REM/Rate Software Chronology

The following note applies to v11.0 and greater:

Note: Upon installation, this software will run for 60 days without printing capabilities. To extend the expiration date and/or activate printing the software must be registered. To register the software you will need to obtain a User ID and Password from the source providing you with the CD. The REM/Rate™ registration screen is accessed via the Options | Web Services menu.

Enhancements in v12.5 include:

• Implemented RESNET Mechanical Ventilation interpretation.
• Implemented RESNET F-factor amendment.
• Library control with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Sort.
• Buildings load with temporary libraries that are discarded or saved when building is closed.
• Added 2006 IECC Compliance Certificate and Label.
• Added HERS Emissions to export database.
• Added ENERGY STAR Compliance and Improvement report.
• Added winter and summer demand to the Fuel Summary report.
• Other minor enhancements and repairs:
  • Added Evacuated Tube solar collectors.
  • Allow mouse wheel scrolling in report preview.
  • New error dialog box, separate from report previewer.

Enhancements in v12.4 include:

• Added 2006 IECC Compliance Certificate
• Updated EPA ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist.
• Export Database can now be directed to SQL database.
• Other minor enhancements and repairs:
  • Modified 2005 EPAct Tax Credit Report language
  • Version number reported when opening older building files
  • Mechanical ventilation rate checked per ASRHAE 62.2
  • Repaired ASHRAE Standard 152 default fan flow
  • Repaired several UDRH script commands
  • Repaired title bar problem
  • Corrected Wrightsoft RSR import issues

Enhancements in v12.3 include:

• Revised HERS rating star scale.
• Ability to import data from Wrightsoft's Right-Suite Residential, including Right-J, Manual J sizing software.
• A new report for Oklahoma energy-efficient new home tax credit.
• Added federal tax credit status to Quick Report.
• Other minor enhancements and repairs:
  • Updated ENERGY STAR thermal bypass report
  • Toggle for 2006 IECC duct insulation requirements
  • Toggle to review proposed revised federal tax credit method
  • Account for excess latent capacity in cooling sizing warning
  • Check boxes added to lighting appliance screen
  • Revised ASHRAE Standard 152 input screen per RESNET
  • Updated ECC of Southern Nevada to 2006 IECC
  • Assign duct systems to end-use(s) indicated by user
  • Added radiant barriers to Batch File Modification
  • Added ASHRAE Standard 152 Pressure Buffer and Plenum Pressure, to Batch File Modification

Enhancements in v12.2 include:

• Accredited by RESNET/IRS for use in qualifying homes for the energy efficient new home tax credit per 2005 EPAct.
• Inclusion of latest interpretation from RESNET regarding infiltration shielding class. This modification affects the HERS Index.
• Other minor enhancements and repairs:
  • ENERGY STAR report editorial changes
  • Fannie Mae report accessible to raters
  • Removed "Draft" from HERC when no duct systems
  • Set simplified lighting/appliance defaults when updating old building files with detailed lighting/appliance audits.
  • Include HERS Index on ENERGY STAR certificate when toggled on.

Enhancements in v12.1 include:

• Finalized Tax Credit Report for new homes per Energy Policy Act of 2005.
• 2006 IECC compliance reports.
• Inclusion of latest interpretations and clarifications from RESNET.
• New menus which are more intuitive and easier to navigate.
• Additional requirements and Thermal Bypass Checklist in support of the 2006 EPA Energy Star Home program.
• Lights and appliances added to the Batch File Modification feature.
• And many other minor enhancements and repairs.

Enhancements in v12.0 include:

• All changes required under the 2006 RESNET HERS Standards:
  • New HERS Index replaces score
  • New Reference Home definition
  • Includes lighting and appliances in HERS Index
  • Adjusting A/C and heat pump systems for climate/oversizing
  • New insulation inspection grade input
• The 2006 EPA Energy Star Home requirements.
• A Tax Credit Report per DOE's draft interim rule regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005 credits for new homes.
• A new spreadsheet data entry form that allows users to enter and store tabular and calculated data of their choosing.
• A data entry form for the RESNET Disclosure information, so it can be saved electronically with the building file.
• Batch file modification has been augmented to include infiltration, duct leakage, programmable thermostats, and builder's address.
• New duct system input scheme, including new leakage types: ASHRAE Standard 152, % fan flow, and cfm25/sf.
• Logos can now be added to nearly all reports.
• And many other minor enhancements and repairs.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.4 include:

• IECC 2004 compliance reports have been added.
• Data can now be imported from Elite's RHVAC Manual J equipment sizing software.
• The Quick Analysis screen now includes surface area and code compliance summaries.
• ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation standards have been added to Air Leakage Report.
• The notes dialog is now sizable and can be toggled to always appear at program startup.
• Electric resistance backup capacity has been added as input for heat pumps.
• SIP and ICF construction have been added to the above-grade wall library.
• New capability for managing printing permissions has been added - providers can now set permissions for individual raters.
• A locking scheme was added to the component libraries, allowing them, for the first time, to be fully shared on a central server.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.31 include:

• New online help system runs much faster.
• Utility rates added to batch file modification feature.
• Worst-case orientation feature added to toolbar for faster access.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.3 include:

• New feature that automatically determines the worst case window/skylight orientation.
• A new report, the RESNET Standard Disclosure, has been added.
• More options for specifying the cost of foundation wall improvement measures.
• Reorganized Building File Report.
• Above-grade wall screen now has multi-select capability.
• Enhanced software registration screen and expiration warnings.
• Additional language on performance-based code compliance reports indicating percentage by which home surpasses code.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.2 include:

• The new Batch File Modification feature replaces a library component or components in a group of buildings and saves the buildings to a different location than the original files
• Code compliance reports have been added for the 2003 IECC - for both Uo and performance-based approaches.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.1 include:

• Window shading inputs have been expanded to explicitly address overhangs, interior blinds/shades, and shading from adjacent objects (e.g., trees).
• The ability to model energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) has been added. The mechanical ventilation inputs are aligned with the information available from Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) test data and directories.
• Code compliance reports have been added for the 2001 IECC - for both Uo and performance-based approaches.
• A new report, the Air Leakage Report, summarizes the infiltration, duct leakage and mechanical ventilation inputs in a new and useful way.
• The Emissions Report was added to report the absolute CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions for the home.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v11.0 include:

• New registration requirement: Contact the party from which you received this CD to obtain a username and password for registration.
• New Printing Permissions allows HERS Providers to define which reports their sub-licensees can print.
• New Fannie Mae Energy Efficient Mortgage form that corresponds to Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriting system.
• New mechanism for generating the new Fannie Mae EEM report, starting from an improved design, and selecting a baseline from which energy cost savings are automatically calculated.
• New Builder Affidavit report - provides a signature line for the builder to attest that the home has been built per the details in the Building File Report.
• New Energy Code Inspection Checklist report - designed for use by code officials inspecting the home for energy code compliance.
• Report margins can be adjusted to aid in alignment for binding.
• A new button that allows all windows to be rotated at once, helping the user determine the worst case scenario.
• A new button that calculates default duct area.
• A note field has been added to all library element input screens
• Radiant barrier added to list of improvements available in Improvement Analysis.
• Mobile home skirting added to list of available crawlspace wall constructions.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v10.3 include:

• Capability has been added to model grid-connected photovoltaic systems.
• The error and warning messages have been revised to provide more specific direction on how to find and address data input problems.
• A printing offset setting is now available for the Energy Star Label, ensuring text is correctly aligned on the preprinted labels.
• A new Building Name input field has been added allowing the user to provide a name, different from the file name, which can be used to identify the building. The Building Name field is printed on all output reports.
• Numerous home features have been added to the lists highlighting the performance characteristics of the home, including duct leakage, duct location, programmable thermostats, radiant barriers, and desuperheaters.
• Heating degree-days and cooling degree-hours have been added to the Model Energy Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and ASHRAE Standard 90.2 compliance reports as appropriate.
• A new Work Order Report is available for use by those involved in weatherization and other retrofit programs. The report is generated automatically in conjunction with the Improvement Analysis Report and lists the recommended measures in a format suitable for use by a field crew implementing them.
• Column widths in the component lists are now preserved from session to session.
• Quick Report data can be sent to a comma-separated variable text file, complete with data labels, for use in other applications.
• Data presented on the Batch Report is also written to a comma-separated variable text file for importing to spreadsheets, etc.
• The User-Defined Reference Home analysis can now be run in batch mode.

Enhancements in REM/Rate™ v10.2 include:

• Capability has been added making it easier to model mobile homes, including new input screens for ceiling and floor libraries that reflect construction techniques unique to these types of homes.
• Capability to print the newly released Energy Star Home labels and certificates.
• A new report, the Energy Star Checklist, which is generated uniquely for each home, provides guidance to raters during the onsite inspection process.
• Users can now input auxiliary electric consumption for gas furnaces and boilers.
• New features have been added to help organizations manage the component libraries, including the ability to use a single library set located on a central server, and to restrict editing of libraries or library entries.
• The duct leakage improvement measure has been expanded to handle qualitative assessment of duct leakage.
• The default framing factors for walls, ceiling and floors have been updated to reflect the findings of current research.
• A quantity of like mechanical systems can be specified, greatly improving the capability to model large multi-family buildings.
• A small change to the library access interface makes adding and selecting new entries a snap.
• Mailing labels can now be printed directly from REM/Rate™.

Enhancements in v10.1 include:

• An improved home energy rating certificate (HERC).
• Additional report formats added to Improvement Analysis.
• New lighting and appliance inputs: quantity, efficiency level.

Enhancements in v10.0 include:

• The greatest change for v10.0 is the migration from a 16-bit application developed using Borland C++ to a 32-bit application developed in Microsoft Visual C++. You'll notice a different overall appearance of the application, the use of toolbars, acceptance of long filenames, and greater speed.
• REM/Rate™ v10.0 will run on computers with Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000.
• Instead of separate heating, cooling and hot water system lists, there is now a single list. User's no longer need to enter integrated heating/cooling or heating/hot water systems in two places.
• Air-source heat pump and integrated space/water heating system libraries have been added.
• Lighting and appliance section overhauled. A detailed audit of all lights and appliances can be performed, or default values can be used.
• A toolbar has been added for quick access to the most commonly used feature.
• Interfacing with the libraries is now easier than ever. A single screen displays both the list of library elements and the details of the selected element. A new button provided on every input screen makes access to the library quick and easy.
• To aid in using the newly adopted Fannie Mae EEM guidelines, the Energy Efficient Mortgage Underwriting Adjustment Report has been added to the Improvement Analysis procedure.
• New HTML-based help system with search capability.