BPI Certified

Case Study: Weatherization Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance is an important part of any utility's weatherization program. Not only does an independent QA contractor ensure that weatherization is done properly, but missed energy savings opportunities and potential health and safety issues may be identified.

The utility weatherization installing contractor had cut the original insulation away from the recessed fixtures in order to meet code and to keep the fixture from overheating and possibly causing a fire. The insulation installer covered the fixtures again when he installed the new fiberglass. The first photo above shows the new insulation covering the recessed light and bathroom exhaust fan. The second and third photos show that Pure Energy was able to remove the new insulation and expose the recessed fixtures until the weatherization crew could return and properly treat the fixtures.

The weatherization crew started to correct the pressure and thermal barriers to bring them together. However, at this point, the crew changed their strategy and separated the thermal barrier from the pressure barrier, creating a void between two layers of insulation for about 10 feet and between the insulation and the drywall ceiling for the remaining 10 feet. The flashlight is 12 inches long and fits between the old insulation at the bottom of the bulkhead and the new insulation suspended above the bulkhead.

	Here, the crew pushed the insulation to the bottom of the bulkhead and sealed the vertical walls but created a void between the old insulation and the new. This resulted in the top insulation layer being rendered worthless, negating any insulating effect.

This photo shows how the vertical wall was air sealed but there is no insulation. This case illustrates how the weatherization contractor air sealed the area in the attic, but failed to add insulation. Insulation voids like this can cause comfort issues such as drafts, moisture problems, and higher energy bills. The bottom line is that the weatherization job was only half done.
Pure Energy's Final Inspector caught these problems, which a less experienced inspector might not have found. The utility required the weatherization contractor to return and fix the problems.  If Pure Energy had not identified these issues, the utility customer would most likely have missed out on some energy savings and comfort.