What Information Do You Need to Order a REScheck Report? (A Practical Checklist)
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
To order a REScheck, you typically need the project address, project type, conditioned square footage, foundation type, insulation R-values, and window U-factor and SHGC, along with plans or other information showing the building's dimensions and construction.
The important part is making sure the information is accurate. REScheck is only going to give you a useful answer if the information entered into the report matches what you're actually planning to build. If an R-value is wrong, the window information is missing, or the wrong location is used, the report can end up needing to be changed later.
I get some version of "What do you need from me?" on just about every REScheck order. So here’s the checklist I actually use when I’m gathering information for a report. If you have most of this ready when you submit your plans, we can usually get through the report much faster and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.
Why REScheck Needs This Information in the First Place
REScheck isn’t trying to determine whether your house is "energy efficient" in a general sense. It’s checking the specific building assemblies you’re proposing against the energy code requirements that apply to the project.
That means the location matters, the code edition matters, and the construction details matter.
For example, using the wrong climate zone can change the insulation requirements. Entering an R-19 wall when the plans actually call for R-13 can change the result. The same thing can happen with windows if the U-factor or SHGC entered into the report doesn't match the actual product.
This is why I'd rather get the right information at the beginning than have to redo a report after the plans or materials change.
The Basic Project Information You'll Need
Before getting into insulation and windows, there are a few basic things I need to know about the project.
Building address, city, state, and county
Type of project: new construction, addition, or alteration/renovation
Total conditioned floor area, meaning the area that will be heated or cooled
Number of stories
Foundation type, such as slab-on-grade, crawlspace, basement, or another foundation type
The project location is especially important. I need the actual project address because the applicable energy code and climate zone can vary depending on where the building is located. State alone isn't always enough. The type of project matters too. A new home isn't necessarily handled the same way as an addition or an alteration to an existing building. If you're not sure which code applies, that's okay. Give me the project address and the scope of the work, and that's a good place to start.
What Your Building Plans Should Show
You don't necessarily need a huge architectural plan set just to order a REScheck. What matters is having enough information to determine the size and construction of the building.
At a minimum, I like to see:
Floor plans
Elevations, when available
Door and window locations and dimensions
Wall, ceiling, roof, and floor construction
Foundation information
Where insulation is being installed
If you're working from a builder's stock plan, most of this information is probably already shown.
If you're working from a smaller addition or a simpler set of plans, that's okay too. A good sketch can provide enough information for some projects as long as the dimensions, windows, doors, and construction details are clear. The important thing is that I can determine what is actually being built.
Insulation and Assembly Details (R-Values)
This is probably the part that causes the most questions.
For each applicable building assembly, I need to know what insulation is being proposed and how it's being installed. That can include the exterior walls, ceiling or attic, floors over unconditioned areas, basement walls, crawlspace walls, and slab insulation when applicable.
The information may include:
Wall cavity insulation R-value
Continuous insulation R-value, if applicable
Ceiling or attic insulation R-value
Floor insulation R-value when the floor is over unconditioned space
Basement or crawlspace wall insulation, when applicable
Slab edge or under-slab insulation, when applicable
If you're not sure about the R-value, check the insulation manufacturer's label or product information. Your builder may also have the insulation package listed in the plans or specifications.
I can work with preliminary information when a project is still being designed, but there's a big difference between a preliminary report and a final report being submitted for a permit.
If the plans say R-19 and the builder ultimately installs R-13, the REScheck should not continue to show R-19 just because that's what was originally entered.
Window and Door Information (U-Factor and SHGC)
Windows are another area where having the actual product information makes the REScheck much easier.
For windows, the two numbers you'll most often be looking for are the U-factor and SHGC, or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.
You'll typically find these on the NFRC label or in the manufacturer's product information.
I may need:
Window dimensions or total window area
U-factor for the windows
SHGC for the windows
Door information, including applicable U-factor
Skylight information, if applicable
If the windows haven't been selected yet, that's not necessarily a problem. A preliminary report can sometimes be completed using the information available at that point. However, once the actual windows are selected, I recommend updating the report with the manufacturer's ratings rather than relying on a placeholder value. The same basic rule applies to doors and skylights. If the actual product information is available, that's what I want to use.
HVAC and Mechanical Information
REScheck and Manual J are two different things, so don't worry if you don't have all of your HVAC information when you're ordering a REScheck. REScheck is primarily concerned with the building envelope and the components that the applicable energy code requires you to document.
Manual J is different. A Manual J load calculation determines the heating and cooling requirements for the building or individual rooms. If you're ordering a Manual J as well, I'll need additional information such as room dimensions, windows, doors, insulation, design temperatures, and HVAC-related information. In other words, don't assume that ordering one report means you automatically have everything needed for the other.
What If You Don't Have Complete Plans or Values Yet?
This comes up all the time, especially when someone is working with preliminary plans.
You don't necessarily have to wait until every last product has been selected before getting started. If the project is still being designed, a preliminary REScheck can be useful for seeing whether the proposed insulation package is likely to meet the applicable requirements.
For example, if you're deciding between different wall insulation options, it can be helpful to run the numbers before construction starts. What I would avoid is treating a preliminary report as the final report when the actual construction details are still changing. Once the windows are selected, the insulation package is finalized, and the plans are ready for permit, the REScheck should be updated to reflect what is actually going to be built. That's a much better approach than finding out after construction that the report was based on information that was never actually used.
A Simple Pre-Order Checklist
Before you place your REScheck order, go through this list:
Do you have the building address and project type ready? I need the address, city, state, county, and whether the project is new construction, an addition, or an alteration.
Do you know the total conditioned square footage? This is the area that will be heated or cooled. It isn't necessarily the same as the building's total footprint.
Do you have plans showing the building dimensions? Floor plans and elevations are helpful, especially when they show the locations and sizes of windows and doors.
Do you know the insulation values? Have the R-values for the walls, ceiling or attic, and applicable floors or foundation assemblies available.
Do you have the window information? The U-factor and SHGC are the two primary numbers I need for the windows. Manufacturer information is best.
Do you know the foundation type? Let me know whether the project has a slab, crawlspace, basement, or another foundation configuration.
Is any basement or crawlspace area conditioned? If the space will be heated or cooled, that can change how the building assemblies are treated in the report.
Do you know which energy code applies? If you don't know, that's okay. The project location is one of the first things I use to determine which code requirements need to be checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't know my window's U-factor?
That's okay if the project is still in the design stage. We can work with the information available for a preliminary report, but I recommend getting the actual manufacturer's U-factor before the final report is submitted for a permit.
Do I need exact R-values before I order, or can they be added later?
You can start with preliminary information if the project is still being designed. Just remember that the final REScheck should reflect the insulation that will actually be installed.
If the insulation package changes after the report is completed, the report may need to be updated.
Is a full architectural plan set required?
Not necessarily. The plans need to provide enough information to determine the building dimensions, windows and doors, foundation, and applicable assemblies. For a small project, a clear and reasonably detailed sketch may provide enough information.
What if I don't have all of this information?
Send what you have.
That's probably the most useful advice I can give. If you're not sure about something, don't guess at it just to fill in a blank.
Send the plans and the information you do have, and identify what hasn't been decided yet. It's much easier to work from known information and identify what's missing than to build a report around numbers that turn out to be wrong.
Ready to Order Your REScheck?
Send your plans and whatever project information you have. You don't need to have every answer figured out before contacting me.
I'll review what you've provided and let you know if anything important is missing. Having the information above available will make the process faster, but don't let an incomplete checklist stop you from getting started.
Bottom Line
Ordering a REScheck doesn't have to be complicated.
The more useful information you can provide up front, the faster the report can usually be completed. At a minimum, have the project location, project type, conditioned square footage, foundation type, insulation information, and window U-factor and SHGC available.
If you don't have everything yet, don't panic. Send the plans and whatever information you have.
The goal isn't to make you figure out every REScheck input before you contact me. The goal is to have enough accurate information to build the report correctly and know what still needs to be confirmed before the project goes to permit.
