9 Ways New Comcheck Web is Different

8 Ways New Comcheck Web is Different

Written by Jobe Leonard of Rescheck.info. Jobe enjoys all things related to Rescheck reporting and the study of home energy audit softwares like Rescheck, Comcheck, and Manual J.

During the most recent Comcheck Web maintenance update we at the Reschexpert blog noticed something about as huge as it gets in the world of commercial energy auditing. The Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest Laboratory launched a new version of Comcheck Web, the online commercial energy auditing software portal. What this means is that, at this point in time, there were no longer two options to offer Comcheck Energy Reports, but 3. They are as follows:

Comcheck Desktop

New Comcheck

Legacy Comcheck

Today we are going to focus on the new kid on the block, New Comcheck. We feel this is a big update for DIY home energy auditors because it probably signals the direction that the residential version of the software, Rescheck will take in the coming months. For now we can focus on the commercial cousin, Comcheck. Here are the ways that New Comcheck is different.

• All future national or state energy codes will only be implemented within New Comcheck Web. This means they effectively sunsetting Legacy Comcheck and Comcheck Desktop with planned obsolecence. By no longer giving these two softwares the updated energy codes they will eventually become obsolete. It does not mean that you cannot continue creating Comchecks on them for now, but the Comcheck of the future will be created using New Comcheck Web so it would be a good idea to begin using it.
• Ashrae 90.1-2022 this code was added to New Comcheck. This is the only software this energy code is available in.
• 2023 Minnesota Energy Code was added to New Comcheck. This is the only software this energy codes is available in.
• New Comcheck Web offers advanced reporting. The report goes more in depth than the previous versions of Comcheck so it gives the building inspector, building owner, architect, engineer, contractor, and subcontractors more relevant information about the energy efficiency of their commercial construction project.
• Data Entry Wizards are a part of New Comcheck Web. If you have ever been bogged down entering data in Comcheck software these are welcome functionality boosts. A high rise building can have 10,000 components so any help entering this data correctly and efficiently is welcomed.
• Data Import for Lighting is not available. If you have a file containing the information about your lights it can be plugged directly in to New Comcheck Web. Commmercial buildings contain many lights and this should help with accuracy and quickness of adding them to the Comcheck Report.
• Project Sharing is enhanced. Many times the Comcheck file moves between a dozen or more people during its’ life span. Now sharing the file and Comcheck report with those people is easier than ever.
• Improved user help and guidance. When you are not using the Reschexpert blog to troubleshoot your Comcheck and Rescheck reports then New Comcheck also has some great built in Help Areas. If you are having issues creating your Comcheck this would be a great place to check out.
• New Comcheck Web requires a new login account with verified email. It does not matter if you already have an account for Comcheck Web. To access New Comcheck Web you need to create an additional account. If you want to use the same username and password as Legacy Comcheck, you can. However, you will need to create a new account and verify the email again as you start to use New Comcheck.

Overall, these are some major changes to the Commercial energy auditing landscape. For now at Rescheck.info when we create a Comcheck we are looking at it through he lens of both Legacy Comcheck and New Comcheck. This gives us the education we need to be ready for the full switch over to New Comcheck whenever it takes place. If you need a Comcheck created for you then email your plans to service@rescheck.info. We also need jobsite address and square footage. Thanks for reading the Reschexpert blog.