New Frameworks’ Building Performance team ensure the heat pump and ductwork are properly insulated. (Courtesy photo)
Interview with Jacob Deva Racusin, Director of Building Science and Sustainability
G.E.T. Staff
How did you get started in this industry?
Jacob Deva Racusin: New Frameworks began as a natural building company in 2006, focusing primarily on new buildings and green remodeling. Our company was founded to create ecological and social equity solutions for construction while providing housing for our Vermont community. While we loved the work, we were only able to serve clients who could afford new custom construction, and we needed to be involved in improving the performance of existing houses to meet our social and environmental goals. In 2012, Jacob started the Building Performance division of the company, which Mike and Andrew now run.
What is your service territory and about how many customers do you serve?
JDR: Our Building Performance team works primarily in central Vermont, and extends into Chittenden County. Our team serves five to seven medium projects and one to two large projects each year.
What is your area of expertise?
JDR: Our Building Performance team focuses on decarbonization and electrification of existing buildings. This includes weatherization work such as air-sealing and insulation of attics and basements and extends far beyond to include solving chronic moisture and indoor air quality problems, super-insulating walls and replacing windows, and converting fossil-based heating systems to all-electric efficient heat pump systems. We also manage electrical service upgrades, solar installations, and resilience planning such as battery storage or backup generators to help our projects become net zero energy and climate resilient. We also specialize in design and installation of balanced ventilation systems to ensure a healthy indoor environment. Our ideal projects are focused on reducing energy loads and removing fossil fuels from the building while improving comfort and indoor air quality.
What projects do people try to do themselves that really should be done professionally?
JDR: The biggest project we see homeowners trying to hold is the general contracting of a multi-faceted electrification project which may involve a half-dozen different contractors organized in careful sequencing. For example, it is not uncommon for homeowners to first install heat pumps and solar panels, and then incrementally focus on enclosure improvements such as air-sealing and insulation. However, in this order, the heat pumps will be oversized by the time the enclosure work is completed, and the solar panels on the roof may impede the ability to improve roof insulation. It can be difficult to find an experienced contractor who can oversee the whole project and ensure the successful integration of all the parts, so often homeowners are left to figure this out themselves. Seeking assistance in the planning and coordination of a project that involves lots of parts can dramatically improve the efficiency and overall experience of the work.
If you could only choose one type of project to reduce someone’s carbon footprint or improve efficiency, what would it be and why?
JDR: We have seen air sealing as one of the single most effective moves to reduce energy loss and moisture risk, while improving comfort and indoor air quality. This is a cost- and resource-efficient way to improve efficiency and reduce energy-related carbon emissions. Heat pumps will not work nearly as efficiently in a leaky high-load home, particularly at cold temperatures, and throwing more solar panels at this situation will not erase the carbon emissions required to make up for this additional heat load.
Can you share one project (and some details) that really stands out to you as moving from inefficiency to efficiency?
JDR: We recently worked on a home that started with a leaky enclosure and a lot of moisture in the basement. Part of the goal was to turn a cold attic into additional living space. In the process of converting the attic into a living space, we were able to dramatically reduce the air leakage from the house into the attic by sealing the junction from the walls to the roof and installing a durable air barrier in the new ceiling plane. By using a wood fiber-based insulation product, we were able to meet the clients’ healthy material requirements and store biogenic carbon in the building enclosure while improving the thermal performance. We addressed the moisture issues in the basement and added an Energy Recovery Ventilation system providing fresh air into their bedrooms and exhausting stale air from the bathrooms, resulting in a more functional, healthy, and efficient home than when we began.
What is it in your field of specialty which is most valuable (related to energy efficiency) that our readers ought to know about?
JDR: There is a big push now to electrify our economy, which includes our homes. This is a critical transition for our society to make to improve our country’s energy security as well as our response to the climate crisis, however it is a complex process with many moving parts; air sealing and insulation, siding and finish carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, roofing, and other sub trades may all be needed, and choreographing all these professionals into an efficient dance requires skill in project management as well as building science.
Why should people use an EEN member over someone else?
JDR: EEN members have been trained to manage the complexities of building decarbonization and understand the “building as a system” philosophy that connects the work of each sub trade to a larger whole of the project. The “Network” part of EEN is an incredible value-add to this community of professionals, as Efficiency Vermont’s technical expertise is available to each of these professionals and their clients, ensuring there is support available for even the trickiest of projects.
What are the best ways to finance projects (or what incentives are available) for residential or commercial projects?
JDR: For those eligible to take advantage of tax credits, there are great incentives for electrification and weatherization work. There are also great incentives available through Efficiency Vermont and many of the state’s utilities for specific measures and efficient appliances and equipment. With the IRA funding set to roll out over the next year or so, stay engaged with Efficiency Vermont to learn more about additional incentive and rebate information as these programs evolve. Local credit unions are also offering competitive lending programs for building energy improvements.
What are some questions you recommend customers ask when selecting someone to do work to meet energy efficiency goals?
JDR: First and foremost, it is important to define the goals for the project. Sometimes, project goals may conflict or priorities must be set in the list of goals. All of this will inform the scope of work required to meet the goals, and therefore the budget and schedule. Customers should make sure they are working with professionals that understand their goals and are capable of helping to meet them. This may require a good background in building science or indoor air quality, or experience in running more complex projects involving mechanical services. Asking for references and examples of prior work, and how they approach managing more complex projects and verifying quality outcomes, are all good places to start in ensuring a good match between the professional and the project. Finally, make sure they are EEN members and tap into Efficiency Vermont’s resources to support homeowners looking to make improvements in their home energy performance!
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