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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Solar energy is one of the most exciting up-and-coming industries. The demand for clean energy and the promise of a sustainable future means that job seekers with the requisite training can find security and success in this field. And we’ve only scratched the surface with the amount of solar installed all over the world; there is a great deal of potential for expansion that will lead to even more opportunities.
The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census of 2015 found that the solar industry was adding workers at a rate nearly 12 times faster than the overall economy and that the wages are competitive.
If you’re wondering how to start a career in solar, here are the different vocations within the industry and what you need to throw your hat in the ring.
Types of Solar Jobs
Solar Installation
A majority of current positions in the industry relate to installation. This sector flourishes, thanks to declining costs that make small-scale solar attainable for average home and business owners. There are also many state and federal policies and tax incentives that motivate consumers. This sector is mainly comprised of small firms with only 10 or fewer employees.
If you are keen on working in this sector, your job will involve either working on residential projects, commercial projects, or utility-scale installation—or possibly all of the above.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector makes products for various solar applications. For those who have more of a mind for engineering and innovation, this sector may be a satisfying fit. Even though there were job losses in the manufacturing sector during 2015, opportunities have grown, especially within firms who focus partial rather than whole efforts on solar.
Sales and Distribution
Sales and distribution deals with customer acquisition, customer service, third-party ownership, warehousing, and the distribution of solar goods. The number of people employed in this sector rose more than 20 percent from 2014 to 2015.
Project Development
Project development involves working with or for utility companies on utility-scale solar photovoltaics. Jobs in this sector include civil engineers, land surveyors, and power plant operators, as well as specialists who deal with permitting, finance, and land acquisition for projects like solar power plants.
Requisite Degrees and Training
Solar Installation
Thankfully, there are many paths to becoming a solar installer. You’ll need education and/or experience in a solar, electrical, renewable energy, engineering technology, or construction-related field. There are various ways you can meet the requirements to take the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification exam, which helps distinguish you as an experienced and trustworthy contractor to clients.
Manufacturing
To work in the manufacturing sector, a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering will most likely be required. Once you have obtained a bachelor’s, you can take a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is a prerequisite for many solar industry jobs. Certain positions may require more schooling. In order to stay abreast of new developments in the industry, you may desire to attend professional development and join associations, like the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).
Sales and Distribution
Sales and distribution employees are the bridge between manufacturers and vendors. As with installation, there are several paths that can lead to a position in this sector. An environmental studies degree will come in handy, or you may want to go the engineering route (which could qualify you for a variety of jobs in every solar sector). Marketing experience will certainly make you a more attractive candidate in this field.
Project Development
A project development position will most likely require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction technology, or another technology related field. Experience with energy markets and utility-scale solar may help qualify you for competitive senior positions.
Regardless of your education, experience, or skill level, there are countless starting points that lead to a career in this booming industry that employs a diverse and well-paid workforce.
SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model
And what does that mean?
The most accepted explanation is that SCORM defines a specific way of building a learning management system (and training content) so that they work well with other SCORM-compliant systems.
Specifically, Shareable Content Object refers to online training material that can be shared across systems. The objects can, therefore, be reused in different systems and contexts.
The Reference Model reflects the fact that SCORM isn’t actually a standard. Many standards exist, so SCORM references these existing standards and tells developers how to properly use them together.
What you really need to know is that SCORM is the technology that enables your training course to load and display inside your LMS.
How does SCORM work?
There are two aspects that make SCORM function: packaging content and exchanging data.
Packaging content determines how a piece of content should be physically delivered. There is a file inside the SCORM package that imports and launches content without human intervention. In other words, the file enables the LMS to fetch and display a specific piece of content to the user.
Exchanging data refers to how the content “talks” to the LMS while the content is actually playing. In layman’s terms, this is what we call delivery and tracking. In technical terms, the content undergoes a series of “get” and “set” functions, such as “request the learner’s name” and “tell the LMS that the learner scored 95% on this test.”
So when you hear the term “SCORM package,” this is what they are referring to – it’s all the information to fire up the course in your LMS.
Is SCORM required?
Technically, no. However, SCORM is a powerful and beneficial tool for content creators and administrators. You can create content once and use it in many different systems and situations without modification. This kind of plug-and-play functionality ultimately saves you time. There’s little downside to incorporating a SCORM package inside your LMS.
That said, you’ll want to make sure that the LMS you select is SCORM-compliant. As you can imagine, LMS and SCORM go hand-in-hand. When an LMS is SCORM-compliant, it’ll accept any content that is also SCORM-compliant and then make it available to users throughout the LMS.
To reiterate, SCORM can be a valuable tool if you plan to reuse content, such as a welcome video or introductory training course. It can also be useful if you have courses that share learning objectives and therefore have crossover training modules.
If you’re not sure whether SCORM will be necessary for the delivery of your online training courses, give us a call at (800) 460-2575. We can help you with your instructional design needs and the delivery of your content.
The International Code Council (ICC) and Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) have partnered to create a new energy code compliance certification for home performance professionals.
In layman’s terms, the ICC recognizes the value that RESNET HERS Raters bring to local building departments, code officials, and homeowners in terms of satisfying mandatory residential energy code requirements. As a result, HERS Raters can be rewarded for their exceptional technical knowledge by stacking another certification on top of the HERS Rater Certification.
The new energy code compliance certification is called IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist.
In order to earn this designation, a professional must:
Hold the ICC Residential Plans Examiner Certification (79)
The IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist credential leverages the strengths of both ICC and RESNET to increase the number of qualified individuals available for evaluating energy code compliance and home energy performance.
Specifically, IECC/HERS Compliance Specialists verify that the local energy code has been implemented successfully. Having this extra set of eyes can be extremely helpful for municipalities that face resource constraints. By having a background in RESNET HERS ratings and ICC residential building plan examinations, the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialists bring a strong combination of technical knowledge that’s unmatched by any other outsourced party.
The pairing of these two technical backgrounds is unique and robust because:
RESNET HERS Rater Certification inherently requires extreme technical proficiency by way of passing multiple certification exams
RESNET HERS Rater Certification requires third-party quality assurance oversight and transparency built into the certification process
The RESNET standards have a 20-year proven track record, including the inspection, testing, and labeling of over 2.5 million homes in the U.S.
Both the RESNET standards and the IECC energy code are nationally recognized and implemented
Without the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation, RESNET HERS Raters can still get in on the action. Who hires HERS Raters? Homebuilders that want to make educated decisions on their building plans, materials, and energy efficiency goals. The IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist credential simply offers more opportunity for experienced HERS Raters to gain new business.
The way the industry is going, it’s making more and more sense for certified HERS Raters to take their knowledge a step further and take the ICC Residential Plans Examiner test.
Why Raters Should Take the ICC Energy Code Compliance Exam
First, let’s look at the cold, hard facts.
80% of code officials are expected to retire in less than 15 years
30% will retire in less than 2-3 years
3% are younger than 35
Very few young professionals are coming in to fill the ranks. So there’s a strange dichotomy at play here – more stringent energy codes, fewer code officials to verify compliance of energy code requirements.
Therefore, there is a great opportunity for HERS Raters to fill this gap and offer third-party compliance verification of energy code requirements.
Potential Business Opportunity for HERS Raters
As home energy professionals, HERS Raters are among the most qualified to be involved with energy code compliance verification. It’s not a coincidence that the 2015 IECC introduced the Energy Rating Index compliance path, which was more or less modeled after the RESNET HERS Index. For more information about that, check out our other post about 2015 IECC compliance pathways and requirements.
What’s incredibly interesting about the state of the industry right now is that HERS Raters, who generally work for home performance companies or independently, can now integrate themselves into their local government.
Since fewer young professionals are stepping into the growing number of code official roles, municipalities are having to look to third parties to get energy code compliance verification work done.
Why Municipalities Hire HERS Raters
Some of the reasons why a local Building Department might contract work to HERS Raters include…
Smaller municipalities don’t have enough permit revenue to justify bringing staff members onboard.
A municipality can gain access to new subject matter experts and resources by contracting a home performance company.
The energy code is newer, so it’s beneficial to bring in a third party that’s familiar with its thresholds and idiosyncrasies.
This is an issue that is impacting building departments of all sizes. Building Departments in small jurisdictions sometimes issue only a handful of building permits in a year. With that level of infrequency, it would be difficult to justify hiring a full-time employee to manage the energy code compliance verification process. On the other hand, building departments in larger jurisdictions may find it easier to contract out this service to a home performance company that was set up to provide that kind of service in volume.
By contracting with a large firm to provide the code compliance verification, a building department could indirectly gain access to a significant amount of resources within that firm. Engineers and architects, for example, may not be working for that jurisdiction, but the firm may make their knowledge and guidance available, as necessary.
In terms of code, the International Energy Conservation Code is a relevant newcomer. The energy code doesn’t typically get a lot of attention from local code departments and that lack of familiarity makes this the prime code for utilizing third-party compliance verification.
How It Works at the Municipal Level
First, you must be in a state that has adopted the 2015 IECC or has adopted an amendment to the local energy code that allows for the use of the Energy Rating Index compliance pathway (like the South Carolina situation – a state that is on 2009 IECC but has adopted the ERI).
There are a couple of different ways that third parties can be utilized for code compliance verification.
Less common: A municipality can contract a company directly to provide the service.
More common: A municipality can require a third party to provide compliance verification and identifies qualifications for that individual/company.
When a municipality requires a third party to provide compliance verification, a builder in that area then hires a HERS Rater or home performance company to provide the energy code compliance verification on their behalf. HERS Raters already have relationships with builders and can actually provide services beyond only the energy code compliance.
Since many HERS Raters are already providing code compliance services to builders, why not pursue the ICC Certification?
It should be noted that even if you are in a state that is without the ERI compliance pathway, the ICC Certification offers value to HERS Raters who want to demonstrate their acute proficiency of the energy code requirements. There are still going to be jurisdictions that will be working under the Prescriptive and Performance paths to meet code. Those municipalities can still have the option to outsource the compliance verification.
Take Your HERS Rater Certification Even Farther
On its own, HERS Rater Certification is more than enough for you to get a job or start a business. You can certainly service clients and gain important partnerships with homebuilders.
But the future is in energy code compliance. It is an industry driver that’s not going away. If anything, it’s becoming more important, more visible, more stringent, and more heavily adopted throughout the country. Adding energy code verification skills to your resume will make you an even more marketable home performance professional.
In summary, new and existing HERS Raters have the opportunity to upgrade their skills even further and take a deeper dive into energy code compliance. After earning the HERS Rater Certification, you’ll want to take the ICC Residential Plans Examiner Certification exam. After you’ve passed that exam, you’ll be able to automatically add the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation to your resume.
Now is a great time to become a RESNET HERS Rater, an ICC Residential Plans Examiner, or the ultimate IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist! First things first, start today with your RESNET HERS Rater Training program.
The Internet has been abuzz this month about Google’s Project Sunroof product, which is a free online tool that aims to make it easier for people to obtain and use home solar panels. The product itself has been available since 2015 and has been used to inform users how much sun hits their roof and how much solar panels would save them in energy-related expenses per month if they pursued the option.
Now, Project Sunroof will be equipped with the functionality to show users which of their neighbors have taken the plunge.
As The Atlantic writes, “One of the best predictors of whether people install solar panels on their house isn’t their age, their race, their level of income, or their political affiliation. It’s whether their neighbors did it first.”
When on the map view, Project Sunroof will show a red dot over any home or structure that appears to have rooftop solar.
The tool currently provides data for 60 million buildings across the United States, so there’s a high probability that homeowners nationwide will find value in the new “peer pressure” functionality. Google aims to analyze the remaining 40 million buildings in the next few years. If anyone can do it in a timely manner, it’s Google – and its machine-learning algorithm that recognizes the common appearance of rooftop solar panels.
How Solar Installers Can Use Project Sunroof
Project Sunroof is primarily a tool for homeowners, but there must be some applications for residential solar companies.
1. Get listed as a local solar installation company within Project Sunroof.
In addition to estimating how much solar energy falls on a roof or how much solar panels will reduce someone’s electricity bills, Project Sunroof also provides estimates from local installation firms. As a solar company, you should be included in your community’s listing of providers! To use Project Sunroof as an opportunity to reach potential solar customers, email [email protected].
2. Provide excellent customer service.
Naturally, you should be providing excellent customer service always. This leads to word-of-mouth referrals. Whether a potential solar customer sees a neighbor’s solar panels from the street or using the Project Sunroof tool, he or she will likely ask their neighbor how things are working out with the new technology…
Are your energy bills really lower?
Was the installation process quick and easy?
What about maintenance?
Which company installed your solar panels?
Were they affordable?
Were they easy to work with?
Are you happy with this decision?
People want to know from trusted associates whether solar is a smart, viable, and cost-effective choice. It’s candid conversations like these that a potential solar customer may finally choose solar energy for their home…and which company will do it, so always make sure that you’re positioning your solar installation company as the best choice for your geographic market.
3. Include Project Sunroof in your advertising.
Once your company has been selected as a solar provider partner with Project Sunroof, you should leverage that information in your marketing materials – provided that it’s not against any rules with Project Sunroof.
The more people who know about Project Sunroof, the better. People want to feel like they are part of the “in group,” and Project Sunroof provides an opportunity to see where you stack up in your community. This tool could very well lead to more people wanting to add solar panels to their homes – either through the peer pressure of fitting in or from the candid conversations with trusted friends.
The only way that people will know about Project Sunroof is if you tell them! It’s a free online tool, so there’s no barrier to entry. In fact, “free” and “online” may offer the fastest foot-in-the-door to learning about solar energy – that language sets a homeowner on the right path to you and your company’s services!
If you include Project Sunroof in your advertising, people will become aware of it and will probably check it out and maybe have a candid conversation with a neighbor and maybe choose solar for themselves. It’s a cycle.
Some ways to leverage Project Sunroof in your marketing efforts include:
Using a short call-out phrase like “Find us on Project Sunroof” in your email signature, business card, company social media profiles, email blasts, radio & newspaper ads, etc.
Encouraging existing clients to tell their neighbors about Project Sunroof
Offering a free consultation with prospective clients on how to use Project Sunroof
Sharing an informational video that demonstrates how a homeowner can use the tool
Sometimes you have to go beyond just advertising your company/services and really sell a prospective customer on the concept or driving force behind your service. If they’re sold on the fact that solar panels will save them money and that they need to add solar panels to fit in in their community, then that’s half the battle! From there, your company needs to be seen and trusted. Project Sunroof is simply one tool that can help achieve those goals.
If you don’t yet have a solar installation company and want to move in this direction, visit our Getting Started With Solar series to learn about the job outlook for solar contractors and how you can add solar to your business.
