TREAT Adopted as the Computerized Audit for Washington State's Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program

June 25, 2004, Ithaca, NY

TREAT Energy Analysis Software has been approved for adoption as the computerized audit for Washington State's low-income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Washington State’s WAP network includes 26 agencies. Energy auditors at each agency vary from one user to up to seven or more users. TREAT will be used to audit a wide range of buildings types including: single family homes, trailers, and larger multifamily buildings.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the State of Washington. Their technical advisory committee performed a rigorous analysis of many software applications. It is especially rewarding to have TREAT selected after such a thorough evaluation.” says Mark Lorentzen, VP of Business Development at Performance Systems Development.

Software training is likely to begin later this summer. Washington State’s technical advisory committee is currently working with Performance Systems Development to develop a detailed TREAT implementation plan.

About TREAT – Targeted Residential Energy Analysis Tools

TREAT is a powerful software tool for weatherization which allows auditors to model building energy consumption and to identify the most cost-effective efficiency upgrades in both single family and multifamily buildings. This scalable application may be used to model all types of residential buildings including trailers, attached townhouse units, detached single family, and large multifamily buildings.

TREAT may be used to calculate a HERS score, perform load calculations and distribution sizing. Models may be created with multiple heating and cooling zones as well as unheated areas. TREAT allows users to project savings from single upgrades and packages of upgrades, taking into account interactions between measures.

TREAT normalizes utility bills which allows users to “true up” estimated energy use against actual fuel bills. It also includes screens for recording and reporting health and safety data such as carbon monoxide and flue draft measurements.

TREAT’s development has been sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in cooperation with the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NYSERDA is currently integrating TREAT as the required auditing tool for their Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. TREAT models building energy consumption using hourly weather data and the SUNREL™ calculation engine developed by the NREL. In addition to building insulation, window, and air leakage properties and mechanical system efficiencies, the model incorporates gains from solar radiation and lights, people and appliances.

TREAT has been extensively tested and is pre-approved by DOE for use in the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program. TREAT has passed the Tier 1 and Tier 2 BESTEST requirements and is an accredited home energy rating tool in accordance with the national Home Energy Rating System (HERS) standard.

TREAT users include: NYSERDA’s Home Performance with Energy Star Contractors, New York State Community-based Organizations delivering NYSERDA’s Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star, Technical Service Providers participating in NYSERDA’s Assisted Multifamily and ResTech Program; nhsaves, the New Hampshire electric utilities statewide weatherization initiative; the California Building Performance Contractors Association, which is conducting a regional building performance pilot with support from the California Public Utilities Commission ; the State of Washington’s Low-Income Weatherization Program; and various users located across the U.S.

Performance Systems Development is a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in market transformation services for building performance, including software, training and research. Taitem Engineering is consulting engineering firm with extensive design, energy audit, software development, and residential energy research experience.

Contact Information

For information and general inquiries on TREAT or any of our other software and online Energy Analysis tools please contact us at:

Performance Systems Development, Inc.
124 Brindley St. Ste. 4
Phone: 607-277-6240
Fax: 607-277-6224
www.psdconsulting.com
www.pscontracting.com