Page 10 – Everblue Training

Get NABCEP Certified From Home on Your Personal Computer

With the combination of online NABCEP Certification training and live online exam proctoring, you can indeed get NABCEP Certified from any location – including your home – simply by using your personal computer.

Here at Everblue, we offer NABCEP-approved and IREC-accredited solar training courses to help you qualify for a number of professional solar certifications, including:

If you’re new to solar, start with NABCEP PV Associate.

This is the entry-level credential where you can highlight that you understand how solar energy works.

There are no work experience requirements prior to sitting for this exam. In fact, once you earn the NABCEP PV Associate, you’ll have a much stronger chance of getting a solar job.

And we include the exam fee in our training package so you can fast-track to your end goal. Become a NABCEP PV Associate

If you have solar work experience, choose a specialty certification.

With the exception of NABCEP PV Associate and NABCEP PV System Inspector, all of the other certifications require that you’ve taken approved training AND completed a level of work experience before you can even sit for the certification exam.

At this point in your career, you should have a good understanding of where you want to specialize in solar – design, installation, commissioning, system inspection, sales, etc. And you’ll notice that NABCEP offers certifications that focus on these specialties!

For more information about work experience requirements, be sure to read the NABCEP Certification Handbook.

Enjoy the convenience of taking your NABCEP Exam at home.

After providing proof of your training and work experience to NABCEP, you’ll be able to purchase your certification exam directly from the NABCEP organization.

Until recently, NABCEP staff would then connect you with their test proctoring partner, Scantron, to schedule a date and time for your NABCEP exam appointment.

However, due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to reduce exposure to viral threats, Scantron started closing its testing centers.

NABCEP came up with a back-up plan to offer its certification exams through live online proctoring. They are working on converting the exams to this Internet-based form of assessment, which ultimately allows YOU to get NABCEP certified from home on your personal computer.

Live online exam proctoring comes with many benefits.

It seems that COVID-19 forced NABCEP’s hand to move in this direction, but there are several added benefits to remotely proctored exams, including:

Reducing the costs associated with traveling to testing sites
Making the exams more accessible to economically and geographically disadvantaged individuals
Decreasing our collective carbon footprint
Increasing candidate safety, comfort, and health

Double-check that you have the right technology to move forward.

TO COMPLETE EVERBLUE SOLAR TRAINING

Our solar training courses are accessible from any desktop computer, laptop, or mobile device. You’ll gain instant access to the online, on-demand video content after you register.

Simply log into our online training portal using the username and password provided to you, and you’ll be ready to go!
Please just make sure that you have the latest versions of your Internet browser, Flash, and Java to ensure that all videos and activities load as designed.

TO GET NABCEP CERTIFIED FROM HOME

To take a live online proctored exam, your computer must meet the following system requirements:

Desktop computer or laptop (tablets, Chromebooks, and cell phones do not meet NABCEP’s requirements)
A working built-in or external webcam and microphone
Internet speed must be at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended.
Browser with pop-up blocker disabled

Are you ready to get NABCEP Certified?

Start today with an online solar course. If you have any questions, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Learn more about Everblue's NABCEP Certification Training

How to Successfully Learn Online While Staying at Home

I woke up this morning to the following public safety alert. I’ve already been quarantined for 12 days, and the days are starting to blur together.

We recognize that many people have either not experienced online learning, remain skeptical, or simple are unsure how to fit it into what can be a chaotic schedule.

Here’s how we recommend finding success.

Step 1 – Choose what you want to learn. Register for the course or certification. Seriously, this little act of momentum is exciting. Let’s use that.

Step 2 – Write down your why. Write down why you want the training and what your hopes are for the future. Doing so will help provide motivation as you go through the process.

Step 3 – Find a consistent time each day. For me, it’s first thing in the morning. This is before my kids wake up. All is quiet. I get very few notifications, and I can simply focus.

Step 4 – Shut down distractions. Seriously, turn off your phone or put it in Do Not Disturb mode. Close social media, Slack, email, and anything else that will distract you. I know it is addicting, but your future self will thank you for your discipline. Personally, this is why I find early morning to be the easiest.

Bonus Tip: Schedule it on your calendar. Use “Focused Learning” and block it out so no one else encroaches on your turf.

Step 5 – Enlist a coach. Find someone to hold you accountable. Tell them your goal.

Step 6 – Make a game of it.

Step 7 – Reward yourself.

The Oil Price Crash is Great for Solar & Renewable Energy

This is the turning point in the accelerating global transition from fossil fuels to renewable solar energy.

First, massive oil price instability will hurt all future investments in oil and gas.
Second, stable and cost competitive solar energy will get a boost from stimulus funding.
Third, Coronavirus has made our pollution impact visible, which will further fuel consumer, corporate, and government demand for clean energy.

Oil & Gas Prices Are a Mess

With the breakup of the OPEC-Russia oil alliance, Saudi Arabia and Russia are flooding the market with oil. This just happens to coincide with the crash in demand from the Coronavirus pandemic. Oil prices have dropped from near $65 to below $25 – wow!

How will this impact the global transition to cleaner energy? What does this mean for the booming solar job market?

Traditional logic suggests that this would be bad for renewable energy, as oil and gas are now cheaper than they were before. With lower fossil fuel prices, this would result in fewer economic incentives to switch to renewable energy or electric vehicles. If natural gas remains cheap, solar has to be even cheaper to compete with that now lower price point.

oil gas prices chart — Source: Yahoo Finance

Additionally, if there is reduced demand for energy overall, that would include reduced demand for renewable energy sources as well.

The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said that the oil price crash “will definitely put downward pressure on the appetite for a cleaner energy transition.” Simply because there will be less demand for new sources of energy until we have an economic recovery.

Long Term Outlook is Good for Stable Solar Energy

However, that is all short term. Those short term negatives for all forms of energy will be outweighed by the long term benefits. Long term, this oil price crash will accelerate the adoption of clean solar energy.

First, consumers and companies are becoming more socially responsible and demanding cleaner energy. That is not going to change. If anything, overall environmental awareness and appreciation will increase. Just search for the pictures of how clean the water in the Venice canals are without humans disturbing them.

Coronavirus has already cut global emissions in the short term; it may also mean our transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources is accelerated in the long term. Who wants to return to seeing pollution in the skies?

Second, renewable energy has become increasingly competitive pricing wise. Solar energy and battery storage continue to drop in price and are now more competitive than even cheap natural gas. Solar will continue to get cheaper and has had a very consistent price trajectory.

Third, solar is more stable. Fossil fuels have tremendous instability. This is literally the second price crash in six years. The third in 10 years. It’s now much harder for investors to buy into long term projections for oil projects that take 10-15 years to full develop. No one wants a “stranded” investment where the price of oil is below the level needed to make a return, and no one can reasonably predict what the long term pricing trend will be. In short, with oil prices below $30, oil and gas projects can no longer claim to offer higher returns than clean energy projects.

Fourth, with global sentiment shifting away from fossil fuels, clean energy growing increasingly competitive, and oil market volatility once again in the spotlight – we may see oil majors and governments redoubling efforts to diversify energy investment. This is especially true in a world that is going to become increasingly vulnerable to pandemics.

Fifth, the stimulus funding from the U.S. and other governments is incentivizing energy efficiency and renewable energy.

In conclusion, this oil price drop AND the Coronavirus may be the one-two punch that delivers a knock out to the fossil fuel industry. For any professionals, the choice is clear, learn more renewables and invest in our shared future.

LEED Exam Scheduling in the Wake of COVID-19: What You Should Do

Update May 12, 2020: USGBC and Prometric announced a new online format. Candidates can start scheduling their LEED Green Associate and LEED AP exams online and take their exams from home, effective immediately.

Because the government has encouraged social distancing and self-quarantining during the Coronavirus pandemic, Prometric Testing Centers have temporarily closed. This means that anyone who wants to take their LEED exam in person will have to wait a little while longer.

What is Prometric?

Prometric is a U.S.-based company that administers exams at its worldwide testing centers. Many professional credentialing exams, such as the GRE and LEED, are administered at Prometric testing centers.

The center itself is typically just a computer lab with a highly secure proctoring and monitoring protocol to prevent cheating and other falsehoods. Each candidate in the test center may also be taking a different exam.

LEED exam scheduling at Prometric test center

How to Schedule the LEED Exam

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), who created the LEED standards, partnered with Prometric long ago to do what they do best: administer exams.

Candidates interested in earning a LEED credential should:

Enroll in a LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course
Study for 4-6 weeks
Purchase their LEED Green Associate Exam from the USGBC
Schedule the date/time of their exam appointment with Prometric

LEED Exam Schedule During COVID-19

In response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s updated guidance on measures to be taken to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, Prometric has temporarily closed its testing centers in the United States and Canada for a period of 30 days.

According to the Prometric website, if you have an existing appointment to take an exam, you will receive email instructions on how to reschedule your appointment to a future date once it is safe to resume testing, and no rescheduling fees will be applied.

The closures began on March 18. Prometric hopes to re-open on June 1.

If you are looking to schedule a new appointment, you can search for available appointments on prometric.com. Note that appointments in the U.S. and Canada will not be available until June 1 at the earliest.

Closures at other Prometric testing centers around the world are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with a close eye on specific government actions. All test center closures will be posted on the Prometric website at www.prometric.com/closures

Don’t Let COVID-19 Stop You from Learning

Despite LEED exam scheduling being at a standstill until mid-April, that doesn’t mean that your goals of pursuing a LEED credential also need to be halted. In fact, the timing works out very well for you.

Since so many of us are working from home or taking time to re-group on priorities, it’s the perfect time to shift focus on becoming a LEED professional.

With online LEED training, you can start getting up to speed on green building topics today. After you complete the training, which very well might take you 1-2 weeks, you’ll want to spend another 4-6 weeks studying and making sure that you understand all of the concepts. By the time that you’re ready to pay for your LEED exam, it’ll already be the end of May, and hopefully you’ll have no problem scheduling a LEED exam appointment with Prometric at your desired testing center.

Prepare yourself now, so that when life returns to normal, you’ll be ready to attack your job with even more knowledge and enthusiasm.

Teaching Online: Moving Classroom Instruction into the Digital Age

I’m a technology nerd, but when it comes to learning and school, I don’t want my kids anywhere near a computer any time soon. My daughters are in kindergarten and 2^nd grade at the Davidson Green School, a Montessori + nature school where they spend most of their time working with their hands or playing outside. That’s the way it should be.

But these are not normal times.

With the Coronavirus upending routines across the United States, our governor shut all schools in North Carolina a week ago, and I am not sure if they will see their teachers again until next year.

With that backdrop, I found myself in a classroom with 10 elementary school teachers on Tuesday morning setting them up to do something none of them had ever done before: teach online.

They are all brilliant teachers with a passion for what they do, but no one would ever accuse them of being tech savvy. In that light, my goal was to keep things as simple as possible for them, so technology would enable them to interact with their students without trying to replace them (a mistake too many school districts have made).

One way to teach online…

My solution? I created free Zoom accounts for each teacher. Using each teacher’s unique Personal Meeting Room URL, I created a list of “classrooms” that I emailed out to the entire school. I adjusted settings so anyone could join. This way, teachers didn’t even need to log into their own accounts to teach their classes. It’s not a perfect solution, but in an hour, they were all up and running.

This is clearly a Band-Aid solution, but it casts technology as a supporting role rather than trying to replace teachers who still have the hardest part… adapting their curriculum to keep the attention of five year old’s via a computer screen.

Longer-term solutions

Other organizations may have more complex needs or may use the current crisis to finally make the switch to a delayed long-term solution. I’m fine with that and happy to help.

In this same week, I have moved a two-week exercise for the Army entirely online and helped several certification bodies expand their online exam offerings for the millions of individuals who are suddenly concerned about polishing their resumes.

While this situation is clearly different, the only other time in my life that has felt like this was 9/11. The whole world has been upended, and no one has any idea what things will look like when we all settle into our new normal.

In times like these, society comes together to help those who need help, so please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help you in some way.

NABCEP Installer Salary: How Much More Money Can You Make?

Studies show that professional certification leads to more pay, and the same is true about a NABCEP installer’s salary.

We previously researched solar installer pay, and asked the question, “How much do solar installers make?”

After looking through at least eight different salary-related websites, we determined that the average solar installer pay is between $30,000 – $40,000 each year.

Now let’s see what happens when you add the internationally-recognized NABCEP Certification to a solar installer’s resume…

Watch Your Pay Double with NABCEP Certification

Salary websites PayScale.com and SimpyHired.com both identified a NABCEP installer’s salary as being closer to the range of $70,000 – $80,000 each year.

To get a better idea of how NABCEP Certification may impact your current solar installer salary, think about this: New research from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) shares that the NABCEP installer salary is typically $11,000 more than the regular non-certified solar installer.

So no matter what, you win with NABCEP Certification.

Why Do NABCEP Certified Installers Make More Money?

Unlike other certification programs that simply require candidates to pass a test, NABCEP requires education and work experience prerequisites before you even get to take the NABCEP exam!

They have taken SOLAR TRAINING.

To earn the highly sought after NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification, a candidate must meet the following education requirements:

Complete 58 total hours of education, where
18 of those hours focus on general solar photovoltaic knowledge
40 of those hours focus on advanced solar PV installation/design concepts
And they must complete 10 hours of OSHA construction safety training

Their training comes from an ACCREDITED EDUCATION PROVIDER.

You can learn a lot of things from YouTube, but unfortunately YouTube videos about solar concepts will not count toward NABCEP’s education requirements. And being that this is your career, and it involves electricity and safety, would you really trust solar electric training from a non-accredited institution?

All training must have a teacher-learner structure. Web-based training counts, but the institution must be able to provide feedback to the student and monitor his/her progress through the course.
The 40 hours of advanced training must come from an education provider that is accredited by the federal Department of Education, Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Training Programs, Department of Veteran Affairs, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), or equivalent as listed in the NABCEP Certification Handbook

They took UP-TO-DATE TRAINING within the decade.

The solar industry is rapidly changing, from year to year. Congratulations to those trailblazers who learned about solar energy in the 1980s, but unfortunately you need to get up-to-date information to qualify for NABCEP Certification.

All training must have been completed within the last 5 years.

They have solar WORK EXPERIENCE from the last 2 years.

To sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional exam, a candidate must document completion of permitted solar installations equaling at least 6 “project credits” as defined by:

System size of 1 – 999 kW = 2 project credits
System size of 1 MW and up = 3 project credits

They have held a LEADERSHIP role on a solar PV installation.

A candidate must be able to show that he/she held a decision-making role on a solar installation project. This may include being employed as a:

Lead installer
System designer
Project manager
Site manager
Foreman
Electrician
System engineer
Quality assurance / commissioning agent

As you can see, solar installers who take the time to participate in an approved NABCEP training program and “put in the work” on the job inherently gain more knowledge and life experience than someone who just sits for a test.

As a result, companies benefit from hiring NABCEP-certified installers.

Why Companies Pay More for NABCEP Certified Installers

When companies hire a NABCEP-certified installer, they benefit from the individual’s advanced skill level.

Even though business owners will pay more to hire a NABCEP installer, they know they’ll benefit from:

Greater client satisfaction
Fewer customer call-backs
Increased brand loyalty
Enhanced credibility
More word-of-mouth referrals

In addition, there are some solar rebate programs that actually require someone on staff to possess a NABCEP Certification. So for a business owner, the advantage there is being able to qualify for government and utility incentive programs (ie, getting more business that they wouldn’t have been eligible for otherwise).

Because a NABCEP certified installer has greater education and work experience than others, he/she knows how to handle all kinds of situations that arise on the job – so they’re worth it, and so is NABCEP Certification.

When Should I Get NABCEP Certified?

Given the education and work experience requirements to qualify for NABCEP Certification, you might think that the designation is only meant for installers who have been working in the industry for decades. But that’s not quite true.

PayScale.com revealed that its survey respondents were mostly in the “Mid Career” range, followed by “Early Career” and then “Experienced.”

NABCEP installer salary based on experienced professionals

Now what exactly do those career ranges translate to in terms of years on the job? I’m not sure.

But I think a definite takeaway is the ability to qualify for NABCEP Certification at ANY point in your career, provided that you knock out the education and work experience requirements.

Realistically, the sooner you can satisfy the NABCEP Certification requirements, the better. Don’t you want to make $11,000 more each year? Yeah, I’d want to do that ASAP.

Let Us Help You Earn a NABCEP Installer Salary

Whether you’re fairly new to the solar industry or have worked in solar for years, you now know what you need to do to start making more money!

Here at Everblue, we offer a NABCEP PV Installation Professional package that meets the education / training requirement perfectly.

Our NABCEP PVIP package offers 58 hours of training and includes OSHA 10 training.
The 40 hours of advanced solar PV installation/design training is IREC Accredited.
Our web-based program allows us the ability to provide feedback and monitor student progress.

All you have to do is START!

If you have questions about the NABCEP Certification process, give us a call at 800-460-2575. We’re here to answer your questions and help you succeed in your career!

LEED GA Live Webinars Allow for Learning While Social Distancing

LEED GA live webinars have long been an excellent choice for anyone interested in pursuing the LEED Green Associate professional credential.

Particularly if you don’t live close to an in-person training event or have a complicated work schedule, LEED GA online training provides the opportunity to interact in real-time with a knowledgeable and experienced instructor from the comfort of your home or office.

Simply put, LEED webinars save you from traveling and from spending extra money on accommodations.

But now, there’s a new reason to consider LEED online training.

Organizations Make Alternate Plans to Stop the Spread of Coronavirus

With the world on high alert due to COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus), many organizations and academic institutions have made changes to their in-person events and courses with the intent of minimizing social interaction and the spread of the virus.

This phenomenon, referred to as social distancing, encourages people to stay away from mass gatherings, avoid public transportation, and maintain distance from others.

Last week, the city of Austin, TX announced its plans to cancel the March 2020 dates for the popular South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festivals. This is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place.

The SXSW press release went on to say that they are exploring options to reschedule the event and are working to provide a virtual SXSW online experience.

Stanford University also shared its plans to move in-person classes to an online format for the last 2 weeks of the winter quarter, among other steps:

The Show Goes On with LEED GA Live Webinars

At Everblue, we offer the same LEED training curriculum in multiple formats, to accommodate different learning styles and needs.

We’ve been offering self-paced e-learning presentations, live in-person courses, and live webinars for the past 10+ years.

In light of Coronavirus, we’re especially recommending that participants consider our LEED Green Associate Live Virtual Classroom.

On our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course page, you’ll see our listing of upcoming in-person course locations and dates. The in-person courses are available nationwide, with each session spanning 2 full days. To help you with your social distancing efforts, we’ll be offering all of our in-person sessions as a live virtual classroom as well.

What is a LEED GA Live Virtual Classroom?

With the virtual classroom format, you can join one of our regularly scheduled in-person courses via the Internet.

The live virtual classroom is a great option to knock out the training without the hassle of traveling. Just block out your desired dates, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goal!

How to Get Started

Visit our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep page and navigate to the Pricing section.

Because the virtual classrooms align with a regularly scheduled in-person class, please note the time zone listed in our full course schedule listing on that page.

Register now for LEED Green Associate Exam Prep

2021 IECC May Require Lower HERS Scores and More HERS Rater Expertise

The 2021 IECC, or International Energy Conservation Code, will be the most up-to-date code focused on energy-efficient building, when published and ready for adoption later this year.

Designed to reflect today’s energy-conscious building standards while also challenging builders to push for greater efficiency, the 2021 IECC could certainly lead to the most energy-efficient housing stock in our country’s history.

One of the biggest changes to the 2021 IECC compared to previous versions of the code is how builders will be able to comply with its requirements using the Energy Rating Index (ERI).

What is the Energy Rating Index?

The ERI is a scale with numbers that range from 0 (to represent net zero energy) to 100 (to represent the approximate efficiency of a home built to the 2006 IECC). Each number on the ERI scale represents a 1% change in the relative energy efficiency of the building. Each point higher is 1% less efficient, and each point lower is 1% more efficient.

The ERI became a compliance pathway for builders wanting to meet the 2015 energy code. Many professionals noticed that the ERI at that time used the same numbers as the RESNET HERS Index, largely due to using the same energy rating software. As a result, these professionals (called Home Energy Raters) entered the discussion and looked for ways to capitalize on the new building code option.

In our post on the 2015 IECC code, we looked at the three compliance pathways that builders have for meeting code. It was an exciting time because the 2015 IECC introduced the ERI compliance pathway and listed requirements for blower door and duct testing. All these concepts resonated with the Home Energy Raters, due to their specialty knowledge in home energy rating and air leakage testing.

Flash Forward to 2018 IECC

The next iteration of the IECC came out in 2018. Although this version referenced the same underlying standard to calculate the ERI score, the resulting number varied slightly from the “equivalent” HERS Score. A modification made to the 2018 IECC concerning modeled ventilation rate caused this difference. Since then, the HERS Score and ERI Score have been slightly out of sync.

Looking Forward to 2021 IECC

The aforementioned blower door testing requirements remain intact, and, actually, the 2021 IECC takes duct testing even further. According to Ryan Meres, the RESNET Program Director, “the 2021 IECC eliminates the exception that allows HVAC equipment located entirely in conditioned spaces to not be tested. Under the 2021 IECC, all ducts will be required to be tested, regardless of location.”

So What’s New With ERI in the 2021 IECC?

Proposal RE192 makes the ERI target scores more stringent in each climate zone. The target score could be as low as 55 in some climate zones.
Proposal RE184 limits renewable energy production to reduce no more than 5% of total energy use.
Proposal RE209 applies additional efficiency improvements to all compliance paths, meaning that anyone who uses the ERI pathway will have to further lower their HERS Score target by 5%.

All these changes mean a builder would need to achieve a HERS Score somewhere between 40 and 50, depending on climate zone, and can only claim a 5% reduction in energy use for renewable energy.

What Role do HERS Raters Play Now?

Initially, there was a belief that the ERI compliance pathway would be the path of choice for meeting IECC requirements, due to the index being so similar to the well-established Home Energy Rating System (HERS). There’s already a network of trained and experienced HERS Raters who rely on the HERS Index with their daily work, so it made sense that builders would seek guidance from HERS Raters about meeting ERI.

But that was in 2015, and the 2018 differences between ERI and HERS led to more Raters thinking critically about the guidance to provide to their builder clients.

Because HERS Raters have an exceptional understanding of building science principles, they are viewed in the building industry as the go-to resource for energy code compliance. And with that knowledge, HERS Raters can make their own educated decisions on the best compliance pathway for their builder clients. Ironically, that often means that HERS Raters tend to choose the Performance Path as the best choice.

Compliance with both the ERI and Performance paths is demonstrated using RESNET-accredited software, so HERS Raters are already familiar with the building science and technology required, regardless of which pathway gets chosen.

Furthermore, the ERI will effectively require target scores to hit the same level of stringency as the net-zero appendix, without renewable energy, which is a stringency level far beyond the prescriptive and performance paths. HERS Raters, therefore, are more likely to choose the easier, and more cost-effective, compliance path for their builder clients.

If builders use the ERI pathway to meet the 2021 IECC, they will be expected to hit very low HERS Score targets. If builders choose to hire a HERS Rater, they can still achieve energy-efficiency goals, while making smart money choices and keeping their sanity.

What to Expect

The 2021 codes should be published around October 2020, but most states will likely not adopt the code for years to come. The U.S. Department of Energy will also be releasing its final savings analysis of the 2021 IECC later this year, though Christopher Perry of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that the new code will provide 10% or more in annual energy savings for residential and commercial buildings that use it.

At the end of the day, net-zero energy homes are the future. It’s clear that the building codes will push us to get there, no matter how long it takes for the states to adopt and implement the policies.

If you’re considering a career in home performance, look into becoming a RESNET HERS Rater. We expect to see continued growth and demand for HERS Raters in the building industry.

Start online today with RESNET HERS Rater Training and you’ll be well on your way to being a home energy professional!

Learn more about Everblue's RESNET HERS Rater Training

Georgia Blower Door Certification Among 2020 Code Changes

As of Jan. 1, 2020, home performance contractors will need to satisfy the new Georgia blower door certification requirements, which seem to point to BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage, BPI Building Analyst, and/or RESNET HERS Rater Certification. Learn more about these certification recommendations.

New Georgia Building Codes

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs recently adopted eight new mandatory State Minimum Standard Codes with Georgia State Amendments.

The updated codes include:

2018 International Building Code with Georgia Amendments
2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia Amendments
2018 International Fire Code with no Amendments
2018 International Fuel Gas Code with Georgia Amendments
2018 International Mechanical Code with Georgia Amendments
2018 International Plumbing Code with Georgia Amendments
2018 International Residential Code with Georgia Amendments
2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code with Georgia Amendments

Of importance to us is the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which often drives general contractors and HVAC technicians to pursue BPI Certification.

How BPI Certification Meets Georgia Blower Door Requirements

Building codes across the country have started to require blower door testing and/or duct testing. The code will typically say that this work is to be completed by a “certified third party” but fails to explain what that means. Thus, the local code official in your building department or code enforcement agency tends to be the decision-maker on what counts.

Let’s break it down this way…

“Certified” – BPI Certification is a nationally recognized certification program for home performance contractors interested in residential energy efficiency. The skills supported by BPI Certification align with the skills required to meet building code.
“Third Party” – meaning that homebuilders can’t do blower door tests on their own building projects. This is why many HVAC technicians step in and gain BPI Certification, so they can be subcontracted to work on these projects.

We’ll now discuss exactly which certification you should get to be in compliance.

Please note – you will want to contact your building department to see if your local code official has a preference that overrides our recommendation.

Which Blower Door Certification Should I Get?

When you browse our site or visit the Building Performance Institute website, you’ll notice that there are multiple BPI certifications to choose from. The requirements listed in the building code are already so technical and dense that it can be difficult to know what’s required, let alone which BPI certification to pursue. The two most common BPI designations that address code requirements are as follows:

BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage – blower door and duct testing
BPI Building Analyst – home energy auditing (blower door testing, combustion safety, and visual inspection)

In other words, if you’re an entry-level technician who just needs to run blower door and duct tests, then the BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage Certification should be sufficient. If, however, you want to use the results from those tests to help diagnose overall energy efficiency issues throughout the home, you might instead consider the BPI Building Analyst Certification. And finally, if you want the full breadth of knowledge, you might consider our BPI Building Analyst & IDL Combo.

Moving on to the RESNET HERS Rater Certification… RESNET is just a competitor to BPI. Both organizations offer nationally recognized home energy auditor certifications. The high-level difference is that RESNET tends to focus more on new home construction, and BPI tends to focus more on retrofitting existing homes. In addition, HERS Rater Certification is the ultimate designation on the RESNET side that represents the same, or greater, range of knowledge when compared to BPI Building Analyst & IDL. Unlike BPI, who has broken the certifications down by skill set, RESNET combines them all into the HERS Rater Certification. For a more thorough understanding of these two certification packages, check out our analysis of RESNET HERS Rater vs. BPI Certification.

What’s New in the Georgia Code

The new code, which is the first major revision in nearly a decade, includes substantial updates that will improve energy efficiency, as well as indoor air quality, moisture control, ventilation and occupant comfort in both residential and commercial buildings.

Mike Barcik noted the following changes that apply to single-family homes:

Building thermal envelope R-values – Changes involve R-38 ceiling insulation, improved windows, and reduced house leakage.
Ducted mechanical systems – A tighter 6% duct leakage is now mandated, while duct leakage to outside testing is no longer an option.
Whole-house ventilation systems – Because of envelope tightness, all new homes with a blower door test of less than 3 ACH50 require a whole-house ventilation system.
Hot water distribution – The new code now requires insulation for all hot-water piping located outside the thermal envelope, recirculation system piping and for any lines ¾-inch and larger.

Our major takeaway is the heavy focus on the building thermal envelope – ceilings, walls, windows, floors, foundations. Infiltration control is mandatory, so contractors will need to caulk and seal to prevent air leaks. Additionally, they will need to verify envelope tightness with blower door AND visual inspection. Ducts will need to be sealed properly and insulated. Verify tightness with a duct pressurization test.

Get Certified & Start Complying with Code

During our BPI Certification and RESNET HERS Rater courses, we’ll teach you the physical skills and necessary building science calculations so you can know whether a house meets the minimum code requirements or not.

For more information about Georgia blower door certification requirements, give us a call at 800-460-2575.

BPI Certification Changes Will Impact New & Existing BPI Professionals

The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is making a whole host of changes in 2020. We anticipate that these BPI certification changes will improve the quality of the standards and the reputations of those who earn a designation.

The Good. These are technically sound upgrades to the certifications developed by industry representatives, and they are intended to be more applicable to folks in the field. With clearly defined job tasks, these certifications will allow professionals to differentiate themselves in the field and claim access to some of the billions of consumer and federal spending being directed toward home performance. That’s the good news.

The Challenges. The more challenging news is that the naming and branding of these certifications are a confusing mess. Especially for someone looking to get started in the industry. Quickly, how many of these acronyms can you spell out and explain the requirements for: BPI, BA, HEP, EA, BAT, BAP, BSP, CEU, MF, etc.

The New Certifications

Building Analyst Professional (BAP) – This Building Analyst upgrade will now combine the BPI BA and Envelope certifications – yay! Ultimately, the BPI Envelope Professional certification will be retired.

Building Analyst Technician (BAT) – This will now include diagnostic components of the current BA and Envelope certifications developed for the technician.

The pilot launch of these will likely start in April 2020, and BPI promises more info coming soon.

For Current BPI Professionals

BPI Certified Professionals who are currently certified as a BA and/or Envelope Professional will still be able to renew these certifications under the current testing/renewal scheme until the updated BA Professional certification is launched.

Certifications renewed before the launch will be valid for 3 years from the renewal date. Individuals who renew the BA Professional certification on or after the updated BA Professional certification launch will be required to certify under the new schemes set by the subject matter experts.

For anyone considering BPI Certification, get certified now before these changes take place. Claim your certification before the requirements and testing almost certainly become more difficult.

Other BPI Certification Changes

Home Energy Auditor Certification (HEP) now requires pre-approval to make sure candidates are qualified to test before the start the process. This is the highest-tier certification offered, and these pre-approvals are a good thing.

BPI Building Science Principles (BSP) is now being pushed more aggressively. BPI Certified Professionals can earn six CEU credits for earning the BSP Certificate, and if a Test Center (like Everblue) offers training, it’s possible for the training to provide additional CEU credits.

If you have any questions about BPI Certification, give us a call at 800-460-2575.