Back in 2013 I was working on a project in Tucson, Arizona. One day as I was driving around town, I got into a left turn lane on a green light and waited for an opening. To my surprise, the light went from green to a flashing yellow arrow - something I had never seen before. Cars were honking behind me and I just sat there while the light turned red.
If you’re judging me right now, go ahead. To my defense, I grew up on an island that had ZERO stop lights and only a handful of stop signs. I later discovered that the Federal Highway Administration had passed some type of ordinance in 2009 “authorizing the use of flashing yellow arrows nationwide.” And just so you know, there are areas in SW Louisiana that JUST made the switch in late 2018.
Later that same day while reflecting on that incident, I knew I should have instinctively known what to do on that flashing yellow light. But it also made me think...driving is something I did almost every single day but I hadn’t studied or read up on the changes in driving laws since Driver’s Ed (over 20 years earlier at that time). I wasn’t as knowledgeable as I should have been.
In a recent article from Builder, the author referenced a 2018 survey where 31% of home builders said their biggest challenge in constructing new homes to meet energy code was cost. Additionally, 10% of those surveyed responded that their biggest challenge was dealing with the airtightness of a home: “Builders described issues with airtightness of homes ranging from inability to meet current air change requirements, to those believing building homes ‘too tight’ introduced moisture or ventilation issues, particularly in very humid climates.”
The author then stated, “I would suggest that a deeper analysis of this issue will find that a lack of training and education about energy-efficient building practices as the primary reason that cost is a challenge for builders in meeting the energy code.”
Many of you reading this might agree with that statement. While we’ve seen energy efficiency become more and more standard over the years, there is still an enormous opportunity to educate our industry. I didn’t study up on the changes in traffic lights back in the day, but I do wish I had had someone there to walk me through that flashing yellow arrow.
With a mission “to advance and disseminate building science knowledge in the residential new construction community via education and collaboration,” learning is the very core of what EEBA is all about. So the next time you’re attending an educational event, consider bringing along a builder or other industry professional who might benefit from what you’re learning. Or, offer yourself up as a free resource for people who are wanting to become more knowledgeable in a particular area you have expertise in.
Let’s get that 10% lower and help guide someone through their flashing yellow arrow.