Cool Roof Rating Council rated roofing product

Ceiling Insulation R-49 blown cellulose $791

Roof Deck Insulation N/A

Radiant Barrier Yes

House Infiltration - Blower Door Test Yes, SLA 3.0

Thermal Bypass Inspection - QII Yes

Thermal Mass 1⁄2 in. Gypcrete on floors 2 and 3 $2,031

Glass Properties: U-Factor/SHGC

All Windows Gilwin dual vinyl—0.32/0.23 $2,949

HVAC Equipment

Heating Type and Efficiency

Heat pump/8.5 heating seasonal performance 

factor $9,763

Air Conditioning Type and Efficiency

Heat pump/Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 15

/Energy Efficiency Ratio 12.5

Heating and Cooling Distribution Ductwork

Duct Location and Insulation Conditioned space/R-6

Verify Duct Leakage Tested, <6%

$5,400

Verify Refrigerant Charge Credit Yes

Verify High EER Yes

Verify Cooling Coil Air Flow Yes

Verify Fan Watt Draw Yes

Verify Cooling Right Sizing Yes, Manual J and Manual D

Mechanical Ventilation Exhaust, standard

Water Heating Equipment

Water Heater Type and Efficiency Central A. O. Smith heat pump, COP 2.9 at 65oF. $0

HW Distribution Recirculation, timer+temp

Appliances and Lighting

ENERGY STAR Appliances Dishwasher/refrigerator/washer $6,000

Dryer Fuel Electric

Oven/Range Fuel Electric

Miscellaneous Load Control GreenWave, energy usage displays $10,800

Fluorescent Lighting Package 100% with vacancy controls $12,840

Total incremental cost $55,992

Utility incentives $5,229

Net incremental cost $50,763
16 

Following is a brief description of the measures including installation, verification, and 

documentation procedures. HERS measure verification is in accordance with the California Title 

24 HERS verification procedures (CEC 2008).

2.1.1 Thermal Envelope

2.1.1.1 Walls 

The exterior wall construction is 2 × 6 framing, 16 in. o.c. with R-21 cavity batt insulation. 

Additionally, 1⁄2 in. of rigid insulation sheathing is installed on the exterior side of the wall to 

reduce the thermal bridging effects due to framing. Appropriate procedures were employed to 

ensure structural rigidity when mounting the insulation layer and exterior finish to the framing. 

The insulation contractor had to ensure the homes comply with Title 24 QII criteria to minimize 

thermal bypass and achieve full credit for the installed insulation. An air barrier was installed and 

all gaps and penetrations caulked or otherwise sealed to prevent air movement between 

conditioned and unconditioned space. All insulation was inspected by a HERS rater; wall 

insulation was inspected before drywall was installed.

2.1.1.2 Ceiling and Roof

The attic space is insulated at the ceiling level with R-49 blown cellulose. The insulation 

contractor had to ensure the homes comply with Title 24 QII criteria to minimize thermal bypass 

and achieve full credit for the installed insulation. A continuous radiant barrier is installed at the 

top chords of the roof truss and rafters under the roof deck as well as on all vertical surfaces such 

as gable end walls. The material and installation procedures conform to appropriate ASTM

standards. The installed composition shingle roofing product is rated and labeled by the Cool 

Roof Rating Council. 

2.1.1.3 Airtightness

The units are constructed to a specification of 5.25 air changes per hour at 50 Pa (ACH50) or 

lower, which is equivalent to 3.0 specific leakage area (SLA) to minimize unintentional 

infiltration and exfiltration.2 Penetrations and gaps are caulked or otherwise sealed to prevent air 

movement between conditioned and unconditioned space. A blower door test was performed by 

a HERS rater at 50 Pa in compliance with ASTM E779 standard to quantify the leakage rate. 

2.1.2 Mechanical Systems 

2.1.2.1 Heating and Cooling

Both space heating and cooling are provided by a high efficiency heat pump. Cooling and 

heating loads, equipment size, and duct size calculations were performed in accordance with Air 

Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J Residential Load Calculations, Manual 

S Residential Equipment Selection, and Manual D Residential Duct Systems, respectively. Twoton heat pumps were sized and specified for all two bedroom units, and all three and four 

bedroom units were sized and specified with three-ton heat pumps. Nameplate energy efficiency 

ratio (EER), minimum cooling coil airflow, and air handler fan power draw was verified by a 

HERS rater. No more than 12 linear ft of ductwork (including the air handler) is installed in 

 

2 In California, the California Energy Commission multiplies specific leakage area or SLA by 10,000 to make the 

numbers more manageable.
17 

unconditioned space. This requires visual verification by a HERS rater for credit under Title 24. 

All outdoor units are located on the ground outside the building. 

2.1.2.2 Water Heating

An initial evaluation of HVAC and water heating options was completed for the developer with 

the base case being individual gas storage tank water heaters. Based on the evaluation, WVCP 

chose to install central HPWHs. Electric and solar water heating was favored because the 

development team decided early on to eliminate natural gas from the project. Solar water heating 

was initially considered but eliminated due to high installation bids and limited roof space for 

both solar thermal collectors and PV. Individual HPWH were eliminated due to interior space 

limitations. Incremental costs for the central HPWH were initially estimated at $1,100 per 

apartment ($12,800 per building), but based on bids from contractors and manufacturers, the 

incremental cost was reduced to $500 per apartment. By eliminating gas lines and venting, and 

by gaining interior floor space that was needed for water heaters in the base case, the developer 

estimated incremental cost savings of $50 per apartment. For the study, a zero incremental cost 

was used. 

An A.O. Smith (formerly E-TECH) central HPWH system (nominal 127 kBtu/h capacity at 85°F 

ambient and 100°F inlet water temperature) is installed at each building. There are two, 120-gal 

storage tanks, both of which have three electric resistance elements totaling 54 kW. A hot water 

recirculation loop pump that serves the building is controlled by return water temperature and by 

a timer which shuts it off at night. See Figure 3 through Figure 5 for photographs of the water 

heating system and monitoring equipment. 

Figure 3. HPWH installed on Ramble Building #1
18 

Figure 4. Flow meter installed on the hot water supply line leaving the heat pump unit

Figure 5. Two hot water storage tanks with electric resistance auxiliary heat and water piping. 

Flow meter and temperature sensor can be seen on the hot water supply line between the two 

tanks.
19 

2.1.3 Lighting and Appliances

2.1.3.1 Lighting Design

All hardwired lighting is high efficacy lighting. The apartments include a combination of hardwired linear fluorescent and CFL fixtures. Vacancy sensors are installed in each room. 

2.1.3.2 Appliance Selection

Dishwasher, refrigerator, and clothes washer are all current ENERGY STAR-qualified models. 

2.1.3.3 Miscellaneous Electric Loads

To provide tenant education on home electricity use and encourage energy savings, energy 

consumption displays are installed in each unit along with miscellaneous and lighting load 

controls that can be accessed remotely through the use of smart phones or computers. Monetary 

penalties are applied for high electricity consumption. 

2.1.4 Photovoltaic System

SunPower SPR-225 and SPR-445 modules are installed to service both the student apartment and 

mixed use buildings. A total of 1.07 MW capacity will provide electricity for the 16-student 

apartment Ramble buildings in Phase I. Roughly half of the PV panels are installed on the 

building rooftops and the other half are in a central park. Each apartment has a net metering 

account with the local utility (Pacific Gas and Electric Company). Because utilities are paid by 

the developer, it will include a flat monthly utility charge in the rent. Individual unit arrays are 

sized between 2.6 kW and 4.7 kW depending on the size and orientation of the unit. A separately 

metered, 19.13-kW PV system is sized for the central HPWH system at each building. 

2.2 Preliminary Savings Estimations

BEopt v1.1 was used to model source energy savings for the largest apartment (four-bedroom). 

Savings are predicted to be 37% over the Building America Benchmark and 22% over the 

regional standard (Title 24) without PV. Predicted savings exceed the 2011 Building America 

goal of 30% for hot-dry climates. Apartments were modeled as single detached units because, at 

the time of this study, BEopt did not have the modeling capabilities for multifamily units or 

shared walls. End units on each floor were modeled individually and the worst-performing unit 

type was identified and used for reporting purposes. Additional BEopt modeling limitations 

include: 

• HPWH performance - BEopt v1.1 can’t model water heaters with energy factors above

1.0. For this study, we used BEopt v0.9 to model the HPWH because, although BEopt 

v0.9 can’t model HPWHs, it can model electric water heaters with a coefficient of 

performance (COP) greater than one. To account for some backup electric resistance use, 

we derated the COP from 2.9 (rated) to 2.2 (simulated). The results of the v0.9 HPWH 

run were used to modify the revise the hot water energy usage of the v1.1 results. 

• Modeling of central water heating systems on the student apartments, including central 

hot water recirculation. We estimated hot water recirculation energy use from earlier 

Title 24 modeling of the entire building using DOE-2. 
20 

3 Methodology

The scope of this technical report focuses on two primary research topics: monitoring of the 

HPWH and the effectiveness of the QA/QC process. The remainder of this report is separated 

according to these two topics. See the Building America test plan for additional details (ARBI 

2011). 

3.1 Heat Pump Water Heater

3.1.1 General Technical Approach

DEG is collecting one year of detailed data on a single central HPWH to quantify its 

performance over a range of operating conditions and usage patterns. DHW energy delivery is 

monitored using water side measurements. Monitoring data are carefully reviewed and analyzed 

in order to develop a performance map for the HPWH over a range of operating and outdoor 

conditions. 

3.1.2 Operating Conditions

The current manufacturer suggested that the HPHW operate to maintain 140°F in the first storage 

tank. The resistance elements in each tank operate when the tank temperature falls below 120°F. 

A tempering valve limits the supply water temperature to the building to 120°F. The system will 

operate in this mode at least until mid-January. At that time, the developer may lower the 

setpoint if DEG finds that it can increase system efficiency while maintaining performance. 

Preliminary indications under fall weather conditions suggest a lower HPWH setpoint and 

reduced “Tank 1” setpoint can be implemented without compromising supply water 

temperatures.

3.1.3 Measurements

The site is equipped with a data logger and cellular modem for continuously collecting, storing, 

and transferring data to the DEG host computer. Sensors are scanned every 15 seconds, and data 

is summed or averaged (as appropriate) and stored in data logger memory every 15 minutes. A 

full year of 15-minute data will be collected. Monitoring commenced in the third quarter of 2011 

and will conclude in the third quarter of 2012. 

3.1.4 Monitoring Data Points

Table 3 lists the measurement points that will be monitored on a continuous basis. Key water 

side data points are shown in the piping diagram in Figure 6. 
21 

Table 3. Measurement Points

Point 

No. Abbreviation Description Location Sensor Type

Sensor 

Manufacturing/

Model

1 TAO Temperature, air, outdoors Outdoors, near heat pump RTD, 4-20ma RM Young 

2 RHO Relative humidity, outdoors RTD, 4-20ma 41372VF

3 TWRECIRC Temperature, water, 

recirculation Mechanical room—DHW Surface thermocouple Gordon Watlow

4 TWHPS Temperature, water, heat 

pump supply Mechanical room—DHW Immersion thermocouple Gordon Watlow

5 TWHPR Temperature, water, heat 

pump return Mechanical room—DHW Immersion thermocouple Gordon Watlow

6 TWH1 Temperature, water, electric 

heater inlet Mechanical Room—DHW Immersion thermocouple Gordon Watlow

7 TWH2 Temperature, water, DHW 

supply Mechanical room—DHW Immersion thermocouple Gordon Watlow

8 TWCS Temperature, water, cold 

water supply Mechanical room—DHW Surface thermocouple Gordon Watlow

9 FLHP Flow, heat pump supply Outdoors, near heat pump Flow meter Onicon F-1100

10 FLDHW Flow, DHW Mechanical room—DHW Flow meter Onicon F-1100

11 EHP Energy, heat pump Mechanical room—service panel Power meter Wattnode/WNB3D-240-P

12 EWH1 Energy, electric heater Mechanical room—service panel Power meter Wattnode/WNB3D-240-P

13 EWH2 Energy, electric heater Mechanical room—service panel Power meter Wattnode/WNB3D-240-P

14 SCIRC Status, recirculation pump Mechanical room—DHW Status Hawkeye

15 FLRecirc Flow, recirculation return Mechanical room—DHW Flow meter Onicon F-1300
22 

Figure 6. Water heating monitoring sensor locations 

3.1.5 Equipment

3.1.5.1 Data Logger Specifications

Data Electronics data loggers (Model DT-50) collect and store monitoring data. Analog inputs 

are single-ended type (referenced to ground). Digital inputs are used for power monitors and 

status signals; high speed counter inputs are used with water flow meters. The data loggers are 

provided with an RS232 communications interface and battery backup. 

3.1.5.2 Sensor Types and Specifications

Table 4 lists the types of sensors used for the various monitoring points and their performance 

specifications. Sensor selection was based on functionality, accuracy, cost, reliability, and 

durability. Specific model numbers are listed as examples; similar models by other 

manufacturers may be used. Signal ranges for temperature sensors correspond approximately to 

listed spans.

ET

TWCS

2" CW

TWH1

ELECTRIC

WATER

HEATER

PRV

Provide union at 

connections to tanks 

and coil

Temperature probes (e.g. 

TWH1) provided with 

copper tees by DEG

Flow meter, FLDHW, provided 

by DEG

HP1 H

C

H

C

TWHPS

TWHPR SENSOR

ELECTRIC

WATER 

HEATER

PRV

FLDHW

1-1/4" HW

TWH2

1-1/4" HW

HOT 

WATER 

RETURN

AQUASTAT & 7 DAY 

TIME CLOCK

COLD 

WATER 

SUPPLY

MIXING VALVE

NOTES

FLHP

E-TECH 

WH-115 HTC-ER

1-1/4" HW

1-1/2" 

C

AV

TEMPERED HW

TO BLDG.

EHP

RECIRC

PUMP

SCIRC

EWH1 & 

EWH2 

LOCATED 

AT 

DISCONNECT 

PANEL
23 

Table 4. Sensor Specifications

Type Application Mfg/Model Signal Span Accuracy

RTD Outdoor temperature

and RH Vaisala HMY60 4–20 mA

14o–140oF

0%–100%

±0.5% oF

±2% RH

Type T 

Thermocouple

Immersion water 

temperatures

Gordon Watlow 

Type T 

~11mV

at

500°F

Range =

–328o to 

662oF

±0.4% 

Flow Meter Water flow Pulse

Large Power 

Monitor Heat pump power Wattnode/ 

WNB-3D-240-P Pulse CTA/60 ±0.5% 

24VAC Relay Status Hawkeye Dry 

contact n/a n/a 

3.1.6 Computation of Monitoring Variables

3.1.6.1 Water Heating System Performance

Hot water loads, heat pump unit energy use, resistance element energy use, and recirculation 

pump energy use is monitored. Ambient temperatures and water temperatures are measured to 

facilitate development of a performance map of the system that can inform future model 

development. Measured performance will also be compared to manufacturer’s performance data. 

Losses from the recirculation system are treated as part of the DHW load. Measured 

temperatures and calculated energy are based on 15-second data and filtered based on flow 

events. 

Equation 1 determines domestic hot water energy delivered to the units: 

Qdelivered = FLDHW × (TWH2 – TWCS) × 8.33 

Where

FLDHW = domestic hot water flow (gal)

TWH2 = supply water temperature from water heater (°F)

TWCS = cold water supply temperature (°F)

 8.33 = specific heat of water3 in Btu/°F∙gal

Energy contribution from the HPWH is calculated by Equation 2: 

QHP = FLHP × (TWHPS – TWHPR) × 8.33

 

3 Over the range of expected temperatures the less than 0.5% variation in specific heat is considered to be within 

acceptable measurement error. 

(1)

(2)
24 

Where

FWHP = heat pump water flow (gal) 

TWHPS = supply water temperature from heat pump (°F)

TWHPR = return water temperature to heat pump (°F)

Measured electric use of the HPWH and electric backup water heater are converted to site Btu 

using Equation 3 and Equation 4. Recirculation pump power is assumed to be constant during 

pump operation. Pump power was measured with a one-time measurement, which is used to 

calculate energy consumption from monitored pump status. 

EHP = EWHP * 3412 (Btu)

Eelec = EWH * 3412 (Btu) 

Epump = EPMP * 3412 (Btu) 

Where

EWHP = electric use of heat pump water heater (kWh)

EWH = electric use of backup water heater (kWh)

EPMP = electric use of recirculation pump (kWh)

The effective heat pump and system efficiencies are calculated according to Equation 6 and 

Equation 7. 

Effective Heat Pump Efficiency = QHP/EHP

Effective System Efficiency = Qdelivered/(EHP + Eelec + Epump) 

3.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness

3.2.1 General Technical Approach

Due to the large scope of this project and the deep efficiency measures that were implemented, it 

was essential to provide a certain degree of quality assurance and quality control throughout the 

construction process. Phase I of the West Village project is being certified under LEED for 

Homes. In addition, the builder is participating in Pacific Gas and Electric’s California 

Multifamily New Homes (CMFNH) utility incentive program. Both programs require certain 

third-party HERS inspections and tests and provide credit for additional third-party HERS 

testing. The builder hired Allen Amaro of Amaro Construction Services, who has extensive 

experience as a verifier in California, to provide the third-party HERS services and coordinate 

with the construction team. Davis Energy Group and Allen Amaro were responsible for on-site 

inspections and one-time tests to verify proper installation and implementation of many of the 

energy features. DEG worked with the HERS rater to identify quality control issues discovered 

through the process and to determine measures to correct deficiencies, to determine the value 

provided by third-party HERS rater in the construction process, and to identify deficiencies in 

the existing process that could be improved. Results are specific to California projects that 

incorporate HERS testing for energy code compliance and for adherence with utility incentive or 

green building programs, but results are relatable to other programs’ QA/QC processes.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)
25 

3.2.2 Measurements

DEG and the HERS rater collected data from the following short-term tests (sampling was 

conducted where appropriate): 

• Thermal Bypass/QII inspections: Visually verify quality insulation installation and 

building envelope sealing.

• Visually inspect windows, insulation values, duct location (conditioned space) and 

mechanical equipment, including air conditioning EER. 

• ACCA Equipment/Duct Sizing: Review equipment sizing methodology. 

• Tight Envelope/Blower Door Testing: Test each apartment using standard protocols to 

measure per-unit apartment envelope leakage. 

• Verify tight duct testing: Conduct duct blaster tests to ensure duct tightness and minimal 

leakage to outside. 

• Conduct HVAC system airflow tests to verify proper airflow. Measure air handler fan 

power. 

• Verify refrigerant charge by direct measurement of subcooling or superheat or by 

inspecting refrigerant charge gauges at time of commissioning.

In addition to the above HERS-specific inspections and tests, other building measures, like 

windows (U-factor and SHGC), lighting, and appliances were inspected to ensure that the units 

were built to meet the design intent. Preinspection meetings were held with the construction team 

so that all responsible parties were aware of the planned inspections and tests and the associated 

quality criteria. 
26 

4 Results 

4.1 Heat Pump Water Heater

4.1.1 System Commissioning

The value of commissioning was highlighted by our experiences with the HPWH monitoring at 

the West Village project. After monitoring equipment was installed and commissioned in 

September 2011, DEG immediately observed that the entire water heating load was being met by 

the electric resistance storage water heaters, which were set at 120°F. There was also a control 

issue whereby the heat pump circulation pump and evaporator fan were operating, but the 

compressor was not. Because the fan and pump appeared to be operating normally, it was not 

obvious that the compressor was not operating by simple visual observation. WVCP and the 

installing plumber were notified, and the equipment manufacturer was brought in to assess the 

situation. An A.O. Smith representative inspected the installation in late September and 

determined that a remote immersion sensor for the heat pump had not been installed. A.O. Smith 

provided a temperature sensor, which was installed on the tank jacket. Subsequent monitoring 

showed that the heat pump still did not operate, and the electric resistance storage tanks 

continued to provide all hot water. Once notified, the installer found the temperature setting on 

the heat pump was too low. The manufacturer also felt that the current location for the tank 

sensor was resulting in inaccurate readings. In October, A.O. Smith directed the installer to 

relocate the temperature sensor in a thermal well inside the storage tank. The system was then set 

up per manufacturer recommendations: 140°F heat pump setpoint, 120°F resistance heat setpoint 

in each tank, and 120°F tempering valve setting to the recirculation loop. With this approach, the 

HPWH is the primary heating source, with electric resistance heating only called during high 

load situations in which the tank temperatures fall below 120°F. The downside of this strategy is 

that the high heat pump setpoint will lead to lower HPWH efficiency. If the setpoints for both 

heat pump and storage tank water heaters can be lowered without compromising hot water 

delivery temperatures, the heat pump can operate at higher efficiencies. 

Since the temperature sensor was moved to the tank well, the system has operated reliably and 

almost exclusively without the need for electric resistance heating. At this time, system 

modifications are being completed on the other 15 units at the complex. Preliminary monitoring 

results, based on three months of winter operation, suggest that the combined system efficiency 

(HPWH with supplemental electric storage resistance heat) is approximately 2.6, not factoring 

recirculation energy. The preliminary field efficiency is close to the rated HPWH COP of 2.9. 

Detailed performance evaluations will be completed as a more extended dataset is collected 

in 2012. 

Without the benefit of monitoring, the system malfunction would likely not have been noticed 

for some time. This experience highlights the need for proper system commissioning, especially 

with unfamiliar technology or systems with multiple units and multiple setpoints. Apparently, the 

standard level of commissioning for these units is to verify HPWH operation by observing 

outdoor unit fan operation and checking performance by observing hot water supply at the 

building. Clearly, more sophisticated processes need to be followed in the future. Ideally, the 

manufacturer would provide a simple set of measurements including power (or amperage draw) 

and HPWH supply and return water temperature as a basic commissioning check.
27 

4.1.2 Heat Pump Water Heater Performance

Preliminary performance data is being presented at this time as DEG works through the various 

HPWH system commissioning issues. Initial data collected in early October includes data when 

the system was operating solely in electric resistance heating mode. During this period, which 

also experienced the more favorable system operating conditions of early October (warmer inlet 

water temperatures, lower recirculation loop losses), the average daily electrical consumption 

was approximately 57 kWh/day. In November, with the HPWH operating reliably, average daily 

electrical consumption totaled about 42 kWh/day and daily hot water loads averaged roughly 340 

gal/day, or less than 30 gal/day per apartment. The observed 30 gal/day load is lower than 

anticipated during the initial project modeling phase, but likely can be attributed to waterconserving appliances, including low flow showerheads, efficient clothes washers, and, perhaps, 

lower-than-expected hot water use for food preparation and dish washing. 

A simplistic comparison of the 57 kWh/day electric heating use with the 42 kWh/day HPWH use 

does not take into account changes in hot water load, and colder November inlet air and water 

temperatures, which affect the energy comparison. A more thorough energy use study will be 

conducted as monitoring is completed in 2012. 

Figure 7 plots key monitoring data for November 21 through November 27. Fifteen-minute 

temperature data are plotted on the left axis; average power demand on the right. Water 

temperature of the supply to the tempering valve and the return from the recirculation loop are 

identified. All hot water demands, with the exception of a brief interval on the morning of 

November 21, were met solely by the HPWH. 
28 

Figure 7. West Village HPWH system monitoring data (November 21–27, 2011)

4.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness

DEG evaluated the HERS inspection process and procedures used at West Village as part of 

LEED for Homes and California’s field verification and diagnostic testing services. The builder 

was very supportive of the HERS process even though the company had minimal experience 

building in California, following Title 24 energy code requirements, or using the HERS process. 

Builder representatives followed the process from beginning to end, which was very useful for 

continuity and quality assurance. 

Two principal types of HERS QA/QC measures implemented: envelope measures, specifically 

QII, and diagnostic testing of mechanical systems. See Section 3.2.2 for a list of HERS measures 

included in this project. See the Title 24 Reference Appendices for details of the requirements

(CEC 2008). The following is a description of the process and lessons learned.

4.2.1 Home Energy Rating System Measure Summary

4.2.1.1 Quality Insulation Installation (QII)

The QII credit under Title 24 is granted for correct installation of insulation and sealing of 

penetrations to create a substantially airtight envelope with sufficient thermal breaks between 

conditioned and unconditioned spaces. This is similar to the Thermal Bypass Inspection 

Checklist required through the ENERGY STAR program. To verify this measure, the HERS 

rater conducted two inspections at the following stages: 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

11/20 - 12:0011/20 - 18:0011/21 - 00:0011/21 - 06:0011/21 - 12:0011/21 - 18:00

11/22 - 00:00

11/22 - 06:0011/22 - 12:0011/22 - 18:0011/23 - 00:0011/23 - 06:0011/23 - 12:0011/23 - 18:0011/24 - 00:0011/24 - 06:0011/24 - 12:0011/24 - 18:0011/25 - 00:0011/25 - 06:00

11/25 - 12:00

11/25 - 18:0011/26 - 00:0011/26 - 06:0011/26 - 12:0011/26 - 18:0011/27 - 00:0011/27 - 06:0011/27 - 12:0011/27 - 18:0011/28 - 00:0011/28 - 06:0011/28 - 12:00

Power (kW)

Temperature (Deg F)

Cold Water Temp Loop Ret Temp Loop Supply Temp Outdoor Dry Bulb

HP Supply Temp HPWH kW Elec WH kW
29 

• After framing was complete and before insulation was installed to inspect air sealing

measures covered by insulation. 

• After insulation and before drywall to verify that batt insulation completely fills the 

cavities without gaps or voids. 

During the first inspection, the rater trained representatives from all the pertinent trades 

(insulation, framing, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and builder) on the QII verification

process (see Figure 8). The rater defined what would be required of each contractor to pass the 

final inspection and explained the intent of the protocols and inspections. This initial training 

helped establish a working relationship between the rater and the trades and was an essential part 

of the process to create an understanding that the HERS rater was part of the team. In the typical 

process, HERS raters do not visit the project until after insulation is installed, at which point 

identified defects create extra work for the contractor and delays in the construction process. At 

this point, the insulation contractor and builder are often responsible for correcting issues and the 

other trades are not given any feedback about the defects. Because of the value of this initial 

meeting, DEG has written this initial QII training into all its LEED contracts.

Figure 8. Initial QII training with subcontractors

Under Title 24 procedures, building sampling is allowed for HERS verification. Initially, the 

expectation was that once a standard quality of workmanship was attained, verified sampling 

would be conducted on a minimum of one in every seven units. During inspections, however, 

there were consistently enough defects that required remediation that the rater never felt 

comfortable with allowing sampling. Some of the common problem areas included improper 

sealing around draft stops, top plates, and around window frames, as well as missed insulation in 
30 

interstitial cavities. The regulations state that any gap greater than 1/8 in. must be addressed. 

Often, the HERS rater had to point out insulation deficiencies in these problem areas. The 

supervisors, who participated in walk-through inspections with the HERS rater, gained 

knowledge and understanding of the issues and were eventually able to identify and catch most 

problem areas in the field. In contrast, the installation crew had a high turnover rate; crew 

members were often hired with little or no experience and were not trained on QII procedures, 

which resulted in ongoing insulation quality issues. 

4.2.1.2 Mechanical Verifications

There were six HERS measures that required coordination with the mechanical contractor. While 

there was a representative from the mechanical team present at the initial training for QII, 

specifics of the mechanical measures were not covered during that meeting. When it came time 

to verify these measures, it was determined that the mechanical contractor was working with a 

previous version of Title 24 documents and was unaware that any HVAC HERS measures were 

required. The contractor was resistant to work with the team and felt that testing was outside of 

the scope of work. Fortunately, the developer was able to work with the contractors and 

consulting team to resolve the issues. 

Similar to the QII verification, most HERS raters only go onsite to verify an installation and 

communicate with the subcontractors only if defects need to be remedied. In this case, the rater

coordinated visits such that measure verification was done simultaneously by the contractor and 

the rater. For example, refrigerant charge was verified at the time of air conditioner charging and 

duct leakage was tested when the installer tested the ducts.4 To verify contractor gauge accuracy, 

the contractor and the rater periodically compared their gauges’ reading on a single unit. In this 

style, the rater helped the contractor move through the process while ensuring quality 

workmanship at the same time. This process allows for immediate feedback to the contractor and 

rectification of any problems, as well as saves time for both the rater and the contractor since it 

can eliminate additional trips to make corrections. 

Results of refrigerant charge, airflow, fan power draw, and EER verifications all showed that the 

units were installed per specification. Only minimal changes were required on some units to 

meet the required specifications. Duct leakage testing of the first installations did show 

unacceptable values (>6% of system airflow) and required substantial remediation. Primarily, 

this was a result of a lack of sealing at connection points such as between boots and registers. 

Once the contractor became aware of installation practices that contribute to duct leakage, the 

problems were avoided on later installations.

4.2.1.3 Building Infiltration/Blower Door Testing

In California, the mechanical contractor is typically responsible for infiltration testing procedures 

prior to HERS rater verification. This is because the mechanical contractor is more likely to be 

familiar with use of the blower door equipment and testing procedures. However, the tightness of 

the envelope is a byproduct of the work done by almost all trades including the framer and 

 

4 Under Title 24 all HERS measures need to also be tested and verified by the installer. There are exceptions if the 

installer agrees to use the HERS rater’s values and waive their right to test it themselves. This is often done with 

measures such as building infiltration and duct leakage where the installer doesn’t own the necessary equipment.
31 

insulation, plumbing, and electrical contractors. DEG’s experience has been that few mechanical 

contractors want this responsibility and/or have the proper equipment and training. At West 

Village, like most other projects for which blower door testing is required, the mechanical 

contractor subcontracted testing and verification to the HERS rater.

Problems can arise if the blower door tests demonstrate infiltration values above those in 

compliance with Title 24 or other programs. When remediation is necessary, it can be difficult to 

identify the source of infiltration. Further, matching the source of infiltration with the 

accountable trade contractor is difficult. As an alternative, some builders re-run the Title 24 

building compliance software using the higher tested leakage values in hopes of still meeting the 

minimum performance criteria. 

Blower door testing at West Village was completed on a per unit basis, without isolating leakage 

to outside from leakage to neighboring units. Measured blower door test results were lower than 

the 5.25 ACH50 threshold specified in Title 24. Measured blower door tests showed the units 

achieved ACH50 values between 2.83 and 5.12 with an average of 3.73 (equivalent to 2.13 

SLA). In this case, because envelope leakage was lower than the threshold, no remediation was 

necessary. This is in part attributable to the training and commissioning of the building envelope 

and sealing measures under QII.

4.2.1.4 ACCA J/S/D Equipment and Duct Sizing

LEED for Homes requires room-by-room load calculations and duct sizing procedures for each 

unit using ACCA Manual J, S and D methodology or equivalent. Since January 2011, this is also 

required by California code for all new HVAC installations. At present, most builders, 

contractors, and building officials are not aware of the code, so participation in LEED helps 

make the project team aware of the requirements. This requirement is a good policy to ensure 

that a design-based methodology is used to size equipment and ductwork, but there are no 

provisions in the LEED for Homes program or in the California code for checking the accuracy 

of calculations. Neither code officials nor LEED for Homes Green Raters are qualified to 

accurately review these calculations, so there is still the risk of oversized equipment being 

installed. The software tools that are commonly used are good, but it is very easy to enter 

incorrect data and get inaccurate results. Also, using the software does not ensure that installation 

of ductwork is consistent with the design. 

4.2.2 Home Energy Rating System Provider Registration

Under the current version of Title 24, the California Energy Commission requires online 

registration of low-rise residential projects that use HERS measures. The goal is to generate a 

database to track the implementation of HERS measures and establish trends in the building 

market. An online registry is managed by the HERS provider, which in turn trains and manages 

the HERS raters. Currently the sole HERS provider in California is CalCERTS. The builder, 

energy consultant, subcontractors, and HERS rater must coordinate with CalCERTS to register 

the project and document the implementation and verification of HERS measures using its online 

service. This project was the first experience for many of the team members with the online 

service, which has been required for low-rise residential buildings since January 2010. The 

process was further complicated by the large number of units. For example, the mechanical 

installer had to submit seven forms for each of the 192 units equaling 1,344 different uploads. 

Unfortunately, CalCERTS does not have any tools for summarizing the project status to gauge 
32 

the pass rate or percent completion. DEG attempted to quantify how the units performed in 

testing from the CalCERTS website and found the task so tedious that, instead, acquired the data

from the HERS rater’s hard copies. 

Because of the time commitment of registration, it is important to begin the process early in the 

project to help the subcontractors, energy consultants, and the HERS rater properly budget their 

time. Additionally the builder must realize that the cost of implementing each HERS measure is 

not only the incremental cost of any materials but also an incremental cost of time associated 

with the registration process. 
33 

5 Conclusions and Recommendations 

5.1 Heat Pump Water Heater

During 2011, limited monitoring data were collected on HPWH operation at one building in 

West Village. The most valuable part of the monitoring was that it identified performance issues 

with the HPWHs and gaps in the commissioning procedures that contributed to the performance 

issues. The data showed that the evaporator fans and circulating pumps were operating, but the 

compressors were not. Water heating setpoints were programmed to favor electric resistance 

operation. Without the information from the data, it is not clear how long the systems would 

have remained in electric resistance heating mode. Since identifying the problem, the developer 

has engaged the manufacturer and the installing plumber to correct the problem on all buildings. 

Monitoring data were indispensable in that process. 

Since the system was properly commissioned, it has been running reliably with heating provided 

almost exclusively by the HPWH. As the winter months begin, it is expected that more resistance 

heating will occur as water heating loads increase, inlet water temperature falls, and outdoor 

temperature reduces heat pump capacity. Monitoring will continue at least through the summer 

of 2012. DEG will work with the developer to test an alternative control strategy that should 

result in improved HPWH performance. Findings will be presented in a 2012 technical report. 

5.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Effectiveness

The current quality control process of using third party HERS raters to test and verify operation 

and installation of key building components is far from perfect. At West Village, the QA/QC 

process did, however, ensure that elements of the building design were installed to a higher 

standard than they would have been without the process. In general, we learned that, in the 

absence of a HERS rater, workmanship will revert to previous quality levels and result in underperforming buildings. The current construction market is so cost driven that training is a minor 

afterthought for many contractors. With high rates of turnover, especially among lower-paid 

positions that do not require experience or education, investing in employee training is not 

deemed cost effective. 

Most employees who install batt insulation are not sufficiently qualified or trained to meet the 

standards of QII. QII procedures and inspections have been in place in California since 2005, 

but, in both DEG’s and the HERS rater’s experience, proper installation of batt insulation and 

envelope sealing does not occur unless a third-party HERS rater is inspecting, catching mistakes 

and ensuring that mistakes are corrected. 

In California, HVAC contractors are required by code to test duct leakage for all newly installed 

ducted HVAC systems. Based on experience from the HERS rater, contractors do not typically 

field test duct installation unless a HERS rater is verifying duct leakage as part of the project.

Additional field training of HERS raters is imperative. Current HERS rater training for 

certification is content intensive and does not allow for detailed instruction on important topics 

or adequate field experience with the testing equipment. Continuing education programs and 

apprenticeships are rare. There can be significant variation in verification results across HERS 

raters with different degrees of training and experience. 
34 

Especially in large developments such as West Village, it is difficult to determine whose role it is 

to coordinate QA/QC and provide the necessary training. Generally Title 24 consultants and 

HERS raters provide bids for standard energy modeling and verification services, respectively. If 

a company’s bid incorporates coordination, the company is often outbid and loses the job. 

However, in the absence of coordination and training support, the HERS rater often ends up 

expending substantial effort on the back end. Most building companies do not have employees or 

a representative with the overall building science and QA/QC experience necessary to provide 

this coordination.

There are several improvements that can be made to expedite the online HERS registration 

process in California. Inputting HERS information to the online registry is a fairly new 

requirement and, at present, there is only one approved HERS provider in the state (CalCERTS).

The current data entry process is cumbersome and time consuming for the builder, contractor, 

and HERS rater. There are frequent issues with the online registry that slow the process further. 

To reduce data entry time, the provider should offer a single form for all applicable HERS 

measures instead of a separate form for each measure and each unit. Builders and contractors 

would benefit from more information and better training on the additional requirements and costs 

associated in the HERS registration process. Most trades are not familiar with these changes and 

may not have the computer skills to accurately and efficiently enter the data.

Based on our experience from this project, we make the following recommendations: 

• Bring a HERS rater on early in the process so he or she can train and coordinate with the 

construction team and conduct verifications at the appropriate project stage. 

• Establish a consistent work force that is involved from the initial training through the 

installation process to promote consistent work quality and minimize remediation efforts. 

This is difficult or impossible for a subcontractor to ensure, but ultimately it provides 

labor cost savings. 

• Incorporate energy specifications in the construction drawing set that goes out for bid. 

Explicitly spell out the measures that will require third-party HERS rater verification and 

testing, along with the subcontractor responsibilities in meeting these measures. 

Contractors often work off drawing sets and are expected to have thoroughly inspected 

them and fully understand all components of the job. Incorporating energy details may 

minimize uncertainty about the requirements of the job and, hence, construction defects 

and rework. 

• In early communication with the builder, the HERS rater should describe which HERS 

measures and energy code requirements apply. Often, builders will have seen the 

requirements and hired the HERS rater accordingly but may not have an understanding of 

what to expect from the process and which subcontractors will be affected by the process. 

• In preliminary meetings between the HERS rater and the contractors, explicitly cover 

what is expected of each trade. When outlining requirements for QII, representatives 

from the builder, insulation, framing, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical contractors 

should attend. Hold a separate meeting to discuss mechanical measures with the 

mechanical contractor and, if appropriate as in the case of hydronic systems, the 

plumbing contractor. In early meetings, all expectations should be addressed, including 
35 

which materials are appropriate for use (caulking, etc.), any local requirements, and 

relevant code changes. 

• For effective QII verification, the HERS rater must conduct an inspection at the framing 

stage before insulation to inspect caulking and sealing that will be covered with 

insulation, and after insulation is installed but before sheetrock. Caulk and seal

inspections are especially important in multifamily projects where shared walls and 

chases provide additional opportunities for leakage. 

• HERS registry should provide an easy-to-access summary of HERS measures and test 

results by project. Currently the registry is not set up to easily report this information in a 

summary format, making it very difficult for the builder, building department, or others 

to view. 

• Require that all installed HVAC systems be sized using a design-based methodology like 

ACCA J, S, and D. Proper sizing is important for avoiding oversized equipment and 

improperly sized ductwork. It is always recommended that the HVAC sizing be reviewed 

by qualified individuals to guarantee that proper sizing and the systems be performance 

tested at completion.
36 

6 References 

Amaranth, A.; Trueblood, C. (2010). “Heat Pump Water Heaters: Laboratory and Field

Evaluation of New Residential Products.” ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in 

Buildings Proceedings. August 15–August 20, 2010, Pacific Grove, CA. Washington, D.C.: 

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy; pp. 1-12 to 1-23. 

ARBI (2011). Test Plan: West Village Community. Prepared for Building America by the 

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation (unpublished). 

CARB (2009). 2009 Annual Progress Report Budget Period 2 (BP2). Attachment YY: West 

Village Zero Energy Community Report. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy by the 

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (unpublished). 

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