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Over 200 MA Municipalities Adopt Stretch Code

Massachusetts has long been a leader for energy efficiency. Since 2008, Massachusetts has pledged to upgrade its building code every three years to align with the most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). In other words, MA builders and contractors will be routinely required to implement new strategies and technologies that lead to better, safer, and more energy-efficient homes.

If you want to learn more about how contractors are becoming energy efficiency experts working with builders to ensure that new homes are meeting building code requirements, browse our What is RESNET? section and learn about the RESNET Certification program.

One of Massachusett’s most admirable accomplishments occurred in 2009, when it became the first state to adopt an above-building code appendix called the Stretch Code.

What is the Stretch Code?

The Stretch Code offers guidance to builders and contractors who want to design new homes with energy performance in mind. The appendix takes the “base” building code requirements to the next level by providing cost-effective construction strategies that yield greater energy savings than the “base” code.

In 2015-2016, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) hired an independent building energy consulting firm to look at the cost-benefit trade-off of building new single-family and multi-family homes to the 2015 Stretch Code. Every test conducted showed homeowners seeing a positive cash-flow from day 1 after purchasing a 2015 stretch code home vs. a 2015 base code compliant home.

Another interesting component to the MA Stretch Code is that municipalities can choose to adopt it in lieu of the base building code. As of June 7, 2017, 203 municipalities had adopted the Stretch Code, with more expected in the upcoming months. In fact, it appears that two municipalities adopted the Stretch Code in just the last three weeks.

To put that into perspective, Wikipedia notes that there are 351 municipalities in total in Massachusetts – based on the form of government, there are 295 towns and 56 cities.

Click to enlarge image

So 203 out of 351 total municipalities results in approximately 58% of the state going above and beyond the base building code and choosing to implement the most cutting-edge green technologies in their new housing stock.

It’s no wonder that Mass. is one of our best states for RESNET HERS Rater training. The local building codes certainly encourage energy-efficient building practices, and it’s clear from the widespread adoption of the Stretch Code that energy-efficient building practices are indeed preferred.

If you’re a MA home builder, you need to remain competitive with the necessary understanding of building code requirements. Likewise, residential contractors performing ancillary services must also be aware of the preferred energy-saving strategies.

For more information about how you can maintain a competitive edge in the MA residential housing market, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or email [email protected] with your questions.

NABCEP Solar Inspector Certifications Now Available

NABCEP recently distributed an email that officially marked the launch of the two new solar inspector certifications, one for photovoltaic systems and the other for solar heating systems.

If NABCEP and photovoltaic are new terms for you, please take a moment to review our Solar Overview series where we will cover ways in which individuals can pursue solar energy as a career and add these skills to their business.

If you’re as intrigued about these new NABCEP certification credentials as we are, keep reading!

Become a Certified Solar Inspector Now

It appears as though the exams for the Photovoltaic System Inspector (PVI) and Solar Heating System Inspector (SHSI) certification exams are now available.

When you visit the NABCEP website, you’ll see “PV and Solar Heating System Inspector Certification Programs” in the left sidebar menu. From there, you’ll find links to the NABCEP System Inspector Handbook, Job Task Analyses, and NABCEP Testing Portal.

How the NABCEP System Inspector Certifications Fit In

If you’re familiar with the NABCEP credentialing program, you know that there are several credentials/certifications that you can earn.

solar inspector certifications join NABCEP list

The 1 superscript shown beside the Certifications heading comes with this note: “While this Handbook tries to differentiate between NABCEP Certificants and NABCEP Credential holders, the term ‘Credential’ applies to both.”

Oh, how I wish I could explain the thought process here! I’ll try my best…

The NABCEP Associate program used to be called the NABCEP Entry Level program and existed to demonstrate one’s proficiency with basic solar electric and solar thermal concepts. Because there were no continuing education requirements for the NABCEP Entry Level designations, NABCEP largely referred to these titles as “Credentials.” You would possess a Certificate of Knowledge, not a Certification. The “Certifications” were more advanced, had more eligibility requirements, and had continuing education requirements.

In August 2016, NABCEP rebranded the Entry Level program to the new title of Associate. Aside from the name change, one of the biggest differences between the Entry Level and the Associate designations was the introduction of continuing education requirements for Associate professionals. Following this pattern, you would think the Associate titles would be considered “Certifications” but…no?

So what I take away from the footnote is that anyone with any of the titles in the above graphic would be in possession of a NABCEP Credential. NABCEP, however, adds an extra layer of significance to the credential holders in the left column, stating that they have a “Certification,” whereas folks living in the right column have only a “Credential.”

Now that we’re clear on that terminology, let’s try to understand why the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspectors are considered “Certifications.”

How to Qualify for the NABCEP Solar Inspector Certifications

As we just noted, the NABCEP Certifications generally have a long list of eligibility requirements.

What we find particularly interesting about the new solar inspector certifications are the lack of stated prerequisites. The name alone implies that the candidate should have some familiarity with photovoltaic and/or solar thermal systems, but NABCEP does not explicitly state what they expect that familiarity to be. After all, how can you inspect something that you have no experience with?

You might say that a solar system inspector provides quality assurance that a solar installation was set up correctly, and how intriguing that the prerequisites for these exams do not specifically identify any education or experience requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

To take the NABCEP PVSI or SHSI exams, a candidate must:

Be at least 18 years old
Complete an application
Sign and agree to uphold the NABCEP Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct
Pay all applicable exam fees to NABCEP

The NABCEP System Inspector Handbook states that the NABCEP solar inspector exams are intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with photovoltaic and/or solar thermal systems. Applicants should know how to assess the safety and operation of a system and be able to verify code compliance via interpretation of design plans and building documents, conduct on-site inspections, and report results.

So, while not stated in the eligibility requirements, it seems fairly suggested that a candidate have some kind of education or experience before attempting the solar inspector certification exams. NABCEP is just not stating explicitly what that education or experience should be.

Solar Inspector Knowledge Areas

Let’s take a look at the learning objectives from the PVSI and SHSI Job Task Analyses to get a better idea of what knowledge candidates should possess before attempting the solar inspector exams.

Photovoltaic System Inspector Exam – 4 primary knowledge areas

The PVSI exam tests a candidate’s competencies regarding 15 tasks organized into 4 performance domains:

Inspecting Electrical Components and Systems (44% of exam)
Inspecting Energy Storage Components and Systems (21%)
Inspecting Mechanical/Structural Components and Systems (21%)
Documentation for the System Inspection (14%)

Solar Heating Inspector Exam – 5 primary knowledge areas

The SHSI exam tests a candidate’s competencies regarding 13 tasks organized into 5 performance domains:

Appropriate System Design for Applications
Structural
Mechanical and Solar Loop
Plumbing/Potable Piping
Electrical

The exam proportions for each SHSI knowledge area do not appear to be available yet.

Within each performance domain, the tasks are categorized according to their priority or importance using three levels:

Critical
Very Important
Important

If you’re following along with the Job Task Analysis for the SHSI Certification, you’ll notice that Very Important is highlighted yellow early on in the document, but the matching color beside the task(s) is labeled only as Important. Important is highlighted blue early on in the document, and the matching color beside the task(s) is labeled as Useful. It’s a little confusing. The prioritization levels are much more clear and consistent in the PVSI Job Task Analysis.

Next Steps

There’s no doubt that the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspector Certifications have value and fill a much-needed gap in the solar workforce. With the increase in solar installations and more rigorous solar standards being written into the National Electric Code, there needs to be educated, experienced, certified individuals who can competently inspect the work and make sure it was done correctly and with safety in mind.

But…I have to wonder if NABCEP has jumped the gun in introducing these exams. There are several inconsistencies and vague areas that need to be clarified. The optimist in me wonders if NABCEP introduced these exams in this state in order to help those who need the certification “now” and will fix the inconsistencies later after having had a score of individuals go through the process. But it’s difficult to advise people when there’s not enough information to make an educated decision…

What I’d Like to See Fixed

If possible, I would wait to pursue the solar inspector certification until the following areas have been resolved:

Outline specific education and/or experience requirements
Clearly define the difference between a “certification” and a “credential”
Provide a recommended career pathway (PV Associate first, then PV Installation Professional, then PV System Inspector)
Clarify the importance of the SHSI performance domains by assigning proportional exam weights to each
Correct the priority levels in the SHSI JTA so that the Very Important/Important and Important/Useful categories match

Only then would I feel more comfortable recommending these new certifications. Again, there IS value in solar system inspection, and introducing these exams is a great step for NABCEP and the solar workforce. I just want to know that the information that has been presented so far will be fleshed out.

As it stands now, the PV and Solar Heating Inspector Certifications are listed under the Associate Program and above the Get Certified link in NABCEP’s menu. On a somewhat subconscious level, you might think that the inspector certification is the middle step in the credential process…but is it? I’m sure NABCEP just wanted to offer visibility and prominence to its new certifications, but if they are, in fact, certifications (like PV Installation Professional and PV Technical Sales), shouldn’t they be listed under the Get Certified link?

If You Are New to Solar

We recommend that you begin with the NABCEP PV Associate program.

This credential demonstrates a broad understanding of solar energy systems, electricity, safety, and system maintenance. You can qualify for this entry-level exam with Everblue’s NABCEP PV Associate course.

After You’ve Passed the NABCEP PV Associate Exam

We recommend that you pursue the NABCEP PV Installation Professional exam.

Once you have the fundamental knowledge, you can push yourself further by understanding the technical intricacies of solar panel installation. This is an advanced certification with a multitude of eligibility requirements. The Training requirement can be achieved through Everblue’s NABCEP PV Installation Professional program.

After You’ve Passed the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Exam

You may choose to pursue the NABCEP PV Technical Sales exam or the NABCEP PV System Inspector exam.

Only after you’ve demonstrated entry-level and advanced proficiency in solar photovoltaic system design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting should you consider pursuing these ultra-advanced exams (in my opinion).

It’s like when you’re a business owner – the most successful business owners understand how all the bits and pieces work together on a “daily tasks/transactions” level as opposed to those business owners who bark orders without any understanding of what processes are necessary to satisfy the command. In solar terms, an individual will be far more successful as a salesperson or as an inspector if he/she has a sufficient understanding of how solar systems are designed, installed, and maintained.

This is just my two cents and my initial impression of the new NABCEP solar inspector certifications. Perhaps I’m being too critical of something so new, and perhaps the areas of weakness listed above were already intended to be fleshed out. Let us know what you think about the solar inspector certifications by commenting on Everblue’s Facebook page or dropping us a line on Twitter to @everblue_edu.

For more information on how to get started with a career in solar energy, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or email us at [email protected].

The Best Time to Buy Your LEED Exam: How to Know When You’re Ready

No, we’re not aware of any seasonal promotions for the LEED Exams, but we do have a few tips and tricks that will help you save money and/or make the most of your educational investment. In fact, follow our tips below, and you’ll feel much more confident about buying your LEED exam!

If you’re new to LEED and want to take a quick step back to understanding the LEED certification process, please visit our Getting Started With LEED series.

If you’ve researched LEED and know that one step in the process is to purchase your LEED exam from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), then keep reading!

How to Register for the LEED Exam

Naturally, as you’re researching LEED, you’ve probably stumbled on the USGBC website. The USGBC created the LEED standards in 1993 and manage the dissemination of all LEED-related information.

As you’re learning about the LEED credentials on the USGBC website, you see buttons inviting you to “Register for the Exam.” This link takes you to an Account Login page. If you don’t already have a USGBC account, you’ll need to create one.

But what a second – if you’re early into your LEED research, should you buy your LEED exam now?

The answer is no, and there are three reasons for that.

You don’t understand the LEED green building concepts yet! Cart, meet Horse.
You don’t understand all the LEED exam price options. You want to save money, right?
There is a one-year “application period” to take the exam. Let’s tackle this one first.

When to Take the LEED Exam

When you purchase your LEED exam, you essentially buy yourself a one-year period to learn the topics, study, and schedule your testing appointment.

That seems like plenty of time, right?

when should you buy your LEED exam?

Well, the reality is that sometimes, life gets in the way. A lot can happen in one year, and you don’t necessarily know what your schedule is going to look like over the next few weeks and months. Something unexpected could pop up and completely derail your learning and study efforts.

Not to mention, with the potential for LIFE to happen, you might have difficulty remembering when exactly you purchased your exam – and thus, when your application period is set to end.

Thankfully, the USGBC offers an opportunity for refunds and exam rescheduling. Both are allowed with no penalty with at least 30 days’ notice before the exam date. Both are allowed with a $50 fee within 3-29 days of the exam session. Neither is allowed within 2 days of the exam.

So it’s possible to recognize at least one month before your exam date that you’re not ready and that you want to (a) get a refund and (b) initiate the process again later. But this is a slippery slope. It’s always easier to prepare for an exam when you have a tangible exam date in front of you. How many times have you said to yourself, “Yeah, I’ll get to that” and never do?

Preparing for an exam can already be a somewhat stressful experience. There’s no sense adding the USGBC application period on top of that! It would be pretty awful if you came into your final weeks of eligibility and realized that you didn’t feel ready to take the exam.

Verdict: Purchase your LEED exam when you feel ready to feasibly take the exam within 3-4 weeks.

This will keep your study efforts on track and solidify your commitment to this goal. Don’t be worried about exam availability – the LEED exams are offered Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM based on availability in the Prometric computer lab. It is very possible to find a LEED exam appointment within 1-2 days.

LEED Exam Pricing

This is where we talk about saving money!

The USGBC website lists the LEED Green Associate exam fee as $250 for non-members and $200 for members.

USGBC Members

USGBC member logo The “membership” listed here refers to Company Membership. Companies can pay an annual fee (at various levels) to be considered a USGBC National Member. Individuals who are full-time employees of a USGBC National Member Company are eligible for the $50 discount. Individuals who are members of their local USGBC chapter are not eligible for this $50 discount.

Full-Time Students

Full-time students can purchase their LEED Green Associate exam for $100. During the registration process, the candidate will be asked to supply some basic information to verify their student status.

Veterans

The USGBC also has a relationship with the Veterans Administration to reimburse the cost of the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP exams through VA Licensing and Certification benefits.

Full Exam vs. Specialty Only Exam

Finally, if you’re looking at the LEED AP exams on the USGBC website, you’ll see exam pricing for the “Full Exam” and the “Specialty Only Exam.” The Full Exam is made up of the 2-hour LEED Green Associate exam, immediately followed by the 2-hour LEED AP Specialty exam (no breaks). As you may know, it is required for all candidates to pass the LEED Green Associate exam before they can become a LEED AP Specialty, so the USGBC offers this combined GA/AP exam to fast-track candidates to the LEED AP Specialty level. Therefore, the Specialty Only exam contains only the 2-hour LEED AP Specialty exam contents. This assumes that a candidate has already taken and passed the standalone LEED Green Associate exam on another occasion.

There are some things you need to know about the combined GA/AP exam.

If you are new to LEED, you should not challenge the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP exams at the same time. That’d be quite a risk to take because if you fail either part – Green Associate or AP – you walk away empty-handed.
The “Full Exam” does not skimp on the material. When you choose this option, you are signing yourself up for the actual LEED Green Associate exam (100 questions in 2 hours) and the actual LEED AP Specialty exam (100 questions in 2 hours). This can be pretty overwhelming and exhausting.
There is a $50 discount if you opt for the “Full Exam” versus taking the standalone LEED Green Associate exam and the standalone LEED AP Specialty exam on separate occasions. However, as we mentioned, if you fail either part of the Full Exam, you walk away WITHOUT any LEED credential. If you pass the LEED Green Associate portion, you can contact USGBC customer service and request for that credential to be counted. This request comes with a $50 application fee. So, at the end of the day, you did not save any money. In fact, you kind of wasted $350 on the LEED AP Specialty portion. You could have waited until you were legitimately ready for the LEED AP Specialty exam and spent the $350 then, with positive results.

Summary: Veterans and full-time students have the best LEED exam discounts, as do employees of USGBC National Member Companies. Also, there are some pros and several cons to taking the “Full Exam;” do your research and think critically about whether this is the right choice for you.

First You Learn, Then You Test

And this is where we talk about putting the cart before the horse – or, actually, our recommendation to stick with the traditional way of achieving a goal, which is to learn the concepts and then buy the exam.

cart before horse image

Folks working in the building design, construction, and operations industries often make the mistake of thinking that their personal work experience alone warrants them the knowledge to pass the LEED exam. While this is possible (especially for those who frequently work on LEED projects), it is not common.

LEED is a unique green building certification system with specific criteria and compliance options. Folks with industry experience certainly have an advantage of being familiar with building terms and processes, but this is not the same as understanding LEED-specific terminology and LEED certification requirements.

It should be noted that the LEED exams specifically evaluate a candidate’s understanding of the LEED rating system requirements. The exams are not vague and do not cover the complete range of construction processes. For these reasons, it’s important that a candidate intentionally learn and study the LEED exam knowledge areas.

There are a number of ways to learn about LEED – classes, books, practice quizzes, flashcards, workshops, study groups, semester-based degree programs, etc. The way you choose to learn about LEED should align with your learning style, budget, and work/life schedule.

Of course Everblue is a USGBC Education Partner and its LEED Exam Prep training courses have resulted in a 99% first-time pass rate on the LEED Green Associate exam. We’ve trained hundreds of thousands of professionals worldwide from various educational and work backgrounds. Our course formats touch on a range of learning styles, budgets, and time commitments; we’re proud that our student success rates have been consistent since 2008 and apply to these adaptive and flexible needs.

Recommendation: If you’re ready to learn about LEED, start now with one of our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training formats.

Hopefully by now you feel a bit more confident about buying the LEED exam – now having a sense of the allotted time frame after buying your exam, the different LEED exam pricing options, and how to get started with LEED training.

If you have any other questions about taking the LEED exam, please give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

How to Install Solar Panels in Idaho & Overview of Electrical Licenses

On July 1, 2017, the state of Idaho implemented the 2017 version of the National Electric Code (NEC), which sets the foundation for electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial occupations. Currently, only one other state has implemented the 2017 NEC code, though more states are expected to put its rules into effect this summer. This code update is important, especially when we think about how to install solar panels in Idaho.

By adopting the most up-to-date version of the NEC Code, Idaho stands out as a leader for supporting electrical safety and encouraging the growth of solar installation jobs. As we will go over in this post, Idaho offers two pathways to licensure for those interested in adding solar installations to their business – one involves becoming a licensed electrician, and the other involves earning a NABCEP Certification.

If you want to learn more about the NABCEP Certification program, please visit our Introduction to Solar series.

How to Install Solar Panels in Idaho

If you’re ready to learn how to install solar panels in Idaho (including the Idaho electrical license requirements), keep reading!

becoming an idaho electrical contractor chart

The state of Idaho offers the following electrical licenses (in order of achievement):

Apprentice Electrician
Journeyman Electrician
Master Electrician
Electrical Contractor

The Idaho Photovoltaic (Solar) Installer license is one of nine Specialty Electrical Licenses. To earn a specialty license, an individual can follow this pathway of licensure:

Specialty Electrician Trainee
Specialty Electrical Journeyman
Specialty Electrical Contractor

becoming a solar installer in Idaho chart

For more information about the eligibility requirements for each license phase, please visit the Idaho Division of Building Safety website.

Why Earn the Specialty License vs. the Electrician’s License?

The Specialty Electrical licenses offer an opportunity for individuals to install solar even if they are not licensed electricians.

Let’s look at the Journeyman phase as an example. The Journeyman Electrician must document a minimum of 6,000 hours of work experience as an apprentice, have completed four years of approved electrical apprenticeship school, and pass an exam. On the Specialty side, the Electrical Specialty Journeyman must document a minimum of 4,000 hours of work experience, show proof of NABCEP Certification, and pass an exam.

As you can see, the 4-year technical education can be “substituted” with a professional solar panel installation certification from NABCEP.

In short, there is a long and formal process to become a licensed electrician. However, if you get NABCEP certified, you can earn the Specialty Electrical license with much less time and money. To see what the NABCEP Certification process would look like, see our page on the NABCEP PV Installation Certification requirements.

Not to mention, if your goal is to install solar, the Specialty Electrical license is simply a better fit than the traditional electrician’s license. After all the time and money spent, licensed electricians are able to perform a wide range of actions – but solar installers don’t need all that. They just need to be able to connect to the service panel with a breaker or disconnect. Solar installation is a specialty skill set, and Idaho provides a quick and easy pathway to obtain the specialty license.

A few specific notes about the Photovoltaic (Solar) Installer License:

The license holder must be employed by a licensed electrical contractor whose license is in the same category.
The license holder may not countersign a contractor’s application as a supervising specialty journeyman except for work in his specialty.
Applicants for this license class must provide proof of photovoltaic installer certification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) or equivalent.

Any person with the solar photovoltaic license can perform the following types of installations:

Solar Photovoltaic DC Systems: Install, maintain, repair, and replace all electrical equipment, wires, and accessories up to and including the inverter.
Solar Photovoltaic micro-inverter/AC Systems: Install, maintain, repair, and replace all electrical equipment, wires, and accessories up to and including the AC combiner box.

Are You Ready to Join the Solar Workforce?

If you live in Idaho, and you want to add solar installation to your list of skills, let us help you work toward the NABCEP Certification with our NABCEP PV Installation Professional training program.

Our multi-course Combo program covers a comprehensive range of solar energy topics, including electrical safety, solar design and sales, and hands-on solar panel installation.

With this set of fundamental skills under your belt, you’ll be well-equipped to begin documenting your 4,000 hours of work experience (equivalent to 2 years) and preparing for the Electrical Specialty Journeyman exam and license.

For more information about installing solar panels in Idaho, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or email [email protected].

Learn more about Everblue's NABCEP Certification Training

LEED Exam Qualifications: Who Can Take the LEED Exam?

Regardless of your education, occupation, or work experience – you ARE eligible to sit for the LEED Green Associate exam. There are no official LEED exam qualifications, other than the fact that you’ve studied LEED and are ready to sit for such a technical exam!

Having work experience or education in a related field of architecture, engineering, construction management, etc. certainly offers some advantages in terms of a base familiarity of green building terms and strategies. But overall, there are no LEED exam qualifications that state a candidate possess a particular degree or number of years of work experience.

If you’re new to LEED and want an introduction to how this green building program can further your career, check out our LEED Overview section.

If you’re ready to take your knowledge of sustainability and green building to the next level, keep reading!

Who Should Take the LEED Green Associate Exam?

You should seriously consider taking the LEED Green Associate exam if you:

are interested in learning about green building strategies, and
want to know how to apply those techniques to commercial and residential buildings to lower costs, reduce energy and water use, and improve indoor air quality

The LEED exam measures a candidate’s understanding of only the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. The exam’s singular focus on LEED terms and strategies offers an even playing field for anyone who wants to demonstrate their proficiency in the subject.

That said, we recommend that anyone interested in earning a LEED professional credential should participate in some kind of LEED Green Associate exam prep education. A course focused on LEED topics is the most effective way to learn the material and to become familiar with the LEED exam interface and credentialing process. Everblue offers three formats of its LEED Green Associate Exam Prep.

The LEED Green Associate Exam is open to all ages.

Prior to 2016, the U.S. Green Building Council (the organization that created the LEED standards) listed a minimum age requirement for those interested in taking the entry-level LEED Green Associate exam. This requirement was eliminated in September 2016.

Now, individuals of all ages may register for the LEED Green Associate exam. The LEED credentials offer a variety of academic and professional opportunities for young individuals. Students can use the LEED credentials to transition their education toward a building trade or related field, or they can use it as a marketable designation to stand out from other young professionals in the environmental industry.

questions about LEED exam qualifications

Unlike other professional credentialing programs, the LEED program has trickled down from active building professionals to college and K-12 students. The fact that LEED has become mainstream in multiple tiers of education proves the relatability and importance of the subject matter. Just as our previous post highlighted all the different building structures that can be impacted by LEED, there are many different groups of people who can also share in the value that LEED offers.

Particularly because the LEED Green Associate exam highlights a base understanding of high-level green building concepts (as opposed to a single green building job), college and high school students are equally qualified as working business professionals to reap the benefits of LEED training. In fact, full-time students are eligible for an extra benefit when it comes to the LEED certification exams – they get a 50% discount on the cost of the LEED Green Associate exam, bringing their total to only $100.

What are you waiting for?

Since its founding in 2000, LEED has practically become standard practice in the building and construction industry. What’s more, the LEED Green Associate knowledge areas impact more than just the architects and engineers working on a LEED project. There are broad applications for students and professionals in a variety of industries.

For more information about who should get LEED, give us a call at (800) 460-2575. We’re happy to answer your questions and set you in the right direction!

Register now for LEED Green Associate Exam Prep

LEED Certified Buildings Come in Every Shape and Size

Many individuals working in the construction industry are familiar with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and have long considered it a value-add for commercial office buildings. But did you know that the LEED certification standards also apply to homes, communities, transit stations, and cities? Thus, all buildings can be LEED certified buildings.

If you’re new to LEED, please visit our Getting Started With LEED series.

LEED for Cities USGBC graphic

LEED Focus Areas

The U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, created the LEED certification standards in the year 2000. Tasked with promoting sustainability-focused practices in the building and construction industries, USGBC staff and stakeholders identified key performance indicators of high-performance green buildings. They summarized these findings into categories that would form the basis of the LEED certification standards.

In short, all projects trying to become LEED certified buildings would have to meet criteria and achieve goals in the following areas to be worthy of the label:

Location and Transportation
Materials and Resources
Water Efficiency
Indoor Environmental Quality
Energy and Atmosphere
Sustainability Sites
Regional Priority Credits
Innovation

Moreover, there are unique responsibilities and strategies that apply to new construction projects versus existing buildings projects. For this reason, the USGBC designed several pathways, or LEED Rating Systems, to help guide project teams to meet the LEED certification standards according to their building type.

The LEED Rating Systems

In the early and mid-2000s, the only types of projects seeking LEED Certification were generally summed up into three categories: new construction, existing buildings, or interior fit-outs.

As LEED has grown in popularity, the program has evolved to include multiple building types. New construction, existing buildings, and interior fit-outs still play a core role; however, the USGBC has expanded their definition of building types that belong in these categories and have added new categories.

Let’s take a look at the LEED Rating Systems and the common market sectors that fall within these categories.

LEED for Building Design and Construction

New construction & major renovations
Core & shell development
Schools
Retail
Data centers
Warehouses & distribution centers
Hospitality
Healthcare
Homes & multifamily lowrise
Multifamily midrise

LEED for Building Operations + Maintenance

Existing buildings
Retail
Schools
Hospitality
Data centers
Warehouses & distribution centers

LEED for Interior Design + Construction

Commercial interiors
Retail
Hospitality

LEED for Homes

Homes & multifamily lowrise
Multifamily midrise

LEED for Neighborhood Development

Plan certification
Built project certification

The USGBC recently introduced three new rating system pilots too: LEED for Cities, LEED for Communities, and LEED v4 O+M: Transit.

Although we’re at the early stages of the new pilot categories, it already appears as though there will be some stark differences with how they will be carried out; LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities, for example, will be managed through USGBC’s new software platform called Arc, instead of LEED Online. Also, Transit appears to be a segment of LEED for Building Operations + Maintenance instead of its own rating system.

We look forward to watching how these pilots grow and evolve. We’ll be sure to write unique posts about each, so check back with us!

LEED certified buildings come in all shapes and sizes

It’s rather impressive that the USGBC has been able to grow the LEED certification program the way it has. There’s no turning back now. LEED is here to stay and will soon be standard practice for the design, construction, and operations of ALL building types.

To get involved, you’ll want to participate in a LEED training program and study to become a LEED Green Associate. At Everblue, we specialize in LEED exam prep training, and we can help you transition into a sustainability-focused role within your organization. Get started today!

Image Source: GBCI.org and USGBC.org

Blower Door Equipment Discount from Retrotec Now Available

Individuals who plan to start a home performance company will need blower door, duct blaster, and manometer equipment at a minimum to offer a home energy auditing service and/or to meet building code requirements. Though we only offer energy auditor training, we have partnered with Retrotec to include a blower door equipment discount to our students!

Retrotec blower door If your goals fall within either bucket, but you’re not sure how to get started, give us a call at (800) 460-2575. We’ll help provide guidance on whether you should enroll in BPI training or RESNET HERS Rater training.

Participants in both courses will learn fundamental principles related to building science, combustion safety, and air infiltration. During both courses, participants will be given the opportunity to set up and operate blower door and duct blaster equipment.

Newly certified energy auditors then go on to either work for an established home performance company (that has energy auditing equipment available to use) OR start their own home performance company (and therefore need to buy their own equipment).

Everblue and Retrotec’s Energy Auditing Equipment Partnership

Everblue has been offering BPI training and RESNET HERS Rater training for close to 10 years. Our course participants come from a variety of backgrounds, including HVAC, insulation, home inspections, lighting, and general contracting. Other than the desire for professional development and marketability, one shared need among all of our students is access to high-quality, affordable energy auditing equipment.

We have partnered with Retrotec, a leading manufacturer of blower door and duct blaster equipment, to offer a 12% discount to course participants who need energy auditing equipment. Retrotec has been manufacturing blower door and duct testing equipment for over 30 years. During this time, Retrotec has been a trailblazer for integrating digital technology into traditional building diagnostics.

For example, some of Retrotec’s recent accomplishments include:

2013 – Retrotec released the first Touch Screen WiFi gauge.

2015 – Retrotec redefined the market when it programmed its DM32 to control every manufacturer’s test devices. During 2015, Retrotec also achieved the internationally recognized ISO 17025 accreditation for both pressure and flow, allowing calibrations performed by Retrotec to be accepted by every government and industry organization, body, and standard.

2016 – Retrotec released rCloud, which is the only automated testing app that geolocates test location, automatically performs blower door or duct tests to common standards, and creates secure compliance reports that can be shared immediately and viewed from anywhere.

How to Get the Blower Door Equipment Discount

To qualify for the Retrotec equipment discount, you must enroll in a BPI training course or a RESNET HERS Rater training course with Everblue.

After the training has concluded, Everblue staff will send out a unique registration form to all participants with the reduced rates for equipment.

If you have any questions about becoming a certified home energy auditor or using blower door testing equipment, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Learn more about Everblue's RESNET HERS Rater Training

Portland Home Energy Score Policy: What It Means

The Portland City Council unanimously voted to adopt the “home energy score policy” in 2016 with an expected effective date of January 1, 2018. This policy aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score program and requires an on-site home energy audit from an approved Home Energy Score Assessor.

If you’re new to the concept of home energy auditing and want a better understanding of what goes into a home energy audit, please visit our Energy Auditor Training page.

If you are a home inspector, HVAC contractor, or another residential profession, keep reading or jump to our section about How to Become a Home Energy Score Assessor.

About the Portland Home Energy Score Policy

The policy requires sellers of single-family homes to incorporate the following practices prior to listing a home for sale in the City of Portland:

Obtain a home energy performance report, including a home energy score, from a licensed home energy assessor.
Provide a copy of the home energy performance report to all licensed real estate agents working on the seller’s behalf.
Include the home energy score and the attached home energy performance report in any real estate listings.
Provide a copy of the home energy performance report to prospective buyers who visit the home while it is on the market.
Provide a copy of the home energy performance report to the City of Portland for quality assurance and policy compliance.

To learn more about the home energy score policy, see the Portland City Code Chapter 17.108.

The Value of a Home Energy Score Policy

Requiring a home energy score at the time of sale will help homebuyers, sellers, and owners make informed decisions about energy efficiency improvements.

As the City of Portland notes, consumers regularly consult scores and labels, such as miles-per-gallon ratings on cars and nutrition labels on food, to make informed decisions. The same process could be conducted for real estate decisions.

Home Energy Score for Houses

The home energy policy equates a visible property value to the energy efficiency improvements that homeowners have made to a home; otherwise, homebuyers would no way of knowing or understanding the before and after conditions of the home in question.

At least 20 studies of homes with green certifications have shown that green-certified homes sell for up to 4% higher than a comparable home. Why is this? Homebuyers are willing to spend a little more for green-certified homes because they know that they can expect lower energy bills, better thermal comfort, and better indoor air quality.

How It Works

The U.S. Department of Energy created the Home Energy Score tool to represent the energy efficiency of a home. The Home Energy Score tool provides the energy data to create the home energy performance report. Specifically, the report includes a numerical score from 1-10, where 10 represents a more energy-efficient home and 5 is the performance of the average home. This number provides an easy-to-understand reference point for the comparison of energy performance between single-family homes.

The Home Energy Score is considered an asset rating, which means that the score is based on how the home was built, not how the home is used. An asset rating looks at the structural characteristics and large equipment in a building. After conducting an on-site home inspection, a Home Energy Score Assessor will be able to create a home energy performance report that identifies cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, opportunities for more energy savings, opportunities to improve comfort, and opportunities to improve indoor air quality.

How to Become a Home Energy Score Assessor

To become a Home Energy Score Assessor, and take advantage of new business earned through this policy, you will need to:

Work with a Home Energy Score Partner
Hold a relevant energy auditor certification
Complete the Home Energy Score Simulation Training & Test
Score a home with a mentor

Working with a Home Energy Score Partner

Home Energy Score Partners include various types of organizations (utilities, state agencies, local governments, non-profits, contractor associations, etc.) that administer the delivery of the Score on a local, state, or national basis.

There are five partners available in Oregon:

American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
Building Performance Institute (BPI)
Eugene Water & Electric Board
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
Oregon Department of Energy

ASHI, BPI, and InterNACHI are all national partners. Eugene Water & Electric Board serves Eugene, OR and the surrounding McKenzie River area. Oregon Department of Energy serves the state of Oregon.

Holding a Relevant Energy Auditor Certification

The Department of Energy (DOE) lists a variety of relevant credentials that will be accepted for the energy auditor certification requirement, including RESNET HERS Rater, CalCERTS Rater, and LEED Green Rater.

The certifications that make the most sense to acquire are probably going to be ASHI Inspector, InterNACHI Home Energy Inspector, and BPI Building Analyst Certification. These particular credentials:

satisfy the Home Energy Score Assessor requirement
are available in Portland, and
are recognized nationwide

BPI, specifically, was DOE’s first nationwide Home Energy Score Partner. If you’re familiar with the BPI energy auditor certifications, you know that there are several single-family designations. The Home Energy Score program will accept a minimum of the BPI Building Science Principles certificate. Since the Building Science Principles program does not take participants into the field to perform a hands-on home energy audit, it would be better for a candidate to pursue the next level of certification, which is BPI Building Analyst. With the BPI Building Analyst training, you learn about residential building science and home energy auditing techniques.

Everblue offers BPI Building Analyst training courses in the Portland area to help individuals prepare for this policy. Call us now at (800) 460-2575 if you’d like to join the training.

Completing the Home Energy Score Simulation Training and Test

After you earn the BPI Building Analyst Certification, you’ll need to complete a BPI Rater Application. DOE will then email a welcome packet with instructions on how to access the Home Energy Score Simulation Training and Test.

During this process, a candidate will learn how to use the DOE Home Energy Score software tool to generate a home score and a prioritized list of recommended energy improvements (with estimated cost savings tailored to the customer’s home).

The training consists of three practice/challenge homes. A candidate must score at least 80 or better to move onto the two test homes. On the testing portion, a candidate must score at least 90 or better on the test homes and a score of at least 80 or better on the 20-question multiple-choice test.

Scoring a Home with a Mentor

To comply with DOE’s Quality Assurance protocols, all candidates are required to have a building science professional (mentor) accompany them on their first walk through of a home being scored. A BPI Client Relations Representative (CRR) will contact the approved assessor to coordinate one home as a mentoring session.

Home Energy Score Assessors must upload all information into the DOE website.

If a candidate chooses to go with BPI Certification, he/she can expect for BPI to track their progress with the Home Energy Score program. A BPI rater will need to renew their status annually. Raters in good standing are not required to re-take the Home Energy Score exams.

Commercial & Residential Energy Legislation in Portland

In 2015, the Portland City Council took a step forward on the commercial real estate side, by adopting mandatory energy benchmarking and disclosure. The home energy score policy will soon act as a residential companion to the commercial reporting.

Several U.S. cities have passed similar disclosure policies for the homes market, including Austin, TX; Berkeley, CA; Santa Fe, NM; and Boulder, CO. Internationally, residential disclosure policies are currently in effect in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Australia.

If you’d like to qualify as a Home Energy Score Assessor and gain new business in Portland, we can help you by providing the BPI Building Analyst training. You can also call us at (800) 460-2575 to discuss the BPI Building Analyst training in more detail.

Learn more about Everblue's BPI Building Analyst Training

NABCEP Discounts for Certified Professionals

There are a number of reasons why a solar professional would pursue NABCEP Certification, from increased credibility and marketing value to competitive advantage and eligibility for state and utility incentive programs. But there are also tangible benefits for professionals who have earned NABCEP Certification, and that’s what we’re going to look at today.

If NABCEP is a new acronym for you and you’re interested in enhancing your career with a solar certification, please visit our Getting Started With Solar series.

If you’re already NABCEP-certified or are just doing research to see how NABCEP Certification can benefit your career, keep reading!

NABCEP logo

Solar Industry Discounts Available to NABCEP Professionals

Intersolar North America

intersolar logo Intersolar North America has become the most attended solar event and the premier networking platform for the North American solar industry. Co-located with ees North America and SEMICON West, Intersolar North America takes place annually at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. NABCEP and Intersolar North America have partnered to offer free expo access to NABCEP-certified professionals as well as a 20% conference discount and a 20% discount on the Installation Workshop Package. The Installation Workshop Package is valued at $95 and includes an expo ticket. The conference tickets range from $475-$950, depending on whether a participant wants to attend all three days or just a single day.

NABCEP Career Center

NABCEP offers its own career center for solar employers and jobseekers. Through its job board portal, individuals can post job openings, get career coaching, get help writing a resume, post their resumes, apply for job openings, and get new job notifications sent to their email inboxes. NABCEP offers a 10% discount to certified professionals who want to post a job opening.

Prosight Specialty Insurance

prosight insurance logo NABCEP and ProSight Specialty Insurance have collaborated to promote NABCEP Certification by offering insurance premium credits to qualified solar installation companies that have achieved NABCEP Company Accreditation or have certified professionals on staff. The available discount is up to 10% insurance premium credit.

Wunder Capital

NABCEP-certified professionals can receive a 50% discount on loan service fees through Wunder Capital. Loans include flexible, short-term working capital for commercial solar PV system procurement and construction needs as well as long-term financing for solar customers.

RENVU Solar Equipment Distribution

RENVU is a leading solar equipment distributor, reducing solar equipment costs via smart distribution and automated processes. The RENVU MegaWatt Club offers free shipping on all orders, $100 off permitting packages, and preferred club member prices. NABCEP-certified professionals can receive a 40% discount for the first year of their MegaWatt membership.

ONGRID

ongrid logo All individuals with the NABCEP PV Installation Professional or NABCEP PV Technical Sales certifications can receive a 10% discount on the OnGrid Tool, which is a sales software with the capability to automatically create proposals that include financial analysis, financing, environmental impact, and system performance. The discount is valid for monthly and annual subscriptions.

Let It Shine by John Perlin

NABCEP credential holders and employees of NABCEP Accredited PV Installation Companies can receive a 50% discount on the cover price of John Perlin’s book Let It Shine: The 6,000 Year Story of Solar Energy. The retail value of the book is $29.95.

Women in Solar

Women in Solar is the leading non-profit membership organization for women in the solar energy industry. Their mission is to promote the involvement of women in the advancement of all aspects of the solar energy industry. All female NABCEP credential holders can receive 25% off the annual membership fee. Membership is available through tiers, such as Professional ($150), Sustaining ($500), Student/Retiree ($60), and Lifetime Member ($1,500).

GuildQuality

GuildQuality logo GuildQuality is a customer satisfaction surveying software used in the remodeling, home building, and home improvement sectors. NABCEP-certified professionals and NABCEP accredited companies can receive a 20% discount on survey fees, with full access to performance reporting and marketing tools. This software offers a great opportunity for solar companies to measure client needs and determine how well their installers exceeded client expectations.

SolarNexus

solarnexus logo SolarNexus is a uniquely tailored customer management software. The program helps independent solar sales and installation companies manage their customer leads and sales opportunities. NABCEP Accredited Companies or companies with NABCEP-certified professionals on staff can get a 10% discount on the SolarNexus solar business management platform. Regular pricing per user can range from $59-$139 per month.

HelioScope

The HelioScope platform is a cloud-based design and performance modeling software, which enables solar professionals to create layouts, bill-of-materials, and bankable production estimates in only minutes. All NABCEP-certified professionals can receive a 10% discount on the monthly or annual HelioScope license.

Start Now with Solar Training

As you can see, NABCEP Certification not only leads to greater career mobility and peer recognition but also business development savings and company-oriented benefits. If you’re serious about working as a solar contractor, NABCEP Certification is undoubtedly a strong career move.

If you’re ready to become a certified solar professional, please visit our solar training page. We’ll help you prepare for the NABCEP PV Associate and NABCEP PV Installation Professional exams. You can always call us at (800) 460-2575 to discuss which training course is best for meeting your career goals.

Energy Code Varies by State; How Progressive is Your Region?

Those working in the residential and commercial building industries know that codes and standards are as good as gold. Building codes are put into place to provide guidance and standardization. When a state “adopts” a particular version of the building code, builders and contractors working in the state must adhere to the requirements listed therein. In addition, the building code covers a range of topics and building types; what we’re going to focus on here is the energy code.

If you’re looking to gain blower door and duct leakage skills to be compliant with your local code, please visit our Get Certified in Blower Door Testing page or call us at (800) 460-2575 to discuss how a blower door training course will help you achieve that goal.

Though based on best practices for building, safety, and energy efficiency, building codes get reviewed and updated every three years in order to reflect changes in technology, materials, and processes. States can choose to adopt the newest version of the building code and/or make modifications that best serve their geographic and climate needs.

What is Your State Building Code?

The best resource for finding your state’s building code is the www.energycodes.gov website maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy. Note the tabs for Commercial and Residential. From this site, you can filter by state and see what the current code is for commercial and building projects in your area. You can also see a colorful map that shows how your state code compares to other states.

state energy code map

At Everblue Training, we refer to this map every time we talk to someone interested in blower door and duct leakage testing because 9 times out 10, they want to add these skills to meet their local building code requirement.

Blower door and duct leakage testing largely refers to measuring air leakage in homes. Professionals with this skill set are able to advise homeowners and builders on ways to improve a home design or the appliances therein to save energy and lower energy-related expenses.

The energy efficiency portion of the building code is called the International Energy Conservation Code, or IECC. The colorful map on the Department of Energy website reveals which version of the IECC has been adopted in each state.

More Gray Areas, Despite the Colorful Map

We recently noticed that the map went through several changes:

No timestamp on the map image (to know when it was last updated)
New colors and categories listed in the legend of the chart
Return of the timestamp

It’s helpful to have the timestamp on the map to know that you’re looking at up-to-date information, but during the time that it was missing, I was able to filter by State Adoption to see exactly when the code was adopted and implemented for a specific state.

What intrigues me are the new colors and categories in the legend of the chart. By legend, I mean the information below the map that explains what each of the colors means.

Several years ago, the categories were fairly simple – No statewide code, 2009 IECC, or 2012 IECC. Now, the colorful building code map takes into account the fact that states can modify and amend the building code version that they adopt.

Therefore, the map now categorizes states as follows:

No statewide code or home rule
Less energy efficient than 2009 IECC
2009 IECC or equivalent
Between 2009 and 2012/2015 IECC
2012/2015 IECC or equivalent
More energy efficient than 2012/2015 IECC

We can now get a sense of how states are moving toward energy-efficient housing. Perhaps a one-size-fits-all building code isn’t the best option. Maybe it’s better that these states see the value in improving energy efficiency but also want to respect their natural climate needs. Homes in Massachusetts and Arizona would certainly have different needs and considerations.

The Sunshine State has a Gray Energy Code

Florida, also known as the Sunshine Shine, is actually a perfect example of a “gray” state on the energy code map. The state is not literally shaded gray on the map, but it embodies components from 2012 IECC and 2015 IECC due to its amendments.

Officially, the Florida energy code is more energy efficient than the 2012 IECC, but it’s not quite equivalent to 2015 IECC. The state added approximately 15 amendments to their version of the code. Those amendments include items like: no air handlers in attics, sizing limitations on heating and cooling equipment, ventilation must meet ASHRAE 62 provisions, and duct sealing and tightness must be equivalent to the commercial code and RESNET standards.

Despite the fact that some states are listed in between IECC code versions, the Department of Energy website provides thorough information on what exactly is required by state as well as contact information for state code adoption in case there are questions. We also recommend that home energy professionals reach out to their local code official to see if they can gain guidance on their municipality’s needs.

If you’ve researched your state energy code and know that you need blower door and duct leakage training, call us at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll help you find a training course near you.

Learn more about Everblue's Blower Door Test Certification Training