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2026 energy rebates and tax credits for Ashland, Talent and Medford homes

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

2026 energy rebates and tax credits for Ashland, Talent and Medford homes

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Last checked: October 8, 2026. Rebates change often and some run out of money. Confirm with the program before you buy anything.

A lot changed this year. The two federal tax credits most homeowners used are gone, and the state’s heat pump money for owner-occupied homes is spoken for. Local rebates are still there. Which ones you can use depends mostly on who sends your electric bill.

The federal 25C and 25D credits have ended

According to the IRS, the 2025 federal law known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025) ended these credits:

  • 25C, the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (heat pumps, insulation, windows): not allowed for anything placed in service after December 31, 2025.
  • 25D, the Residential Clean Energy Credit (solar, batteries, geothermal): not allowed for expenses made after December 31, 2025. The IRS counts an expense as made when the installation is complete.
  • 45L, the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, which goes to builders: not allowed for homes acquired after June 30, 2026.

Some ENERGY STAR product pages still say the federal credits run through 2032. That text is out of date.

First, find your utility

If you live in Ashland, your electricity comes from the City of Ashland Electric Department, a city-owned utility. City rebates are for city electric customers. Energy Trust of Oregon does not serve Ashland’s electric utility, so its electric rebates generally do not apply in Ashland.

Talent and Medford are likely Pacific Power territory for electricity, and Energy Trust serves Pacific Power customers. We have not confirmed the exact boundaries, so check the name on your bill. Avista provides natural gas in Ashland and Medford, and Energy Trust serves Avista gas customers too.

City of Ashland rebates

As published on the city’s Residential Incentives page on October 8, 2026:

  • Forced-air heat pump with a variable speed compressor, HSPF2 8.5, replacing the main heat: $1,500.
  • Ductless heat pump (mini split), HSPF2 8.5: $900.
  • Duct sealing, only where the existing heat is electric: $250.
  • Heat pump water heater, 40 gallons or more, Tier III or higher, on the city’s product list: $1,400. It can replace an electric or gas water heater.
  • Electrical panel upgrade: $1,000, up to half the cost. Circuit upgrade: $600, up to half the cost.
  • Induction cooktop or range: $150 replacing an electric cooktop or in new construction, $200 replacing gas.
  • Smart thermostat on the city’s list: $100. Not combined with a new heating system rebate.
  • Solar electric: $600, for systems of at least 2,500 watts that are net-metered and permitted by the city.

Weatherization rebates are for electrically heated homes only:

  • Windows: $8 per square foot of glass for U-0.30 to 0.23, or $10 for U-0.22 or lower.
  • Attic insulation to R-49 or more: $0.75 per square foot from R-0 to R-19 existing, or $0.30 from R-20 to R-49.
  • Wall insulation in empty walls: $2.00 per square foot.
  • Floor insulation in an empty floor: $0.75 per square foot. It must fill the cavity.

A home energy review is required before heating, cooling and weatherization rebates. For a panel upgrade, photos of the existing panel can stand in for the review.

Income-qualified households get double the heat pump and heat pump water heater rebates, and up to the full cost of panel and circuit upgrades (panel up to $2,000). The city lists yearly income limits of $31,920 for one person, $43,280 for two, $54,600 for three and $66,000 for four. Renters can qualify on their own income for the heat pump and panel rebates.

Energy Trust of Oregon, for Pacific Power and Avista customers

From Energy Trust’s Oregon residential sheet dated January 1, 2026:

  • Ductless heat pump in an owner-occupied home: $800. It must replace electric resistance heat in the main living space. Pacific Power and PGE customers only.
  • Ducted heat pump replacing an electric furnace: $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the home and program. The sheet’s table is hard to read, so confirm the amount. Pacific Power and PGE customers only.
  • Heat pump water heater: $1,200, as an instant discount through participating stores and distributors.
  • Insulation in owner-occupied homes heated by a participating utility, including Avista gas: attic $1.25, walls $1.50, floors $0.75 per square foot, each with minimum and starting levels.
  • No window rebate appears on the Oregon sheet.

Energy Trust says all incentives depend on funding and may change. Many of its rebates go through enrolled contractors, so ask before you hire.

State programs

  • Oregon Heat Pump Purchase Program: up to $2,000 per home through approved contractors. As of the state’s October 1, 2026 update, money for existing owner-occupied homes is fully reserved. Money remains for rental homes and new construction.
  • Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program: reopened June 15, 2026 and was fully reserved within minutes. It is not taking applications.
  • Federal HOMES and HEAR home energy rebates: not available in Oregon yet. The state is waiting on U.S. Department of Energy approval.

What this means for a project

In Ashland, the city rebates are the main money left, and the home energy review comes first. In Talent and Medford, Energy Trust is the main source. In both, plan the work around the rule sheet before you buy equipment, because model ratings, existing heat type and contractor enrollment all decide whether you qualify.

Whether a heat pump or other upgrade pays off depends on your current heat source, your utility and the house. We would rather you hear the real numbers for your home than a promise.

Want help sorting it out?

If you are planning upgrades and want to know which rebates fit, I’m happy to talk it over. Fill out the contact form; it reaches us right away and we respond within a day. If you’d rather call, the office is 541-300-8118. The chat on this site can answer questions, pull up costs, code and similar projects, and send your request to the office too.

Sources

Reembolsos de energía y créditos fiscales 2026 para casas en Ashland, Talent y Medford

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

Reembolsos de energía y créditos fiscales 2026 para casas en Ashland, Talent y Medford

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Última revisión: 8 de octubre de 2026. Los reembolsos cambian seguido y algunos se quedan sin fondos. Confirme con el programa antes de comprar.

Este año cambiaron muchas cosas. Los dos créditos fiscales federales que más usaban los dueños de casa ya no existen, y el dinero estatal para bombas de calor en casas habitadas por sus dueños ya está apartado. Los reembolsos locales siguen. Cuáles puede usar depende sobre todo de quién le manda el recibo de luz.

Se terminaron los créditos federales 25C y 25D

Según el IRS, la ley federal de 2025 conocida como One, Big, Beautiful Bill (Ley Pública 119-21, firmada el 4 de julio de 2025) terminó estos créditos:

  • 25C, el crédito por mejoras de eficiencia energética en el hogar (bombas de calor, aislamiento, ventanas): no se permite para nada puesto en servicio después del 31 de diciembre de 2025.
  • 25D, el crédito por energía limpia residencial (paneles solares, baterías, geotermia): no se permite para gastos hechos después del 31 de diciembre de 2025. El IRS cuenta un gasto como hecho cuando la instalación está terminada.
  • 45L, el crédito por casas nuevas eficientes, que reciben los constructores: no se permite para casas adquiridas después del 30 de junio de 2026.

Algunas páginas de productos ENERGY STAR todavía dicen que los créditos federales siguen hasta 2032. Ese texto está desactualizado.

Primero, vea quién es su compañía de luz

Si vive en Ashland, la electricidad viene del Departamento de Electricidad de la Ciudad de Ashland, una empresa de la ciudad. Los reembolsos de la ciudad son para sus clientes de electricidad. Energy Trust of Oregon no atiende a la empresa eléctrica de Ashland, así que sus reembolsos eléctricos por lo general no aplican en Ashland.

Talent y Medford probablemente son territorio de Pacific Power para la electricidad, y Energy Trust atiende a los clientes de Pacific Power. No hemos confirmado los límites exactos, así que revise el nombre en su recibo. Avista da el gas natural en Ashland y Medford, y Energy Trust también atiende a los clientes de gas de Avista.

Reembolsos de la Ciudad de Ashland

Según la página Residential Incentives de la ciudad el 8 de octubre de 2026:

  • Bomba de calor de aire forzado con compresor de velocidad variable, HSPF2 8.5, que reemplace la calefacción principal: $1,500.
  • Bomba de calor sin ductos (minisplit), HSPF2 8.5: $900.
  • Sellado de ductos, solo si la calefacción actual es eléctrica: $250.
  • Calentador de agua con bomba de calor, de 40 galones o más, Tier III o mayor, de la lista de productos de la ciudad: $1,400. Puede reemplazar un calentador eléctrico o de gas.
  • Mejora del panel eléctrico: $1,000, hasta la mitad del costo. Mejora de circuito: $600, hasta la mitad del costo.
  • Estufa o parrilla de inducción: $150 si reemplaza una eléctrica o en construcción nueva, $200 si reemplaza una de gas.
  • Termostato inteligente de la lista de la ciudad: $100. No se combina con un reembolso por un sistema de calefacción nuevo.
  • Energía solar: $600, para sistemas de por lo menos 2,500 watts con medición neta y permisos de la ciudad.

Los reembolsos de climatización son solo para casas con calefacción eléctrica:

  • Ventanas: $8 por pie cuadrado de vidrio con U-0.30 a 0.23, o $10 con U-0.22 o menos.
  • Aislamiento del ático a R-49 o más: $0.75 por pie cuadrado si hoy tiene de R-0 a R-19, o $0.30 si tiene de R-20 a R-49.
  • Aislamiento de paredes vacías: $2.00 por pie cuadrado.
  • Aislamiento de un piso vacío: $0.75 por pie cuadrado. Debe llenar la cavidad.

Se requiere una revisión energética del hogar antes de los reembolsos de calefacción, enfriamiento y climatización. Para la mejora del panel, unas fotos del panel actual pueden sustituir la revisión.

Los hogares que califican por ingresos reciben el doble en los reembolsos de bombas de calor y calentadores de agua con bomba de calor, y hasta el costo completo de las mejoras de panel y circuito (panel hasta $2,000). La ciudad indica estos límites de ingreso anual: $31,920 para una persona, $43,280 para dos, $54,600 para tres y $66,000 para cuatro. Quienes rentan pueden calificar con su propio ingreso para los reembolsos de bombas de calor y de panel.

Energy Trust of Oregon, para clientes de Pacific Power y Avista

De la hoja residencial de Oregón de Energy Trust con fecha del 1 de enero de 2026:

  • Bomba de calor sin ductos en una casa habitada por su dueño: $800. Debe reemplazar calefacción eléctrica de resistencia en el área principal. Solo clientes de Pacific Power y PGE.
  • Bomba de calor con ductos que reemplace un calentador eléctrico de aire forzado: de $1,000 a $3,000 según la casa y el programa. La tabla de la hoja es difícil de leer, así que confirme la cantidad. Solo clientes de Pacific Power y PGE.
  • Calentador de agua con bomba de calor: $1,200, como descuento inmediato en tiendas y distribuidores participantes.
  • Aislamiento en casas habitadas por su dueño con calefacción de una empresa participante, incluido el gas de Avista: ático $1.25, paredes $1.50, pisos $0.75 por pie cuadrado, cada uno con niveles mínimos de partida y de llegada.
  • La hoja de Oregón no incluye reembolso por ventanas.

Energy Trust dice que todos los incentivos dependen de los fondos y pueden cambiar. Muchos de sus reembolsos se tramitan por contratistas inscritos, así que pregunte antes de contratar.

Programas estatales

  • Programa de Compra de Bombas de Calor de Oregón: hasta $2,000 por casa, por medio de contratistas aprobados. Según la actualización del estado del 1 de octubre de 2026, el dinero para casas existentes habitadas por sus dueños está totalmente apartado. Todavía hay fondos para casas de renta y construcción nueva.
  • Programa de Reembolso Solar + Almacenamiento de Oregón: reabrió el 15 de junio de 2026 y se apartó todo en minutos. No está recibiendo solicitudes.
  • Reembolsos federales HOMES y HEAR: todavía no están disponibles en Oregón. El estado espera la aprobación del Departamento de Energía de EE. UU.

Qué significa esto para un proyecto

En Ashland, los reembolsos de la ciudad son el dinero principal que queda, y la revisión energética va primero. En Talent y Medford, Energy Trust es la fuente principal. En los dos casos, planee el trabajo con la hoja de reglas en la mano antes de comprar equipo, porque la clasificación del modelo, el tipo de calefacción actual y la inscripción del contratista deciden si usted califica.

Que una bomba de calor u otra mejora salga a cuenta depende de su calefacción actual, su compañía de luz y la casa. Preferimos que conozca los números reales de su casa en lugar de una promesa.

¿Quiere ayuda para ordenarlo?

Si está planeando mejoras y quiere saber qué reembolsos le tocan, con gusto lo platicamos. Llene el formulario de contacto; lo recibimos de inmediato y le respondemos en menos de un día. Si prefiere llamar, la oficina es el 541-300-8118. El chat de esta página puede contestar preguntas, buscar costos, código y proyectos parecidos, y también enviar su solicitud a la oficina.

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What construction costs in the Rogue Valley (2026)

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

What construction costs in the Rogue Valley (2026)

Updated October 2026. These numbers are in today’s dollars, built from Ben The Builder’s own past and recent jobs and repriced with our own labor, material and subcontractor cost history. They are a ballpark, not a quote. We update this guide twice a year.

People ask what a new home, an addition or a kitchen costs, or what the price per square foot is. Here are honest ranges from our own work, and what pushes a project toward the low or high end. Your real number comes from a plan, subcontractor bids and your selections.

New custom home

  • From about $395 per square foot of finished living space, garage included, and more likely $415 or more for the custom homes we usually build. Custom homes with higher finishes run above that.

Finish level, the site (slope, utilities, excavation), one story or two, and the garage, porches and decks all add to it.

Additions

  • About $525 to $650 per square foot of new space for a ground-floor addition. Second stories and small rooms with a bathroom run higher.
  • Projects: from about $125,000 for a small primary suite, up to about $575,000 for a full second story.

Small additions cost more per square foot, especially with a bathroom. Larger, simpler space sits toward the bottom. A bathroom or kitchen in the addition, a second story, the foundation and tying into the existing roof all move the number.

Whole-house remodel

  • From about $125 to $150 per square foot for a facelift, up to about $550 for a luxury remodel with walls moved. A full remodel that keeps the layout is typically about $240. When every room is touched, for rewiring, heat, insulation, paint and trim, that is the whole house.
  • Projects: $150,000 to $525,000, typically about $400,000.

High finishes, structural changes or a new fireplace push toward the top. So do the number of kitchens and baths, and system upgrades like a new panel, rewiring, a heat pump and insulation.

Kitchen remodel

  • Full kitchen remodel: $500 to $650 per square foot of kitchen, typically about $570.
  • Kitchen opened into the rooms next to it: $300 to $600 per square foot of all the rooms worked on, typically about $400.
  • Full kitchen with new cabinets: $60,000 to $150,000, typically about $94,000. Partial updates (doors, counters, flooring) have started near $30,000. Kitchens opened into dining and living rooms have run past $225,000.

What moves it: new cabinets or new doors on the existing boxes, removing a wall (a bearing wall needs a beam, footings and an engineer), appliance and counter choices, flooring that runs into the next rooms, and older wiring or a small electrical panel.

Bathroom remodel

  • Mid-size bath, about 60 to 80 square feet, taken to the studs: from about $775 to $1,050 per square foot, and most land at $950 to $1,050.
  • Small bath, under about 50 square feet: from about $950 per square foot, often up to $1,500. Small rooms cost more per square foot because the fixtures, tile and trades are the same.
  • Most single bathrooms: $60,000 to $80,000, typically about $70,000. Turning a tub into a walk-in shower, keeping the vanity and toilet, runs from about $28,000 with an acrylic unit to about $37,000 with solid-surface walls and a new tile floor. Two bathrooms done together have run about $95,000.

What moves it: gutting to the studs or keeping some of the room, moving plumbing or walls, a curbless or fully tiled shower, tile and fixture choices, and older-house items like asbestos testing, wiring and subfloor.

Interior refresh

  • Flooring, paint, trim and doors: $50 to $125 per square foot of the area refreshed, typically about $85.
  • Projects: $40,000 to $90,000, typically about $70,000.

Basement, garage or attic conversion

  • $175 to $300 per square foot converted, typically about $225.

Moisture, ceiling height, adding a bathroom and egress windows are the main variables.

ADU

  • From about $500 per square foot of living space, and most land at $550 to $600 or more.

A detached ADU is a small new home. It has a foundation, utilities, a kitchen and a bath on a small footprint, so it costs more per square foot than a full-size house. Utility connections and city system development charges are extra and depend on the lot. Our Ashland ADU guide lists the city fees.

Decks

  • $175 to $295 per square foot of decking. A two-level cedar deck with a long stairway came to about $185 in 2026; lower, simpler decks with little railing or stairway can cost less.
  • Projects: $50,000 to $260,000, typically about $85,000.

Height above the ground, steep sites, multiple levels and stairs, and long railing runs push toward the top. So does removing an old deck.

Siding, windows and roofs

  • Siding, windows and exterior work: $60,000 to $175,000, typically about $80,000. The scope varies a lot.
  • Roof replacement: $12,000 to $100,000, typically about $25,000. Standing-seam metal sits at the top.

What moves the price on any project

  • Structure. Moving a wall that holds up the house means a beam, sometimes posts and footings, and often an engineer.
  • Moving plumbing, gas or electrical. Keeping the sink, toilet or range where it is costs less.
  • Finishes. This is where you have the most control.
  • Access and the site. Steep lots, narrow roads and no room to stage materials add time.
  • Permits and engineering. Planning approvals, historic review and wildfire rules can add fees and design time.
  • Hidden conditions. Rot, old wiring or asbestos behind the walls of an older house.
  • Energy upgrades. Insulation, air sealing, heat pumps and better windows add first cost and lower the bills after.
  • Phasing. Splitting a job into phases spreads the spending, but usually costs more in total.
  • Timing. A change made during construction costs more than the same change made during planning.

How we get to a real number

For new clients, we take projects of $2,500 and up. Past clients are welcome for any size.

  1. A complimentary visit to your house.
  2. A written description and a cost range, at no charge.
  3. If the range fits what you want to invest in the project, a planning agreement. In planning we set the firm, fixed price, select the materials and draw the building plans.
  4. Then the construction contract.

Want a range for your project?

If you would like a ballpark for what you have in mind, I’m happy to help. Fill out the contact form; it reaches us right away and we respond within a day. If you’d rather call, the office is 541-300-8118. The chat on this site can answer questions, pull up costs, code and similar projects, and send your request to the office too.

Sources

  • Ben The Builder Inc pricing guide, built 10/07/2026 and updated 10/27/2026 from BTB’s own completed jobs and recent quotes, repriced to October 2026 dollars with BTB’s labor, material and subcontractor cost history
  • Ben The Builder Inc, what drives the cost of a project (company practice, checked 10/07/2026)

Wildfire-ready building in Ashland and the Rogue Valley

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

Wildfire-ready building in Ashland and the Rogue Valley

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The Almeda fire started on September 8, 2020, and burned through the Rogue Valley in a matter of hours. Jefferson Public Radio reported that it destroyed more than 2,600 homes across Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Medford. It was the most destructive wildfire in Oregon’s recorded history.

After the fire, Ben The Builder rebuilt several homes in Talent for families who lost theirs. Ben lived in Talent, and his own house was still standing with burned houses on three sides. Those homes were finished in 2023. This guide covers what the rules are now, and what you can do to your own house.

The state wildfire map was repealed in 2025

Oregon passed Senate Bill 83 in 2025. It repealed the contested statewide wildfire hazard map. It took effect right away as an emergency measure. Sources differ on whether the governor signed it on July 24 or July 28, 2025. Either way, it is law.

According to the legislature’s staff summary, SB 83 also removed the map’s link to defensible space rules, its link to the building code’s wildfire standards, and the wildfire question on the seller’s disclosure form.

What this means for you: no state map now decides whether wildfire building rules apply to your lot. Your city or county decides.

ORSC R327, the state’s wildfire building code

The wildfire section of Oregon’s house code is R327, Wildfire Hazard Mitigation. After SB 83, it is optional. Each city or county chooses whether to adopt it. The current version took effect August 5, 2025, and became permanent January 1, 2026.

As of October 7, 2026, the state Building Codes Division lists five places that have adopted it: Ashland, Bend, Deschutes County, Grants Pass and Sisters. Medford, Talent and Jackson County were not on that list.

Where it applies, R327 covers new houses and their accessory buildings, new additions, and replacing a whole exterior part of a house, such as the entire roof or all the siding. Partial repairs are exempt, and so are some small detached sheds of 400 square feet or less that sit at least 50 feet from living space.

Ashland’s rules cover the whole city

Ashland expanded its Wildfire Hazard Zone to the entire city in 2018, and it has adopted R327 into its building code (AMC 15.04.010). For a new home, addition, ADU or whole-roof replacement in Ashland, plan on building to R327.

The city’s Building Safety Division asks for a Wildfire Mitigation Plan Submittal Form. It shows how the project meets R327 for the roof, gutters, vents, siding, eaves, decks and windows. We have not seen in writing exactly which Ashland projects need the form, so ask the city or ask us. Building Safety is at 541-488-5305.

In Ashland’s Wildfire Lands, replacing half or more of a roof within five years requires a Class B roof covering or better.

Hardening the house: what R327 asks for

Here is the plain version. Your building department has the final word.

  • Roofs: asphalt, metal, slate, tile, clay or concrete, rated at least Class B as an assembly. No wood shakes or wood shingles. Valleys get metal flashing.
  • Gutters and downspouts: noncombustible, with guards to keep leaves out.
  • Vents: ember- and flame-resistant vents, or metal mesh with openings between 1/16 and 1/8 inch. Vents under the eaves are not allowed unless they are made to resist embers and flame, or sit 12 feet or more above the ground. Ashland’s form asks for eave vents tested to ASTM E2886.
  • Siding: noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials, or a layer of 5/8 inch Type X exterior gypsum behind the siding, from the foundation to the roof.
  • Eaves, porch ceilings and underfloors less than 12 feet above the ground: fire-resistant protection.
  • Decks: walking surfaces between 30 inches and 12 feet above the ground need fire-tested, ignition-resistant or noncombustible decking. Decks of 200 square feet or less built with 2 inch lumber are exempt.
  • Windows, glass doors and skylights: tempered glass, multilayer glazing, glass block, or a 20-minute fire rating.

Where R327 does not apply, the same list is still a good guide for anyone replacing a roof, siding, vents or a deck.

Defensible space around the house

Defensible space means clearing or thinning what can burn near the house. It does not mean stripping the yard bare.

Oregon no longer has a statewide defensible space requirement. SB 83 replaced it with a model code, the 2026 Oregon Defensible Space Model Code, which took effect April 29, 2026. Cities, counties and fire agencies may adopt it. We did not find a list of places that have.

The State Fire Marshal describes three zones:

  • 0 to 5 feet from the house: rock, gravel or pavers. Remove flammable plants.
  • 5 to 30 feet: keep grass under 4 inches, and space tree crowns 10 feet apart.
  • 30 to 100 feet and beyond: remove ladder fuels, the low branches and brush that carry fire up into trees.

The Fire Marshal also does free defensible space assessments. They are advice only.

Ashland’s landscaping rules

Ashland’s land use code (AMC 18.3.10.100) sets rules for Wildfire Lands. A new house, or a deck, addition or detached building that adds 200 square feet or more, needs a fuel modification area. For an addition or deck, that area runs 30 feet out, or to the property line if closer. It has to be in place before combustible building materials arrive on site.

  • No bark mulch, stored wood or dry leaves and needles within 5 feet of a new building, addition or deck.
  • No plants from the city’s Prohibited Flammable Plant List within 30 feet of a building or deck.
  • Keep listed flammable trees 10 feet from chimneys, roofs and walls.
  • Fencing attached to the house or deck must be noncombustible within 5 feet of the house.

The city’s Fire Adapted Ashland page names juniper, arborvitae, cypress, coniferous shrubs, bamboo and overgrown rosemary as plants to keep away from buildings.

What the Almeda fire showed

OPB reported the fire was driven by winds near 40 miles per hour, and firefighters could not stop it. Afterward, Ashland Fire and Rescue’s wildfire division chief told OPB that new construction needs fire-resistant building codes, and existing homes need basic defensible space. He pointed to bark mulch near the house and leaves in gutters as things that catch.

That matches what the codes now ask for. Some of it is small work: metal mesh on the vents, gravel in the first five feet, clean gutters. Siding, roofing and windows are bigger jobs, and the sensible time to do them is when they are due for replacement anyway.

Insurance

A companion bill, SB 85, asked state agencies to study insurance discounts for fire hardening and defensible space. A report was due February 2, 2026. We have not reviewed it. Ask your insurer what they give credit for.

Questions about your house?

If you would like to talk through hardening your house, or building new to R327, I’m glad to help. Fill out the contact form; it reaches us right away and we respond within a day. If you’d rather call, the office is 541-300-8118. The chat on this site can answer questions, pull up costs, code and similar projects, and send your request to the office too.

Sources

Construcción resistente a incendios forestales en Ashland y el Rogue Valley

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

Construcción resistente a incendios forestales en Ashland y el Rogue Valley

Read in English

El incendio Almeda empezó el 8 de septiembre de 2020 y cruzó el Rogue Valley en cuestión de horas. Jefferson Public Radio informó que destruyó más de 2,600 viviendas en Ashland, Talent, Phoenix y Medford. Fue el incendio forestal más destructivo en la historia registrada de Oregón.

Después del incendio, Ben The Builder reconstruyó varias casas en Talent para familias que perdieron la suya. Ben vivía en Talent, y su propia casa quedó en pie con casas quemadas por tres lados. Esas casas se terminaron en 2023. Aquí están las reglas actuales y lo que puede hacer en su casa.

El mapa estatal de incendios se derogó en 2025

Oregón aprobó el proyecto de ley del Senado 83 (SB 83) en 2025. Derogó el polémico mapa estatal de riesgo de incendios forestales. Entró en vigor de inmediato como medida de emergencia. Las fuentes no coinciden en si la gobernadora lo firmó el 24 o el 28 de julio de 2025. De cualquier forma, ya es ley.

Según el resumen del personal de la legislatura, el SB 83 también quitó el vínculo del mapa con las reglas de espacio defendible, su vínculo con las normas del código de construcción contra incendios y la pregunta sobre incendios en el formulario de divulgación del vendedor.

Lo que esto significa para usted: ya no hay un mapa estatal que decida si las reglas de construcción contra incendios aplican a su terreno. Lo decide su ciudad o su condado.

ORSC R327, el código estatal contra incendios forestales

La sección del código residencial de Oregón sobre incendios forestales es la R327, Wildfire Hazard Mitigation. Después del SB 83 es opcional. Cada ciudad o condado decide si la adopta. La versión actual entró en vigor el 5 de agosto de 2025 y se volvió permanente el 1 de enero de 2026.

Al 7 de octubre de 2026, la División de Códigos de Construcción del estado indica cinco lugares que la adoptaron: Ashland, Bend, el condado de Deschutes, Grants Pass y Sisters. Medford, Talent y el condado de Jackson no estaban en esa lista.

Donde aplica, la R327 cubre casas nuevas y sus edificios accesorios, ampliaciones nuevas, y el reemplazo completo de una parte exterior de la casa, como todo el techo o todo el revestimiento. Las reparaciones parciales están exentas, igual que algunos cobertizos separados de 400 pies cuadrados o menos que estén a por lo menos 50 pies de un espacio habitable.

Las reglas de Ashland cubren toda la ciudad

Ashland amplió su Zona de Riesgo de Incendios Forestales a toda la ciudad en 2018 y adoptó la R327 en su código de construcción (AMC 15.04.010). Para una casa nueva, una ampliación, una ADU o el reemplazo de todo el techo en Ashland, cuente con construir según la R327.

La División de Seguridad en la Construcción de la ciudad pide un formulario llamado Wildfire Mitigation Plan Submittal Form. Muestra cómo el proyecto cumple con la R327 en techo, canaletas, ventilas, revestimiento, aleros, terrazas y ventanas. No hemos visto por escrito exactamente qué proyectos en Ashland necesitan el formulario, así que pregunte a la ciudad o a nosotros. Building Safety: 541-488-5305.

En las Wildfire Lands de Ashland, reemplazar la mitad o más de un techo en un plazo de cinco años requiere un techo Clase B o mejor.

Cómo proteger la casa: lo que pide la R327

Su departamento de construcción tiene la última palabra.

  • Techos: asfalto, metal, pizarra, teja, barro o concreto, con clasificación de por lo menos Clase B como conjunto. No se permiten tejas de madera. Las limahoyas llevan tapajuntas de metal.
  • Canaletas y bajantes: no combustibles, con protectores para que no entren hojas.
  • Ventilas: ventilas resistentes a brasas y llamas, o malla metálica con aberturas de entre 1/16 y 1/8 de pulgada. No se permiten ventilas debajo de los aleros, a menos que estén hechas para resistir brasas y llamas o estén a 12 pies o más del suelo. El formulario de Ashland pide ventilas de alero probadas según ASTM E2886.
  • Revestimiento: materiales no combustibles o resistentes a la ignición, o una capa de yeso exterior Tipo X de 5/8 de pulgada detrás del revestimiento, desde la cimentación hasta el techo.
  • Aleros, techos de porche y partes bajas de la casa a menos de 12 pies del suelo: protección resistente al fuego.
  • Terrazas: las superficies para caminar entre 30 pulgadas y 12 pies sobre el suelo necesitan tablas probadas contra fuego, resistentes a la ignición o no combustibles. Las terrazas de 200 pies cuadrados o menos hechas con madera de 2 pulgadas están exentas.
  • Ventanas, puertas de vidrio y tragaluces: vidrio templado, vidrio de varias capas, bloque de vidrio o una clasificación de 20 minutos contra fuego.

Donde la R327 no aplica, la misma lista sigue siendo una buena guía para quien vaya a cambiar el techo, el revestimiento, las ventilas o una terraza.

Espacio defendible alrededor de la casa

Espacio defendible quiere decir limpiar o aclarar lo que puede quemarse cerca de la casa. No quiere decir dejar el patio pelón.

Oregón ya no tiene un requisito estatal de espacio defendible. El SB 83 lo cambió por un código modelo, el 2026 Oregon Defensible Space Model Code, que entró en vigor el 29 de abril de 2026. Las ciudades, los condados y las agencias de bomberos pueden adoptarlo. No encontramos una lista de los lugares que lo han hecho.

El Jefe de Bomberos del Estado describe tres zonas:

  • De 0 a 5 pies de la casa: piedra, grava o adoquines. Quite las plantas inflamables.
  • De 5 a 30 pies: mantenga el pasto a menos de 4 pulgadas y deje 10 pies entre las copas de los árboles.
  • De 30 a 100 pies y más: quite los combustibles escalera, las ramas bajas y la maleza que suben el fuego a los árboles.

La oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Estado también hace evaluaciones gratuitas de espacio defendible. Son solo de consejo.

Las reglas de jardinería de Ashland

El código de uso de suelo de Ashland (AMC 18.3.10.100) tiene reglas para las Wildfire Lands. Una casa nueva, o una terraza, ampliación o edificio separado que agregue 200 pies cuadrados o más, necesita un área de modificación de combustible. Para una ampliación o terraza, esa área llega a 30 pies, o hasta el lindero si está más cerca. Debe estar lista antes de que lleguen materiales de construcción combustibles.

  • Nada de mantillo de corteza, leña guardada ni hojas y agujas secas a menos de 5 pies de un edificio, ampliación o terraza nuevos.
  • Ninguna planta de la lista de plantas inflamables prohibidas de la ciudad a menos de 30 pies de un edificio o terraza.
  • Los árboles inflamables de la lista deben quedar a 10 pies de chimeneas, techos y paredes.
  • Las cercas pegadas a la casa o a la terraza deben ser no combustibles en los primeros 5 pies desde la casa.

La página Fire Adapted Ashland de la ciudad menciona el junípero, el arborvitae, el ciprés, los arbustos coníferos, el bambú y el romero demasiado crecido como plantas que hay que alejar de los edificios.

Lo que mostró el incendio Almeda

OPB informó que el incendio avanzó con vientos de cerca de 40 millas por hora y que los bomberos no pudieron detenerlo. Después, el jefe de la división de incendios forestales de Ashland Fire and Rescue le dijo a OPB que la construcción nueva necesita códigos de construcción resistentes al fuego, y que las casas existentes necesitan un espacio defendible básico. Señaló el mantillo de corteza junto a la casa y las hojas en las canaletas como cosas que prenden.

Eso coincide con lo que piden los códigos ahora. Parte del trabajo es pequeño: malla metálica en las ventilas, grava en los primeros cinco pies, canaletas limpias. El revestimiento, el techo y las ventanas son trabajos más grandes, y lo sensato es hacerlos cuando ya toca reemplazarlos.

Seguros

Un proyecto de ley que acompañó al SB 83, el SB 85, pidió a las agencias estatales estudiar descuentos de seguro por proteger la casa y por el espacio defendible. Un informe debía entregarse el 2 de febrero de 2026. No lo hemos revisado. Pregúntele a su aseguradora qué toma en cuenta.

¿Preguntas sobre su casa?

Si quiere platicar sobre cómo proteger su casa, o construir nuevo según la R327, con gusto le ayudo. Llene el formulario de contacto; lo recibimos de inmediato y le respondemos en menos de un día. Si prefiere llamar, la oficina es el 541-300-8118. El chat de esta página puede contestar preguntas, buscar costos, código y proyectos parecidos, y también enviar su solicitud a la oficina.

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High-performance building: what actually matters in a Southern Oregon house

Written by Ben Treiger on . Posted in Articles.

High-performance building: what actually matters in a Southern Oregon house

A high-performance house is comfortable in July and January, uses less energy, has clean indoor air, and lasts. There is a lot of marketing around green building. This guide sticks to what Oregon’s code already requires, what the official sources say each upgrade does, and where you can go further.

A house is a system. Insulation, air sealing, ventilation, moisture control and heating all affect each other. Change one and the others change too. That is the way we build.

Air sealing and blower-door testing

Drafty houses usually leak at the attic, the crawlspace, windows and doors. ENERGY STAR says sealing and insulating can save up to 10 percent on yearly energy bills. The real result depends on how leaky the house is to start.

A blower-door test puts a fan in a doorway, depressurizes the house, and measures total air leakage. It also helps find the leaks. The result is given in air changes per hour at 50 pascals, or ACH50. Lower is tighter.

Oregon’s code requires new homes to have a continuous air barrier sealed to a checklist, or to pass a blower-door test at 3.25 ACH50 or less. One of the code’s optional efficiency measures asks for 2.75 ACH50, tested by a third party, plus heat-recovery ventilation.

Insulation

Oregon’s 2023 residential code sets these levels for new homes:

  • Attics: R-49.
  • Vaulted ceilings: R-30.
  • Walls: R-21, with insulated headers.
  • Floors over crawlspaces: R-30.
  • Slab edges: R-15.

New homes must also pick at least one extra efficiency measure. Two of the choices are R-21 walls plus R-5 continuous insulation outside the framing, or an advanced envelope with R-60 attics, R-38 floors and U-0.21 windows. For remodels, the parts you alter must meet current code as far as the existing framing allows. A remodel that opens walls or the attic is a good time to add insulation.

Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters

A heat pump heats and cools with one machine. ENERGY STAR says an air-source heat pump can deliver up to three times more heat energy than the electricity it uses. Cold-climate models are tested down to 5 degrees F, and ENERGY STAR suggests backup heat for extreme cold.

A ducted heat pump replaces a furnace and air conditioner. A ductless mini split works well in homes with baseboard heat, older homes without ducts, additions, and rooms that run hot or cold.

A heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air into the water. ENERGY STAR says it needs about 1,000 cubic feet of air space and a spot that stays between 40 and 90 degrees F all year.

Whether either one pays off depends on what you heat with now and who your utility is. Our rebates guide covers what is available in Ashland, Talent and Medford.

Fresh air: ERV and HRV

A tight house needs planned fresh air. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV) brings in outdoor air and sends out stale air through a heat exchanger, so less heat is lost. The U.S. Department of Energy says an ERV also moves some moisture, which helps keep indoor humidity steadier.

Windows

A window’s U-factor measures heat loss. Lower is better. Oregon’s code calls for U-0.27 in new homes. ENERGY STAR says replacing old windows with certified ones lowers bills by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide. Your savings depend on the windows you have now and how much glass the house has.

Rainscreen siding and moisture

A rainscreen is a gap between the siding and the weather barrier, made with furring strips or a drainage mat. Water that gets behind the siding drains out, and the siding dries.

The EPA puts it plainly: “the key to mold control is moisture control.” Ground that slopes away from the foundation, a dry crawlspace, and indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent all protect the framing.

Solar-ready

Oregon requires new detached homes to be solar-ready (ORSC R324.7). That means a junction box near the main panel marked “RESERVED FOR SOLAR,” with conduit run to the roof or attic. There are exceptions for small south-facing roofs and heavy shade.

Healthier materials

We use low-VOC and zero-VOC paints, finishes and adhesives, which release fewer chemical fumes. We also use GREENGUARD certified products (tested for low emissions), WaterSense fixtures and ENERGY STAR equipment.

Durability

Our approach is to replace rather than patch, and to build for the life of the house. A material that lasts longer and a house that uses less energy cost less over the years, even when the first cost is higher. We also recycle metal, cardboard and other waste, and donate fixtures and materials that still have life in them.

LEED projects get priority plan check in Ashland

Ashland Municipal Code 15.04.092 gives “top priority in the plan check processing” to new buildings, and to existing buildings whose repair or remodel cost exceeds half their replacement cost, that are pursuing LEED certification. To qualify, the permit application must show a LEED Accredited Professional on the project team, and the LEED checklist with the materials and systems for each credit shown on the plans. At the end, the LEED professional gives the city a final report confirming the project met the standard.

Green building certifications

A certification means someone outside the builder checks the work.

  • Earth Advantage is based in Portland. Its home certification has Silver, Gold and Platinum levels for above-code homes, judged on energy, health, land, materials and water, with third-party verification. A zero energy add-on covers homes that use solar.
  • ENERGY STAR certified homes exceed the minimum energy code by at least 10 percent, according to the EPA, and must be independently verified by a home energy rater.
  • Phius certifies passive buildings. For new homes the standards are Phius CORE and Phius ZERO, and for existing homes, Phius CORE REVIVE and ZERO REVIVE. Phius reviews the design early, and raters check the work and test on site.
  • LEED for residential, from the U.S. Green Building Council, awards points that set the certification level. Every LEED residential project must include a LEED Green Rater, who does the required on-site verification.

Each one adds rating fees and paperwork, so ask about them before you commit. A blower-door test can be done on any house, certified or not.

Thinking about a high-performance home?

If you want to talk through what would make the biggest difference in your house, I’d enjoy that conversation. Fill out the contact form; it reaches us right away and we respond within a day. If you’d rather call, the office is 541-300-8118. The chat on this site can answer questions, pull up costs, code and similar projects, and send your request to the office too.

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