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The purpose of the site visits to these homes by the Energy Division was to determine if the weatherization measures installed were in compliance with the new procedures described in the statewide Installation Standards Manual and the statewide Policy and Procedures Manual.⁴ In addition, Energy Division verified that NGAT testers followed the NGAT study data template and recorded the data properly. Based on its observations, Energy Division developed recommendations for improvements. The following are the findings based on twenty-one site visits:

· In general, the overall installation of the measures appeared to be satisfactory and in conformance with the current statewide weatherization standards and the policy and procedures manual. However, there were considerable differences among IOUs as to the number of post-weatherization inspections and the quality of workmanship.

· NGAT testing by Richard Heath and Associates, in all IOUs service territories for the Phase IV NGAT study was comprehensive and the technicians appeared to be following the NGAT protocol, which included collecting the correct data and conducting the appropriate tests. The NGAT technicians were also responsible for conducting blower door tests in a percentage of the selected homes, and the results seem to indicate that there was a considerable reduction in infiltration after the installation of properly installed measures. All household gas appliances were tested as part of the NGAT surveys, and when required, adjustments and\or repairs were made to the appliances to ensure proper and safe functioning. In some cases the appliance required replacement.

· In PG&E's service territory, there were considerable numbers of installed weatherization measures that failed and required correction in order to meet the statewide standards requirements. Some of the measures that failed were: CVA (combustion ventilation air) requirements, backward installation of filters, door threshold installation failures and unplugged holes in the pipe penetrations. These defects were discovered through post-installation inspections. There appeared to be a lack of training and significant workmanship issues affecting the quality of work being performed by several crews.

· In all service areas, many of the older dwellings visited by Energy Division were constructed with an older type of wiring, which is referred to as knob and tube wiring. A considerable number of these older housing units could not be insulated due to one or more of the following factors: the low income of the occupant and lack of resources, or landlord refusal to hire qualified contractors to replace this type of electric wiring.

· In SCE's service territory, all-electric homes in the high desert area of Hesperia and Victorville were good candidates for the installation of evaporative cooling systems either singly or to complement the existing air-conditioning units. Even though these systems are not most effective above 100-degree temperatures, they can generate savings during all other periods when the temperatures are not so extreme. Due to lack of funding resources, the full potential of energy savings is not being realized. The energy savings potential should be further explored in this high desert area and other similar areas of all IOU's.

· In SCE's service territory, a large number of older homes that were inspected in the Seal Beach area were equipped with electric resistance ceiling strip heating systems. These systems are highly in-efficient and are not best suited for cycling. These systems are old and there is a potential for energy savings if these are replaced with new high-efficiency heat pumps and this potential should be explored. Both the unitary and split systems show promise as a replacement unit for the resistance strip heating systems.

· Some of the non-English speaking homeowners indicated that they did not use the home's heating systems due to unfamiliarity with their home heating controls and technology.

· In So Cal Gas service area, due to the neglect of the exterior of some homes by the homeowner associations, some of the weatherization measures could not be installed.

· Some landlords poorly maintained some of the rental units such as, an exhaust of clothes dryer vented into conditioned space rather than to the outside through a wall or a ceiling opening. Weatherization efforts prior to solving such problems could possibly have created an unhealthy and harmful condition for the tenants. In other instances some of the houses had termite infested outside walls and roof rafters and could have endangered the tenants and the installers in the process of installing the measures.

· The current practice in SDG&E service territory has been that the cooking gas ovens and burners, and water heater burners are inspected only if the owner of the house asks for it or if the CO level observed be the contractor is considered to be high. Inspections of these appliances may improve safety to the LIEE participants. However, if the appliance cannot be adjusted by the technician, the utility will cap off the gas line and red-tag the appliance. The customer will not be able to use that appliance until it is repaired or replaced.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the results of the twenty one site visits, even though limited in number, the Energy Division recommends that additional technical training be provided to crews in an effort to improve the quality of work and language training to augment contractors energy efficiency efforts. Consideration should also be given to 1) safety issues including NGAT testing and thorough assessment of knob and tube wiring, 2) adoption of new measures including solar screens and advanced evaporative cooling, and 3) an increase in the frequency of inspections.

Based on the findings of these sites visits, the Energy Division makes the following preliminary recommendations:

· Of the 21 homes visited by Energy Division, 18 contained combustion appliances including aging and un-maintained furnaces requiring repair. The utilities and the Commission should review the results of the NGAT study and some type of combustion appliance check program should be implemented.

· An additional effort should be made in the LIEE program to fully assess the issue of unsafe knob and tube wiring in those homes that are eligible for weatherization measures under the LIEE program. There appears to be a considerable potential for energy savings if these houses could be safely insulated. One possibility could be to explore the availability of other funds or programs that could be used to assist the LIEE participants in hiring qualified contractors to address this issue.

· Prior to conducting any whole-house infiltration tests, the weatherization contractors should conduct a thorough inspection of heating and cooling system ducts. Any openings in the duct systems will adversely affect the outcome of the infiltration tests and will provide erroneous results. Inspection of ducts in homes with forced air systems should become a routine component of each utility pre-weatherization assessment protocol.

· The number of post-weatherization inspections in the PG&E service territory should be increased due to a considerable number of post-weatherization inspection failures.

· The workmanship of most of the crews should be improved, and may be accomplished through the thorough training of weatherizaion measures installers. This remediation action should be closely scrutinized in all IOU service territories and particularly in the PG&E service area, which had a large number of inspection failures. The education and training of these installers should be more detailed and comprehensive.

· As a new measure, retractable Solar Screens should be explored as a measure to offer to homeowners in cooling-load dominated climates to reduce solar gain during the summer months as the houses heat up rapidly from the sunlight coming through the windows.

· The final decision about natural gas appliance testing in the LIEE program should include checks for proper operation and safety as a standard practice for all gas appliances in the conditioned space, including gas-stove ovens, cook top burners, and water heater burners.

· An increase in the installation of evaporative cooling systems should be explored for use in high desert areas such as Hesperia and Victorville. These areas have all electric homes with air conditioning systems that use considerable amounts of electrical energy. While these coolers are generally not too effective when temperatures exceed 100 degrees, LIEE participants could possibly benefit from using these coolers and reduce their electric bills during times when temperatures do not exceed 100 degrees. (Note; since the initial draft of this document advanced evaporative cooler units which are much more efficient, have been introduced to the weatherization programs. These units might serve the needs of clients in areas where the temperatures exceed 100 degrees and should be given consideration.)

· The ceiling electrical strip-heating systems as installed in the older homes in Seal Beach complex appear to be highly inefficient. High efficiency heat pumps should be explored for addition as a standard measure for homes with ceiling electric strip heating systems.

· The energy education component of the LIEE program should include proper operation and safety of all appliances, especially combustion appliances in the native tongue of the LIEE participant.

· An extra effort should be made in the outreach program to fully educate and inform recent non-English speaking immigrants as well as seniors about the home technologies in order for them to feel comfortable in the use of those technologies, and thus to enhance their quality of life.

· A conversational Spanish course should be given on an urgent basis to those involved in LIEE program that are frequently in contact with the Spanish-speaking communities to improve communication and to enhance the effectiveness of the LIEE program.

³ D.01-03-028, ACR November 13, 2001, and ACR February 19, 2002.

⁴ WIS Manual June 1, 2001 and P&P Manual December 27, 2001