Page 17 – Everblue Training

Denver Green Roof Ordinance Will Soon Be Put to Vote

After months of raising awareness on the benefits of green roofs, a group of environmental activists are halfway to their goal of passing a local Denver Green Roof Ordinance that requires green roofs on every building constructed after January 1, 2018 that has a gross floor area of 25,000 square feet or greater.

The activists working on the Denver Green Roof Initiative have been collecting signatures to get the green roof ordinance added to the November 2017 ballot. Press coverage from the local ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates, as well as newspapers like The Denver Post and Denver Business Journal, helped the Initiative earn its 4,771 valid signatures. The Initiative exceeded the 4,726 signature threshold by just 45 signers.

As a result, Initiated Ordinance 300 will be added to the Denver ballot. On Nov. 7, registered voters will be able to voice their opinions on the concept and choose whether to pass the ordinance.

Rumor has it that the legislation was largely inspired by the green roof ordinances in Toronto and San Francisco. As the Green Building Law blog pointed out, Colorado’s political atmosphere – being a Blue state – could likely mean that voters will pass the Denver ordinance.

Denver green roof image

Denver Set to Become LEED & Green

Of all the states in the union, Colorado has consistently shown its progressiveness toward environmental policies. The U.S. Green Building Council recently ranked Colorado in second place by total square feet of LEED-certified space per resident. Colorado is one of only two states that has made USGBC’s Top 10 States for LEED list every year since 2010.

LEED is a rating system that awards points to buildings that have incorporated energy-efficient and sustainable technologies into the design, construction, and operations phases. For a building to earn a coveted LEED Certification label, it must acquire at least 80 points across multiple categories. Some of the categories that award points for green roofs include Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, and Materials & Resources. For more information about LEED, visit our What is LEED? section.

It’s impressive that Colorado is already a leader for LEED Certification – with or without the green roof legislation. However, it’s safe to say that we can expect to see even more LEED projects sprouting up in Denver if the legislation passes!

Why Residents Support the Denver Green Roof Ordinance

Brandon Rietheimer, the founder of the Denver Green Roof Initiative, indicated that more than 80% of the Denver voters he spoke to loved the idea of the green roof ordinance and wondered why the city hadn’t already implemented such legislation. This is definitely easy for the average consumer to say. But what will this legislation really mean for the stakeholders involved?

For Developers/Owners

In addition to meeting building code, building developers and owners can expect to see the following benefits:

Greater roof durability
Better building valuation
Improved insulative value and thermal comfort
Lower heating and cooling costs
Lower stormwater mitigation costs
Lower fire risk

For Green Building Professionals

If the green roof ordinance passes in November and indeed leads to more LEED projects, it would be wise to position yourself in such a way that you can take advantage of potential new business. This means brushing up on the LEED standard and earning a LEED professional credential.

Since the Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, and Materials & Resources categories appear in the rating systems for new construction and existing buildings, there is opportunity (and perhaps necessity) to pursue LEED AP credentials, such as LEED AP Building Design + Construction or LEED AP Operations + Maintenance. Not only will these credentials provide the knowledge to plan for and design green roofs, but these credentials will help you demonstrate your qualifications and expertise in this area to potential clients and employers.

First things first, though – if you’re new to LEED, you should absolutely start with the LEED Green Associate training to become familiar with the LEED Rating System and LEED Certification requirements. After you pass the LEED Green Associate exam, you can then decide whether you want to upgrade to a LEED AP credential.

vote yes on I-300 legislation in denver For more information about LEED, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

And let’s all keep an eye on Colorado this election season and see what happens with the green roof ordinance. If you are a registered voter in Denver, consider voting YES on I-300.

Photos courtesy of Denver Green Roof Initiative

Solar Equipment Partnership: Working with MidNite Solar

MidNite Solar, a leading manufacturer of alternative energy products, has joined a 2017 solar equipment partnership with Everblue Training Institute. This partnership highlights the collaboration and support between solar training providers and solar product manufacturers and will help to further the success of the solar installation industry as a whole.

Everblue is a well-established solar training provider with eight years in the industry and a proven record of high-quality training. Its IREC-accredited courses are aligned with the learning objectives set forth by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and offer hands-on solar panel installation skills that participants can use to enter the clean energy workforce.

Midnite Solar logo MidNite Solar, which is based in Arlington, Wash., started by making high-quality, cost-effective AC and DC disconnect boxes for the alternative energy industry. Now, MidNite produces a wide range of alternative energy products, including pre-wired battery-based systems, charge controllers, combiner boxes, inverter systems, and surge protection devices.

Many of Everblue’s senior instructors are long-time advocates of MidNite Solar products on account of their quality and durability.

“We identified MidNite Solar as a strong partner due to its innovative line of products and nationwide availability,” said Vince DiFrancesco, solar program manager at Everblue. “We look forward to introducing our solar students to some of the best equipment in the industry, further preparing them for successful careers in clean energy.”

As part of the 2017 solar equipment partnership, MidNite Solar will be donating a series of products for use in Everblue’s Solar PV Installer training program. During the hands-on portion of this course, participants will use MidNite Solar’s equipment extensively to build various solar panel arrays and systems. As a result, MidNite Solar will gain unparalleled product and brand exposure to aspiring NABCEP-certified solar installation professionals.

Some of the cutting-edge products donated by MidNite Solar include: a birdhouse emergency disconnect switch and birdhouse-compatible disconnecting combiner box.

midnite solar rapid shutdown equipment photo

In this rapidly-changing industry, it’s important for solar training providers to maintain a high-quality, up-to-date solar curriculum. This partnership between MidNite Solar and Everblue Training will offer a mutually beneficial opportunity for both organizations to guide ambitious contractors and electricians toward a career in solar energy.

For more information about the Solar Training Partners program, please contact Everblue by emailing [email protected] or by calling (800) 460-2575.

California Green Building at an All Time High with CALGreen and LEED

Hippies. Trendsetters. The Rich and Famous. These are just a few words and phrases that come to mind when folks think about California. But California green building should also be up there.

Hollywood obviously contributes to the glamorous visions of California, and things like the California Green Building Standards Code, or CALGreen, contributes to the perception of an environmentally-friendly, forward-thinking locale.

California adopted its eco-friendly persona in the mid-2000s, when green building was really starting to take off. The state became the first in the nation to enact a statewide mandatory green building code that covered nearly all residential and nonresidential construction. This was also around the time that LEED Certification started to grow and gain credibility, and many wondered how the two green building standards would work together; would they compete, or would they complement one another?

It helps that CALGreen set the stage for builders and contractors to begin thinking about green building strategies. Whether construction teams pursued LEED or not, they were at least incorporating sustainability into their buildings.

But over the years, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), who created LEED, has worked diligently to share the spotlight in California and, in July 2017, announced that new commercial buildings built to the robust CALGreen code would be pre-approved for significant streamlining of fundamental LEED Building Design and Construction requirements.

Let’s take a closer look at CALGreen and LEED for a moment before we think about green building’s future in California…

The California Green Building Code

CALGreen offers a proven set of high-performance environmental strategies and mandates their use as standard practice on all permitted construction in California.

The purpose of CALGreen is to improve public health, safety, and general welfare through enhanced design and construction of buildings using concepts that reduce negative impacts and promote those principles that have a positive environmental impact and encourage sustainable construction practices.

CALGreen was adopted to address five divisions of building construction:

Planning and design
Energy efficiency
Water efficiency and conservation
Material conservation and resource efficiency
Environmental quality

CALGreen applies to the planning, design, operation, construction, use, and occupancy of every newly-constructed building or structure on a statewide basis unless otherwise indicated. Additions and alterations to existing buildings that increase the building’s conditioned area, interior volume, or size are also covered by the scope of CALGreen.

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards also promote a proven set of high-performance strategies, but LEED Certification of buildings is voluntary more often than not. An exception to this is federal and government-owned buildings, which are generally required to achieve some level of LEED Certification.

LEED shares much of the same purpose as CALGreen but addresses a few more divisions of building construction. All LEED-certified projects must satisfactorily represent strategies from these categories:

Location and Transportation
Materials and Resources
Water Efficiency
Energy and Atmosphere
Sustainable Sites
Regional Priority
Innovation

Like CALGreen, LEED-approved strategies can be incorporated into the planning, design, construction, and operation of new and existing buildings.

For more information, visit our What is LEED Certification? page.

CALGreen vs. LEED in California

As you can see, those who were confused or worried about CALGreen and LEED existing in the same space certainly had a reason!

When California legislators updated the CALGreen code in 2010, even more people were up in arms. It became clear that CALGreen wasn’t going anywhere and that people needed to wrap their heads around it one way or another.

Since CALGreen is a mandatory statewide code, it’s a no-brainer that that’s where building professionals would start. The question then became, would they challenge themselves to achieve the voluntary, yet marketable, LEED Certification label?

If everyone is building to CALGreen standards, what can you do to stand out? Enter LEED.

LEED Certification: How California Stacks Up

In the USGBC’s most recent Top 10 States for LEED Green Building report, California ranked fifth in LEED Certification per-capita by gross square footage. This report summarized the number of buildings (in total) that acquired LEED Certification in 2016. California was also listed on the 2015 and 2014 lists, both times in the seventh place.

You can see from USGBC’s State Market Brief that LEED project registration and LEED Certification have been dramatically on the rise for the last 10 years. It appears that the introduction of the CALGreen code in 2007/2008 had no negative effect on LEED green building in the state. On the contrary, it seems that with the construction mindset already focused on implementing green building, many went above and beyond to pursue LEED in addition to the code requirements.

Click image to view a larger version in a new tab

It’s no wonder that the USGBC has streamlined its LEED project documentation to align with existing CALGreen code requirements.

California Green Buildings Now Pre-Approved for LEED BD+C Certification

After a report on barriers and opportunities for green codes in California was released in 2015, USGBC launched an effort to build off the statewide CALGreen code by streamlining the documentation of a handful of credits for projects in California.

At the GreenerBuilder Conference on July 13, USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam announced the new alignment of CALGreen and LEED in certain areas. Qualifying commercial projects will be able to use code compliance documentation to satisfy LEED v4 BD+C prerequisites and earn 6 points toward LEED Certification.

The full list of streamlined measures are as follows:

SS Prerequisite: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
SS Credit: Light Pollution Reduction (1 Point, Option 1)
WE Prerequisite: Outdoor Water Use Reduction
WE Prerequisite: Indoor Water Use Reduction
WE Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering
WE Credit: Outdoor Water Use Reduction (1 Point, Option 2)
WE Credit: Indoor Water Use Reduction (1 Point)
EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification
EA Prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance
EA Prerequisite: Building-Level Energy Metering
EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
EA Credit: Optimize Energy Performance (1 Point, Option 1)
MR Prerequisite: Storage and Collection of Recyclables
MR Prerequisite: Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning
MR Credit: Construction and Demolition Waste Management (1 Point, Option 1)
EQ Prerequisite: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
EQ Prerequisite: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
EQ Credit Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan (1 point)

An additional 50 points are within reach via LEED credits that exceed code minimums but are complementary to state requirements.

USGBC hopes to significantly streamline documentation requirements for California projects. This new approach will simultaneously reward projects throughout California for meeting the stringent statewide standards and provide a more direct entry point for LEED certification (and an incentive for more projects to exceed code minimums voluntarily).

The Future of California Green Building

The State Market Brief graphic above was last updated in May 2017, so it’s likely that numbers have increased since then.

The Brief also shared that there are close to 30,000 LEED-accredited professionals in California. In our recent blog, we shared 2017 insight from USGBC that, across the country, an average of 1,000 professionals are earning LEED credentials every month. Both in terms of LEED certification (buildings) and LEED accreditation (people), LEED is growing at a tremendous and unprecedented rate.

According to USGBC’s 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study, green construction will account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs—more than one-third of the entire U.S. construction sector—and generate $190.3 billion in labor earnings by 2018. The industry’s direct contribution to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is also expected to reach $303.5 billion from 2015–2018.

If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, join an upcoming training course to become a LEED Green Associate professional. For more information about the LEED credentialing process, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Solar Eclipse: Starting an Energy Conversation

Three-year-old Olivia was annoyed at her older sister, Katie, for forcing her to watch the something Katie kept calling a “solar eclipse,” rather than allowing her to watch her favorite cartoons.

While the rest of the adults around her kept talking about the significant event happening, Olivia didn’t understand why it was such a big deal. She just wanted to play with her dolls and watch her cartoons.

Unlike, what seemed like the majority of the U.S. population, Olivia wasn’t fazed by the rarity or importance of the solar eclipse; however, now is the perfect time to talk about sustainable energy and how it can benefit your family.

image of child viewing solar eclipse

The world’s current energy consumption cannot maintain the lifestyles the world is accustomed to at the pace that we are running. There will be a cap to what appears now as an infinite amount of resources, but the resources are scarce compared to yesterday’s solar eclipse. If we cannot continue to function on Earth’s natural resources, many are left wondering, what then?

Renewable energy has been around for decades and is continuously improving both in terms of cost and technical capabilities. It is a growing field given the importance of the sun on our everyday lives.

The Power of the Sun

With an obstructed sun during the solar eclipse, cell phone reception was challenging, shipments were delayed, and traffic was a nightmare. We cannot live without the sun, which is why Everblue is working to grow the job opportunities and training available for the renewable energy sector.

Solar is a hot field (excuse the pun) right now and something that anyone can pivot too, whether you are an electrician by trade or a stay-at-home mom looking to reenter the workforce. According to Smart Asset’s analysis of the 2016 Bureau of Labor statistics, the fastest growing job is solar photovoltaic installer. That is both nationwide and looking at job growth from 2012-2016.

Solar photovoltaic installers are the individuals who install and maintain the solar paneling on roofs. Given that it requires a high school education, has plenty of room for advancement and has an average income of $42,500, it is no surprise that many people are interested in getting the training to develop their careers.

While the rest of your social media is talking about the rarity of the eclipse and the traffic that drove them insane, instead take some time to remember the importance of the sun in our everyday lives and how you can help fully realize the power of the sun.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in solar but don’t know where to start, check out our New to Solar Series or give us a call at (800) 460-2575. Here at Everblue, we are here to help maximize the power of the sun and your job opportunities.

Photo Credit: Shea Parikh

LEED Professionals at a Glance: The Continued Growth of LEED

If you work in the construction industry – from design to sourcing to building to maintenance – you’ve probably heard about LEED certification and the credentials available for LEED professionals.

But if you are new to LEED and would like a better understanding of what it is, take a moment to browse our What is LEED? overview series.

The power of LEED is evident through the 1.85 million square feet of construction space being certified every day and the more than 200,000 professionals worldwide who have improved their careers through a LEED professional credential.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), who created LEED, has published year-over-year (and in some cases, monthly) reports showing the growth of LEED – both in terms of certified buildings and LEED-accredited professionals.

An April 2017 report from USGBC called LEED Professionals at a Glance revealed that the United States is home to the most number of LEED credential holders, with the most popular designations ranking as follows:

LEED AP No Specialty (pre-2009)
LEED AP With Specialty
LEED Green Associate

During a more recent call with USGBC staff, we learned that both the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C Specialty credentials were showing more popularity than prior years.

Bearing in mind that the USGBC discontinued the LEED AP No Specialty designation in 2009 to create a tiered LEED credentialing process and then upgraded to LEEDv4 in 2014, you can see in the following chart how sustainability professionals reacted. More importantly, you can see that demand for LEED Green Associate is at near all-time-high levels, with an average of 710 individuals passing the LEED Green Associate exam each month.

leed green associate credential holders chart

The LEED AP Building Design + Construction specialty, which expands on the LEED Green Associate knowledge and focuses on new construction strategies, is also showing an increase in popularity. USGBC is seeing an average of 240 new LEED AP BD+C credentials every month.

LEED AP BD+C credential holders chart

As the largest USGBC Education Partner, we’re honored to help contribute to LEED’s overall impact and success. Through our LEED Exam Prep training packages, which have shown to yield a 99% pass rate on the LEED Green Associate exam, candidates from all over the world are learning valuable skills that will enhance their career – either through salary increases, promotions, gaining more business, or a combination of all three!

If you’re ready to improve your career with LEED green building knowledge, join one of our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training courses – available in person and online! For questions about the credentialing process, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Register now for LEED Green Associate Exam Prep

How to Find a Solar Job: Our List of Resources & Job Boards

With the immense growth of solar energy occurring around the world, many jobseekers and career changers are trying to keep up with the pace and find the newest solar jobs near them. It can seem a little overwhelming, especially if you’re new to solar and less familiar with the various types of solar jobs and solar energy systems. But we can help you with how to find a solar job.

To learn more about the solar workforce, including the employment outlook, available certifications, and how to add solar to your business, see our Getting Started With Solar series.

If you’re ready to view our resources for how to find a solar job, keep reading!

chart showing U.S. solar job growth

We’ve identified our top resources for finding a job in solar.

In no particular order, here are some outlets you should consider when looking for a solar energy job:

Solar Training Network

The Solar Training Network is a relatively new tool funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. The program is designed to help meet the workforce needs of the solar industry through solar training and strategic employment partnerships. The Network’s career platform provides a connection hub for solar jobseekers, solar companies looking for new hires, solar training providers (like Everblue!), and workforce development boards.

Solar Energy Industries Association

The Solar Energy Industries Association (or SEIA) is a national trade association in the U.S. that represents organizations that promote, manufacture, install, and support the development of solar energy. SEIA works with 1,000 member companies to expand America’s solar market, strengthen the industry, and remove barriers. Its member companies consist of installers, project developers, manufacturers, contractors, financiers, and non-profits. The SEIA Career Center is a great place to post your resume and search through the newest and best solar industry jobs.

Solar Power Events

Powered by SEIA and the Smart Electric Power Alliance, you get a website simply known as Solar Power Events. Professionals working in the solar industry are likely familiar with the biggest event from this partnership – Solar Power International (SPI). SPI is North America’s largest solar trade show. Why is this event site a good resource for your solar job search? Attend these solar events, and you’ll be networking with respected, experienced solar industry professionals who may be looking to hire or who can refer you to a colleague who is hiring. Never underestimate the power of networking!

American Solar Energy Society

The American Solar Energy Society, or ASES, is a non-profit organization that advocates for sustainable living and 100% renewable energy. As the U.S. section of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), ASES works with individuals and groups around the world to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy and sustainable living society. In addition to its Jobs Board, ASES also connects solar and renewable energy communities through regional chapters in 42 locations and 9 student chapters at colleges across the country.

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

Committed to providing certification programs to solar industry professionals, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is very well-known in the industry as simply NABCEP. NABCEP is a non-profit organization that promotes renewable energy and worker proficiency through testing and certification. Aside from its credentialing program, NABCEP also offers a Career Center with benefits that range from posting your resume and applying for jobs to receiving career coaching and resume writing services.

Renewable Energy World

RenewableEnergyWorld.com also offers solar articles and resources. The website was started in 1999 by a group of renewable energy professionals who wanted to share their knowledge and passion with the world. To this day, the Renewable Energy World website offers daily renewable energy news, information about products, and Renewable Energy Job Opportunities.

Solar Jobs USA

Solar Jobs USA is a provider of professional staffing and recruiting services to organizations throughout the semiconductor and solar industry. Its staffing service offers cost-effective job posting, candidate sourcing, recruiting, screening, contingent placement, and onsite staffing for global organizations. It would probably be best to send your resume to the Solar Jobs USA staffing team and follow them on Twitter. Jobseekers can also find New Solar Job Postings on their website.

Energy Central Jobs

The EnergyCentralJobs.com website is a platform for jobseekers and employers. As a jobseeker, you’ll be able to create a profile, post a resume, upload photos, post a video resume, and interact with top employers in the power industry. In addition to reviewing the Featured Jobs on the website, you can subscribe to weekly email alerts of new jobs that have been posted. Instant job alerts on the website can also be set up without creating a profile.

Honorable Mentions

Speaking more generally, the following tips may prove valuable for solar jobseekers:

Attend solar job fairs
Attend trade shows/conferences & network with solar professionals
Volunteer with GRID Alternatives
Use traditional job search sites – Indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster, Zip Recruiter, LinkedIn, Craigslist, GlassDoor
Research local or favorable solar companies & monitor their hiring pages and social media sites

How to Find a Solar Job – It Starts With Solar Training

Remember – oftentimes, the first step to a solar job is solar training.

Everblue’s PV101 Solar Associate webinar offers a strong foundation in understanding solar energy terms, electricity principles, and safety basis. This convenient and affordable online training directly qualifies an individual for the first-tier solar credential from NABCEP called NABCEP PV Associate. This type of training and professional credential is a foot-in-the-door to the solar industry, qualifying you for a wide range of jobs.

If you want to keep in stride with solar development, you might consider the PV201 Solar Installation training program, which includes a hands-on solar panel installation training segment. You’ll walk away with knowledge and real-life skills to take with you to your first solar job.

For more information on how to find a solar job, call us at (800) 460-2575 or continue browsing our solar articles.

Photo courtesy of solarstates.org

Healthy Homes and Affordable Housing Can Be Linked

It’s been almost a year since the BPI Healthy Home Evaluator Certification made its mark on the energy efficiency industry, and the designation is still yearning for the spotlight. Some BPI home energy auditors have struggled with the fact that there is less government funding and/or legislation incentivizing their pursuit of the HHE credential. And while that may be true about the certification specifically, the importance of healthy homes has been realized for years.

Research has shown that the strongest environment for healthy home assessments is in the affordable housing arena – where government-funded programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) have aimed to alleviate energy and housing burdens for low- and moderate-income communities for years. In spite of these programs facing reduced budgets and therefore not reaching the eligible capacity of households, there continues to be innate benefits to offering home energy efficiency programs to these communities.

Put simply – we don’t need government incentive programs to reveal the benefits of healthy home interventions in low-income households; the benefits are there either way, and it’s our duty to address these opportunities whether there is funding or not.

What is a Healthy Home Assessment?

A healthy home assessment is much like a home energy audit; however, it focuses more specifically on the characteristics that affect occupant health, safety, and well-being.

The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is the preeminent thought-leader on healthy homes assessments and partnered with BPI to develop the Healthy Homes Evaluator certification program. GHHI has identified eight fundamental elements that lead to a green and healthy home:

Dry
Clean
Safe
Well-ventilated
Pest-free
Contaminant-free
Well-maintained
Energy Efficient

As you can see, energy efficiency is only one part of the diagnosis. Therefore, the BPI Healthy Homes Evaluator program builds on the energy efficiency knowledge of certified home energy auditors and takes the skill set a step further.

As a result of combining energy efficiency and healthy home principles, households can expect the following energy and non-energy related benefits:

Improved indoor air quality
Reduced medical triggers leading to asthma, lead or carbon monoxide poisoning
Increased safety within the home
Sustained independence within the home (aging in place)
Reduced use of energy and water
Decreased waste generation
Reduced emissions and greenhouse gases
Improved economy though local workers trained in green and healthy home practices

These benefits are valuable for all housing types in all communities, but the impact is far more significant when it comes to affordable housing.

Why We Should Focus on Healthy Affordable Housing

Across the United States, housing agencies grapple with supply vs. demand. There is far more demand for affordable housing than there is in supply. These agencies are often forced to choose the cheapest building materials in the interests of housing the greatest number of people. Though admirable to accommodate so many individuals, it’s a bit of a lose-lose because these low-income families are put in situations that are dangerous to their health and their wallet.

By the time a low-income resident is able to secure a home, the rent/mortgage payments have been driven up by the supply vs. demand problem and may not be reasonable based on the home’s age and quality. At that point, the low-income household has to struggle to pay utilities, maintenance, repair, and improvement fees. More than likely, they go without making important improvements to their home and therefore end up consuming more energy than expected – which, in turn, leads to even higher energy bills.

low-income housing photo

A study from Opower supported this theory and showed that low-income does not always mean low consumption. One might assume that low-income households are typically smaller than other households and, therefore, use less energy. However, Opower’s data indicated that low-income households are diverse in their energy usage profiles and sometimes show greater energy use than their higher-income counterparts. In addition, low-income households are less likely to have compact fluorescent bulbs and low-flow showerheads and 25% more likely to have energy-intensive space heaters and window air conditioning units.

In short, low-income households spend a higher percentage of their income on energy costs. Healthy home assessments give income-qualified residents access to the resources they need to make repairs and upgrades that impact health and wellness – and result in energy savings.

Individual Benefits

Occupants of multifamily homes experience improvements in health, comfort, and financial stability.

Multifamily Building Owner Benefits

Building owners see lower operation and maintenance costs, increased asset values, and decreased vacancy.

Community Benefits

Overall, the community sees immediate improvements in environmental quality and economic benefits related to job creation.

I would venture to guess that there is an equal supply/demand problem when it comes to trained healthy home professionals.

What’s Next in Healthy Affordable Housing

Over the last 10 years, weatherization has been a sole focus of improving affordable housing. It’s not a huge leap to suggest incorporating healthy home principles into those audits.

Beyond the altruism of improving the affordability of housing and reducing the energy cost burden on low-income households, a home energy auditor will value the following benefits for this career path:

Acquiring new skills and knowledge
Gaining new business
Adding another credential to the resume
Eventually utilizing reimbursement funds from Medicaid and Medicare programs

According to Serj Berelson of Opower, there are positive outcomes for everyone when low-income communities can be transformed into efficient consumers. These outcomes impact the utilities, ratepayers, and the system as a whole. For certified energy auditors already involved in the home performance industry, it’s a no-brainer to add healthy home skills.

The infrastructure and foundation is there.

Interested in energy efficiency? Become a BPI Building Analyst
Want to work for a WAP program? Earn a Quality Control Inspector Certification
Want to do healthy home assessments? Earn a Healthy Homes Evaluator Certification

At the end of the day, we know that many families face two mutually reinforcing problems: lack of affordable housing and lack of quality housing. Healthy home assessments can improve housing stability, affordability, and quality while also generating greater environmental, economic, and health benefits for the occupant, owner, local community, and region.

Sources:

Photo by John H. White via Flickr

Miami Solar Legislation to Require Solar Panels on New Homes

In mid-July 2017, city commissioners passed South Miami solar legislation that requires solar panels on new single-family residences, townhouses, and multi-story buildings. Despite some mixed feelings in the community, the vote came as a 4-to-1 majority opinion. As a result, South Miami became the first city in the United States (outside of select California cities) to pass such legislation.

Starting September 18, new homes in South Miami, Florida will be required to have solar panels.

The Miami solar legislation affects:

New homes – 2.75 kW for every 1,000 sqft of usable roof space with adequate sunshine
Existing homes – if the owners increase the square footage by 75% or more

Solar Legislation in Florida

Ironically, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) identified a strange dichotomy with regard to the Sunshine State’s solar policies.

In the most recent survey, Florida ranked 3rd in the nation for rooftop solar potential but also ranked 12th for cumulative solar capacity installed. At the time, Florida’s solar policies – or lack thereof – prevented the state from achieving its potential.

As a state, Florida does not have a renewable portfolio standard and does not allow power purchase agreements – policies that have helped other states succeed with solar.

It’ll be interesting to see if the South Miami solar legislation (a) affects the state’s overall rankings and (b) influences other cities in the state to follow suit.

Miami solar roof image

Solar Job Outlook

SEIA also identified that 8,260 solar jobs currently exist in Florida, ranking the state 5th in 2016. There are 492 solar companies in the state, comprised of 69 manufacturers, 261 installers or developers, and 153 uncategorized. With the new solar legislation going into effect in September, we can anticipate that solar installation work will certainly be on the rise, and as a result, these solar companies may be looking to hire more solar installers to meet the demand.

Financial Incentive for Businesses: To further encourage solar jobs, Miami-Dade County created a financial incentive for new or expanding companies in select industries to relocate to the area. To be eligible, a company must create at least 10 new jobs with salaries equal to or exceeding 100% of the state annual average wage and make a capital improvement of at least $3 million. Miami-Dade County will provide a qualifying company with a property tax credit up to 1.7% of total real property capital investment or 1.15% of the tangible personal property capital investment. Incentives will be paid over a six-year time period. For more information, see the DSIRE website.

How to Become a Solar Installer in Miami

Florida has licensing requirements for all solar contractors. The state license is required for anyone who installs, alters, repairs, maintains, relocates, or replaces any type of solar thermal or PV systems. Individuals employed by the contractor are not required to be licensed.

The Florida Legislature and the Construction Industry Licensing Board have established the scope of work for solar contractors. There are two solar contractor categories available:

Certified Solar Contractor (CV) and Residential Solar Water
Heating Specialty Contractor (CW)

The CV license scope of work covers residential and commercial solar water heating, solar pool heating, and photovoltaic (solar electric systems). The CV license holder is exempt from subcontracting certain roofing, plumbing, and electrical work on residential installations. Electrical contractors (EC) are also authorized to install PV systems but may be required to subcontract roofing work if the local building department so requires.

The CW license scope of work is limited to solar water heating and solar pool heating systems on residences only. The CW license holder is not authorized to install photovoltaic systems and is not authorized to install solar water heating or pool heating systems on commercial buildings. Since the CW license does not have these tasks included in its scope of work, a CW license holder may not subcontract the work to an authorized license holder (such as an electrical contractor or CV solar contractor). Plumbing contractors (CF) are also authorized to install solar water and pool heaters but may be required to subcontract roofing and electrical work if the local building department so requires. Plumbing contractors are not authorized to install PV systems.

To qualify for a license, installers must have:

Four years of experience, which may include both installation and education
At least one year of experience in a supervisory role

According to the IREC Solar Licensing Database, contractors may substitute up to 3 years of college credit hours for experience.

An individual must also complete testing:

Pass a Trade exam (PV or thermal)
Pass a Business and Financial Management exam

Financial Incentive for Installers/Businesses: The Florida Legislature established a solar rebate program for residential and commercial solar water heaters, solar electric (PV) systems, and residential solar pool heaters. A contractor with a CW or CV license must install a solar water or pool heater, while a CV license holder (or electrical contractor) must install a photovoltaic system. Systems not installed by these contractors will not be eligible for rebates.

For more information about becoming a solar installer, visit our Solar Overview series.

Photo via Marufish/Flickr

How Much is Blower Door Equipment? Quotes from Two Manufacturers

If you’re an HVAC contractor thinking about adding blower door and duct leakage testing to your business services, you’re probably also wondering how much it will cost upfront to purchase the equipment. This post is for you.

If you’re completely new to the concept of residential energy efficiency and want to learn more about the various certifications and pathways available, take a moment to view our Home Energy Auditor Training series.

Why HVAC Professionals Should Add Blower Door Testing to their Business Services

State building codes across the country are starting to require blower door and duct testing from certified third parties on all new construction homes.

This presents a prime opportunity for HVAC technicians to expand their business and gain new clients.

blower door image

In order to perform air infiltration tests, an individual or company will need the appropriate training and equipment.

Blower Door Testing Certifications

There are two certification programs that address blower door and duct leakage testing:

Put simply, BPI IDL focuses exclusively on blower door and duct testing concepts, whereas RESNET HERS Rater builds on that foundation and expands to cover whole-house energy auditing topics as well. Therefore, the RESNET Certification process is a bit more lengthy and costly. At the end of the day, it truly boils down to what services you want to be able to offer. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) has whole-house energy auditing certifications as well so you’ll need to think about certification is right for your business and career goals. For more information about these programs, please give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Air Infiltration Testing Equipment

At a minimum, you will need:

Blower door
Duct blaster
Digital gauge, or manometer

Oftentimes, the blower door and duct blaster equipment already comes packaged with the digital gauge.

If you were deciding to add whole-house energy audits to your business services, you would also want to purchase:

Carbon monoxide analyzer
Combustible gas leak detector
Infrared camera (optional)

But if your goal is to gain clients who need blower door and duct air testing to meet building code requirements, then the blower door, duct blaster, and manometer would be sufficient.

If you are considering multiple BPI certifications, check out our guide on which energy auditing equipment you’ll need for each designation.

Blower Door Equipment Costs

As with any purchase, prices vary by manufacturer and whether the product is new vs. used. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll look at new equipment from two leading manufacturers.

The Energy Conservatory

Minneapolis Blower Door – Model 3 with DG-1000 Digital Gauge: $2,883.12
Minneapolis Duct Blaster – Series B with DG-1000 Digital Gauge: $2,270.62

Again notice how the blower door and the duct blaster each come packaged with a digital gauge. So if you want to play around with the packaging and the numbers, you could mix and match some standalone items like the TEC digital gauge below. You can find additional equipment from places like TruTech Tools and Inspector Tools.

Digital Gauge (standalone) – DG-100 Pressure and Flow Gauge: $1,268.75

Retrotec

US5101 Blower Door – Model 5101 with DM32 Digital Gauge: $2,995.00 (with WiFi = $3,295.00)
US341 DucTester – Model 341 with DM32 Digital Gauge: $2,295.00 (with WiFi = $2,595.00)

Please note that these prices do not include shipping fees. Equipment is usually shipped UPS Ground, unless notified otherwise.

At the end of the day, you can expect to spend between $5,000 and $6,000 on new blower door and duct testing equipment.

Discounts on Blower Door Equipment

Everblue has partnered with Retrotec to give our course participants discounts on the equipment listed above.

Retrotec has offered a 12% discount to graduates of Everblue’s RESNET and BPI training programs.

If this is the path that you want to go down, first things first – find blower door training near you and get certified!

Learn more about Everblue's Blower Door Test Certification Training

Learn more about Everblue's RESNET HERS Rater Training

Green Home Features: MLS Responds to Buyer Demands

The increasing adaptation of green home features in the MLS is a new driver for real estate listings. As growing numbers of buyers seek more eco-friendly and “healthy” homes, builders and real estate professionals must change their focus to respond to trends and satisfy buyer expectations.

Part of it is spreading the word — up front — that a home is energy-efficient and has a variety of included features that make it sustainable and environmentally desirable.

What Does Green Really Mean?

In addition to energy-efficient appliances and water-saving plumbing features, many new home builders today consider air quality and material conservation as prime targets for their green-building efforts. There is increasing evidence that “healthy” homes contribute to the health and happiness of occupants, and there is also data to support the belief that buyers are willing to pay more for homes that are green. Some green features are mandated by building code, but many others are optional and extremely desirable.

Builders and owners are apt to specify materials that are environmentally-friendly, chemical-free and non-toxic, but green principles and practices go beyond the structural components.

Homeowners and prospective buyers are looking for the “pluses” of green — a focus on positive aspects that make life easier and more enriching, that reduce carbon footprint and contribute to global resource management.

greater interest in green home features

What Part Do Real Estate Professionals Play?

Just as builders have embraced advertising the benefits of energy efficiency and the steps they’ve taken to incorporate green technology into their floorplans and housing stock (whether that’s through LEED, Energy Star, or RESNET HERS scores), real estate professionals have an equal responsibility to educate themselves on green building principles and to advertise those benefits to potential home buyers.

By emphasizing features that constitute action “hot buttons,” real estate agents and brokers can help a home stand out from the others. The Green Resource Council of the National Association of Realtors recognizes the growing need for a standardized way to describe and market green homes.

Although many local multiple listing services have yet to institute handy checklists or standards by which to judge green homes, some locations have taken the first steps. Landmark work in North Carolina may soon be available nationwide so that a local MLS can simply “turn on” the features. According to Ryan Miller of the NC Building Performance Association, the Triangle Multiple Listing Service would “be the first MLS in the country to accept auto-populated ‘green’ data sourced from local, state and national third party certification and verification programs including HERS Ratings, Home Energy Score, ENERGY STAR®, NGBS and many of the others active in North Carolina.”

In addition, green certifications such as NAR Green and LEED Green Associate exist for real estate agents who are proactive in their efforts to learn more about commercial and residential green building techniques. Individual brokerage firms and training companies like Everblue host seminars and educational programs for real estate agents to learn about sustainability, green building, and building science principles.

classroom photo

As green features become more commonplace, they also climb higher on the demand list among potential buyers. That, in turn, spurs more green building – new construction and retrofits. This also often influences a seller’s decision to make improvements prior to listing. In addition to location, price and square footage, green features and smart technology are among the most-frequently mentioned considerations that influence buyer decisions.

Different Types of Green Home Features

Green really does mean different things to different people. While it may be almost impossible today to find toilets, faucets and shower heads that waste water, there are various levels of water efficiency available, just as there are “on demand” water heaters that save energy by not requiring a tankful of hot water at all times. Energy Star appliance ratings also are variable, allowing buyers to choose the level of efficiency they require.

Beyond power and water, however, there are a host of other green features to entice today’s home buyer:

Solar panels
Thermo-pane, low-E windows
Energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning
Use of wood from sustainable forests
Recycled and reused materials, and well as local sourcing of materials
Blown-in cellulose wall insulation to boost R-value
Fresh air ventilation system
Drip irrigation, or satellite-controlled watering systems that account for weather conditions
Built-in niceties, including such things as designated recycling stations and backyard composters

This, of course, is not a full list of green features. Home automation and smart home technology also overlaps into the sustainable category by allowing owners to control their home environments from afar, and to adjust temperatures, lighting levels and other systems in accordance with personal needs.

For more information about the greening of the MLS, please contact Gary Ashton or call Everblue at (800) 460-2575 to discuss sustainability training options.

Post by Gary Ashton, Realtor, with The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage