The Residential Energy Services Network, or RESNET, recently published findings from a new study conducted by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency about how utilities are encouraging the growth of energy efficiency in new home construction, largely by requiring a HERS score.
Many new construction energy efficiency programs provide financial incentives to builders or consumers who have incorporated specific measures in their home. These measures include insulation, windows, ducts, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and appliances.
The study found that a majority of these programs rely on HERS ratings for compliance verification. Some of these programs even require an impressive HERS Index score of 65 or lower to show eligibility in the program.
The report is based on 71 utility programs located in 36 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Those utilities with a HERS Index requirement include:
Alabama Power
Alliant Energy – Iowa
Ameren Missouri
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Berkshire Gas
Cape Light Compact
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
Columbia Gas of Ohio
Connecticut Natural Gas
Duke Energy
Efficiency Vermont
Eversource – Eastern Massachusetts
Eversource – New Hampshire
Eversource – Western Massachusetts
Georgia Power
Gulf Power
Liberty Utilities
MidAmerican Energy – Iowa
National Grid – Massachusetts
National Grid – Rhode Island
New Hampshire Electric Co-op
New Jersey Natural Gas
New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program
PECO
Questar Gas – Utah
Questar Gas – Wyoming
Salt River Project
Southwest Gas – Arizona
Unitil – New Hampshire
Vermont Gas
Xcel Energy
To learn more about becoming a certified HERS Rater and joining this growing industry, please visit our RESNET HERS Rater Training page or call us at (800) 460-2575.
In 2016, there were 16,403 more homes HERS rated than in 2015.
In addition, the average HERS Score in 2016 was 61, while the average in 2015 was 62. Though this may not seem like a huge improvement year to year, RESNET’s Executive Director, Steve Baden, highlighted this impact when compared to the majority of the housing stock.
“This is 39% more efficient than homes built as recently as 2006 and 69% more efficient than a typical home built in 1970,” he said. “Homebuilders are increasingly seeing energy efficiency as a major selling point for buying a new home….I expect that this trend will continue.”
Impact of Building Codes on Energy Efficient Housing
By far, the state with the most number of HERS-rated homes in 2016 was Texas.
As it turns out, Texas is one of the nine states that has adopted the 2015 IECC code for residential buildings. Within the energy efficiency section of the 2015 IECC, there is an option for homebuilders to meet code requirements using a home energy rating index, such as RESNET’s Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index.
Among the six states with the most number of HERS-rated homes, two states have adopted the 2015 IECC. I’m not sure which of the following is more impressive – states that basically require HERS ratings or states with no mandatory code that push themselves toward more energy-efficient homes.
The six leading states in terms of homes receiving a HERS score were:
Texas (2015 IECC) – 40,012
North Carolina (between 2009 and 2012/2015 IECC) – 13,397
Arizona (no statewide code) – 12,522
Florida (2015 IECC) – 12,484
Colorado (no statewide code) – 12,320
Indiana (2009 IECC or equivalent) – 8,951
Where to Find Energy-Efficient Housing
The six states with the lowest average HERS scores are equally mixed with their adoption of 2015 IECC code, which goes to show that energy-efficient housing goes beyond building code requirements.
It’s possible that there are rebates and incentives in the following states that help drive the home energy rating industry. It’s also possible that energy-efficient housing simply makes more sense in these areas — cutting high energy costs and saving homeowners more money over time.
As a reminder, the lower the HERS score (out of 100), the more energy-efficient the home is.
The six states with the lowest average HERS scores were:
Maine (less energy efficient than 2009 IECC) – 26
Hawaii (no statewide code) – 31
Vermont (2015 IECC) – 47
Montana (between 2009 and 2012/2015 IECC) – 49
Minnesota (between 2009 and 2012/2015 IECC) – 51
Nebraska (2009 or equivalent) – 52
It appears from these numbers that perhaps the best places to buy an energy-efficient house or to find work as a HERS Rater are in the Midwestern states. Of course as all the states adopt more stringent energy codes, we can expect to see improvements across the country. Efforts are already underway for the 2018 IECC, which is expected to uphold the home energy rating index compliance path. We look forward to seeing how states will respond and to see more updates from the RESNET organization in 2017 and beyond.
To begin your efforts in the home energy auditing field, register for one of our RESNET HERS Rater Training sessions or call us at (800) 460-2575 to discuss your career goals.
The Building Performance Institute recently hosted a webinar to address updates to the BPI Healthy Home Evaluator (BPI HHE) program. The webinar panel included:
Larry Zarker, Building Performance Institute (BPI)
Dr. Peter Ashley, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Wes Stewart, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI)
Matt Anderson, Building Performance Institute (BPI)
Jack Anderson, Healthy Housing Solutions
Dr. Peter Ashley began with reiterating the importance of healthy home issues and putting the development of the BPI HHE credential into context.
It’s clear from the numbers that we must make healthy homes a priority. This can be achieved through better building codes, better enforcement of building codes, and – such as in this case – taking advantage of a network of building professionals who can perform home energy audits and healthy home assessments.
Government agencies have been working to create healthier and safer home environments for some time now.
Now let’s take a look at the biggest industry drivers for healthy home assessments…
Top 6 Reasons to Pursue Healthy Home Assessments
#1 – Expanded Career Opportunities
As Wes Stewart noted, the BPI HHE program is a great way to expand opportunities if you are:
a post-ARRA weatherization program
seeing shrinking funding
looking for more opportunities
a private-market home performance contractor
There is a strong need in several markets for this credential, including the public health arena, housing arena, and government levels. Instead of duplicating efforts and/or flooding the industry with competing contractors, the Green & Healthy Housing Initiative partnered with HUD to create an integrative approach. Thus, the BPI HHE Certification was born.
There are very few certifications for healthy homes, and BPI Healthy Home Evaluator is a first step toward cross-trained inspectors. These certified individuals will be able to perform energy audit assessments and lead risk assessments.
#2 – Qualify for Bids & Funding (Local Government)
The market is moving toward this comprehensive assessment approach due to procurement. It is becoming more common that contractors be cross-trained in order to apply for funding and bids for city, state, and county work.
#3 – HUD Priority Points for Health & Energy Integration (Federal)
At the federal level, HUD wants to encourage the integration of health and energy into housing. HUD wants cross-trained contractors who can service weatherization needs and health needs.
#4 – Non-energy Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Weatherization
The work of BPI-certified contractors has always contributed to the health and safety of our homes. BPI HHE is merely an extension of the work already being done. Some of these non-energy benefits include:
reducing injury risk
reducing carbon monoxide
improving indoor air quality
reducing asthma triggers and lead hazards
reducing medical triggers
lowering costs
increasing productivity
encouraging greater household income
As a result of these benefits, there is a lot of interest from Medicaid to look at how to pay for asthma trigger reduction. There’s no pool of contractors out there to serve that market specifically. Medicaid may very well pay for those healthy home assessments, such as in Michigan where the state got approved for $119 million of lead hazard reduction. We expect to see more of this with asthma reduction and healthy home assessments.
Within the hospital community, too – insurers and healthcare providers – there may be a need for contractors to fill a role.
#5 – “Pay for Success”
If not Medicaid, there is a lot of interest around the country in developing private market models where funding for asthma trigger interventions and healthy home interventions will be funded by the private market. There’s a return on investment for that that helps pay for the assessment intervention. Those are multi-million dollar projects, and there needs to be a market of certified contractors to fill that demand.
#6 – Aging Populations
As our population ages, there’s going to be a greater need to reduce home institutional care (that is, folks leaving their homes to live in facilities or medical rehab centers). This opens a great opportunity for BPI Healthy Home Evaluators to look for home risks or respiratory needs. The goal will be to look for those reasons why seniors don’t stay in their homes and age in place. From there, it’s very likely that a senior’s home could need weatherization services too.
The BPI Healthy Home Evaluator program builds on the knowledge possessed by BPI Building Analyst, HEP Energy Auditor, and HEP Quality Control Inspector professionals. If you want to become part of this industry, start with a BPI training course and one of these prerequisite certifications.
Keep checking back with us to follow our coverage of the BPI HHE program, including frequently asked questions and exploration of BPI HHE knowledge areas.
If you’re planning to sit for the NABCEP exam, your time is running out!
NABCEP, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, governs the certification process for solar energy professionals. The organization offers certification in the areas of solar photovoltaics (panels generating electricity) and solar thermal (heating). NABCEP is the leading organization for solar certification in the United States.
If you’re looking to learn more about solar energy, visit our Introduction to Solar series.
The Catch: the NABCEP certification exams are only offered twice per year – once in the Fall and once in the Spring.
Candidates must review the NABCEP Certification Handbook to see whether they are eligible and/or how they can become eligible to sit for the various exams. The certification process is not one-size-fits-all. The eligibility requirements vary depending on a candidate’s education and work experience. The best way to determine how you qualify is by reading the NABCEP Certification Handbook.
Once you’ve determined that you qualify, you must meet a series of deadlines. These deadlines allow for optimum communication between the candidate and NABCEP so that both parties on the same page about where the candidate is in the NABCEP certification process.
Upcoming NABCEP Exam Deadlines: Spring 2017
Application Deadline: February 3, 2017
Exam Scheduling Deadline: March 10, 2017
Exam Date: April 22, 2017
Once again, it’s difficult to prescribe “next steps” since candidates for the NABCEP exams come from different educational and experiential backgrounds. But, if you feel confident that you can complete all the pre-requisites listed in the NABCEP Certification Handbook before the Feb. 3 deadline, we’re happy to assist you!
Our Solar PV Mastery Combo was designed to help candidates meet the educational requirements to sit for the NABCEP certification exams.
How our training fulfills these requirements (Section 3.5.2 in the NABCEP Certification Handbook):
Course topics align with NABCEP Job Task Analyses
Package offers the 58 hours of training needed
– Of which, 40 hours are approved for “advanced” PV installation/design
– Also includes OSHA 10 training
Curriculum is accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
With this training, candidates gain eligibility to sit for the beginner-level NABCEP PV Associate Exam. The PV Associate exam is an important stepping stone to the other NABCEP Certification exams, such as the PV Installation Professional exam and the PV Technical Sales exam.
If you’re ready to pursue a solar PV certification, get started now with our Solar PV Mastery Combo training in the locations listed below!
Please note: the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Exam Prep is a total of 84 hours and provides the most comprehensive overview of electricity, safety, solar design, and solar installation.
If you have any questions about the NABCEP eligibility requirements or the best path that you should take to qualify for the exams, please give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or open the live chat window on your screen.
The Building Performance Institute, or BPI, has been promoting the importance of home performance and energy efficiency since 1993. Part of the reason why BPI Certification (as a program) has seen so much success is because the knowledge appeals to professionals from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of motivations. Most people stay at the entry-level BPI Building Analyst level, but some proceed to the advanced BPI Certifications.
For more information about BPI Certification, visit our BPI Energy Auditor overview series.
Home inspectors, general contractors, HVAC technicians, remodelers, insulation contractors, weatherization contractors, and more have found value in the foundational designation – BPI Building Analyst.
BPI Building Analyst offers a fundamental skill set for home performance professionals.
This designation addresses topics such as:
energy & moisture transfer in a home
blower door & duct testing
combustion safety & carbon monoxide prevention
HVAC efficiency
mechanical ventilation
interior & exterior home inspections
With the BPI Building Analyst Certification, professionals are able to look at the house as one functioning system instead of a series of interconnected parts. This knowledge can help identify the source of an energy problem and lead an energy auditor to an appropriate and effective solution that won’t create problems elsewhere in the home. With this streamlined mentality, one certified professional can be brought in to assess multiple areas in the home.
There are a number of motivations or factors driving individuals to earn a BPI Certification. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular reasons why professionals earn the BPI Building Analyst Certification and what they hope to gain from it.
Personal Motivations
Become a Business Owner – are you done working for “the man”? You can’t deny the lure of being your own boss, so you acquire all the necessary knowledge and certifications to start your own energy auditing business.
Transition to a Growing Career – perhaps you work in an industry that is fading in popularity and you’re looking to get out and gain the skills to be successful. As a job-changer, you see the growth of the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries as an opportunity to start over and become part of a thriving industry. With newly acquired building science knowledge and technical skills, you can begin working as a home energy auditor.
Business Motivations
Gain New Business – let’s say that your primary business is HVAC installation and repair. There is a strong correlation between home energy problems and HVAC problems. Use energy auditing as a foot-in-the-door service to gain new clients. You charge a nominal fee (if at all) for the energy audit, which will lead you to legitimate recommendations for retrofit work. After building rapport with the homeowner and addressing any conflict of interest issues, you can continue your business relationship by offering needed HVAC services.
Enhance Credibility – the consumer may not understand what BPI Certification is, but the certification and seal that you earn reveals its value when you find and solve issues in the home with confidence and ease. When you leave a homeowner feeling comfortable and satisfied, you’ll benefit from word-of-mouth referrals and a positive reputation in your community. As a business owner, you feel challenged to stand out and differentiate your organization from the competition. Add some gusto to your marketing – BPI has a multitude of resources for its GoldStar Contractors (ie, Building Analyst credential holders).
In addition to meeting these goals, BPI Building Analyst is a gateway to more technical positions and advanced BPI Certifications.
HEP Certification
You may have heard that the U.S. Department of Energy identified its own criteria for home energy auditors. In doing so, DOE created the Home Energy Professionals program, or HEP, to help contractors demonstrate that they exemplify all the skills noted by DOE.
Like BPI, the HEP program is comprised of various designations.
HEP Energy Auditor
HEP Retrofit Installer
HEP Crew Leader
HEP Quality Control Inspector
Interestingly, the four HEP certifications require candidates to fulfill several prerequisites before being eligible. So while you would think that the HEP Energy Auditor Certification exists at the same entry-level position as BPI Building Analyst, it doesn’t. You can’t simply study the standard and take the HEP exam. One of the qualifying criteria for the HEP Energy Auditor Certification is, in fact, the BPI Building Analyst Certification!
Being praised as “the next big thing,” BPI Healthy Home Evaluator Certification also has eligibility requirements. A candidate must have an active BPI Building Analyst Certification, HEP Energy Auditor Certification, or HEP Quality Control Inspector Certification.
Why is BPI HHE considered the next big thing?
Some might say that BPI has done such a great job of tackling the energy efficiency problems in our homes that now we must shift focus to the next stage of home performance issues. That next step is addressing occupant health and safety.
The BPI Healthy Home Evaluator designation builds on the foundation of BPI Building Analyst competencies by incorporating healthy home environmental risk assessments on top of the traditional energy auditing environment. Having demonstrated proficiency in solving energy-related issues, a BPI HHE professional can look beyond the traditional energy audit and also identify areas in the home that may be causing health problems such as asthma and allergies.
Healthy homes are part of Medicaid and Medicare. Although preventative services must be diagnosed by a licensed physician, the BPI Healthy Home program offers a step for homeowners to identify possible problem areas in their homes. With this extra level of knowledge being available to homeowners at an earlier phase in the process, we’re all one step closer to mitigating health problems. For this reason, states are talking about recommending and reimbursing healthy home evaluations. If/when this happens, there will be a surge in demand for qualified professionals.
First BPI Building Analyst, then Advanced BPI Certifications
It’s like a flow chart – and it all starts with BPI Building Analyst Certification. Depending on your occupation and goals, you can choose to branch out into advanced BPI Certifications however you’d like. If you have questions about your future in the home performance industry and want to know how BPI Certification can benefit you, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.
If you’ve been researching RESNET HERS Rater Certification, you’ve probably wondered, “Who hires HERS Raters?” Typically, we see Raters working with home builders to meet energy code requirements and to ensure that the most energy-efficient home is being built.
Understanding builder expectations can improve communications between builders and HERS Raters, making it easier for both groups to work together and advance the common goal of “greener” homes. When builders need help delivering the energy-efficient, comfortable, and environmentally conscious homes customers and codes demand, they turn to HERS Raters.
For more information about what HERS Raters are, visit our RESNET HERS Rater overview series.
To deliver value to builders, HERS Raters must understand what builders want from them. In the first half of 2016, the Insulation Institute conducted two rounds of qualitative research to better understand how builders and HERS Raters interact.
This included a focus group of 10 builders, followed by a series of one-on-one interviews with 10 other builders. The residential builders involved in the research included a broad mix of regions, type, and number of homes built per year. What they all had in common was significant experience working with HERS Raters, ranging from two to ten years. Also, all but one of them still work with Raters.
What Residential Builders Think of HERS Raters
The Insulation Institute broke the responses down into three categories:
Why Builders Use HERS Raters
What Builders Expect from HERS Raters
How Raters Can Exceed Builders’ Expectations
Why Builders Use HERS Raters
When asked why they use HERS Raters, the responses showed that builders find significant value in using Raters.
A HERS Score can help validate that a home was built properly and will achieve a certain level of performance.
Many builders view a good HERS Score as a way to promote themselves as credible builders. Getting a HERS rating score is an external proof point that the builder does good work.
Builders use HERS Scores to meet the qualification requirements for certain certifications and rebate or incentive programs.
HERS Scores help builders compete in competitive markets and give them an edge over the existing housing stock.
HERS Ratings provide marketing value to builders targeting homebuyers who are interested in “green” or sustainable homes.
What Builders Expect from HERS Raters
When asked to describe HERS Raters, builders’ responses showed their respect for Raters and also indicated what they value most from them.
HERS Raters must be building science experts. Builders expect to rely on the Rater’s knowledge and expertise to validate the work that has been completed.
HERS Raters must advise, not just critique. If Raters point out issues but don’t offer constructive alternatives, they risk losing customers.
Builders take pride in building quality homes, and the HERS Rater provides the “evidence” that the builder has built a home that performs better than others.
HERS Raters should not make brand recommendations when working with builders; it causes suspicion that the Rater is trying to push a specific product and thus compromises the Rater’s credibility.
How HERS Raters Can Exceed Builders’ Expectations
Builders believe that there are many things Raters can do to differentiate themselves.
Back the builder’s approach – Sometimes homeowners question a builder’s choices; supporting a builder with the homeowner reinforces his credibility and can help him ensure his customers are satisfied.
Inform and advise: don’t just test and report – Builders appreciate when Raters explain how and why a building received a specific score. Raters deliver the most value when acting as trusted advisors and consultants.
Provide marketing assistance – When builders see value in HERS Scores and HERS Raters, most expressed a desire to extract more value for the score from homebuyers. With this in mind, builders suggested a few ways Raters could add value, including educating Realtors, educating homebuyers and even educating builders’ sales teams on how to better sell “greener” homes. One example shared was a Rater who educated Realtors before a series of open houses to make sure they could talk up the efficiency of the homes. The builder who shared this story indicated it was a successful approach.
Help make lower HERS Scores mean more dollars – While there is a desire for general marketing assistance, the “holy grail” for builders is to extract incremental value as they proceed further and further down the HERS rating system toward net zero. Helping them crack the code on this would make a Rater invaluable.
Make building science understandable for homeowners – Builders want to see scores, efficiency metrics, and the other outcomes associated with “green” homes translated into value propositions that can be understood by the average homebuyer. Raters who do this will differentiate themselves. In many ways, this is an enabling component of the previous bullet on marketing assistance.
Share your ideas – Builders indicated that they want Raters to offer ideas early on, not just accept their approach. This shows that builders consider Raters to be experts. The builders voiced the opinion that part of why they pay an expert is to get good ideas.
Train the trades – Builders were split on whether this part of a Rater’s job was a given or added value that a Rater could offer. Given the split, it would be helpful to set expectations on proper subcontractor training in advance with builders.
Save builders money – If Raters can offer different ways to deliver comparable performance outcomes (e.g., similar scores) for less money, builders want to be told about them. Examples of this would be valuable in a Rater’s marketing materials.
Provide a quick turnaround for scores – Builders felt that it took too long to get scores. Besides creating anxiety over results, score delay can impact work schedules should remediation be necessary.
Overall, builders think that as energy codes become more stringent, the need for HERS Raters will increase. HERS Raters can help builders better understand how to achieve target results and meet code requirements. Builders will be forced to change their practices to meet more stringent code requirements and will turn to the expertise and experience of HERS Raters.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a HERS Rater, call us at (800) 460-2575, and we can assist you with all of your HERS Rater training and certification needs.
Download this important research from the Insulation Institute. You will receive an email with a link to a printable or downloadable PDF document.
What do you mean by “LEED Certification Requirements”?
If you’re working on a LEED building project, then you probably know that there are 100+ green building strategies that you can implement into your project and earn a LEED Certification.
If you’re brand new to LEED but want to learn more, you’re probably looking for LEED Accreditation…not LEED Certification. Here at Everblue, we can help you get LEED Accredited.
LEED Certification applies to buildings.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards apply to new and existing buildings, homes, and communities. When a structure is designed, built, and operated in a sustainable way that aligns with the LEED standards, it is eligible to earn a LEED Certification label.
LEED Certification aims to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve indoor air quality, lower operating costs, and more.
LEED Accreditation applies to people.
An individual interested in LEED green buildings usually studies the LEED standards in preparation for an accreditation exam. Upon passing the exam, the individual earns a LEED designation, such as LEED Green Associate.
Understanding the LEED Certification Requirements
Part of the reason why individuals seek LEED Accreditation is because the knowledge helps them to understand the LEED certification requirements. This knowledge is crucial because there’s no one path for earning a LEED Certification label.
That’s right – LEED Certification is not necessarily a cookie-cutter model for buildings.
The LEED standards are comprised of categories:
Integrative Process
Location & Transportation
Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency
Energy & Atmosphere
Materials & Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality
Within these categories, there are specific strategies or goals, called credits. Each credit is worth a number of points. If you’ve heard about the four levels of LEED Certification – Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum – this is what those levels are referring to. Each level corresponds with a point range.
In order to earn a LEED Certification label, project teams must develop a plan at the outset to determine which level of LEED Certification they want to achieve and which credits will make the most difference for their project. They can pick and choose from the credit options, so long as they demonstrate proficiency in fulfilling that credit’s requirements.
At the end of the day, documentation will show which credits were chosen and how the team met the corresponding requirements. The Green Business Certification Institute, or GBCI, will determine whether the team’s efforts were sufficient and will therefore award certification.
To get a better understanding of the LEED Certification requirements, see the LEED Credit Library on USGBC’s website.
Understanding the Eligibility Requirements for LEED Accreditation
From an individual’s standpoint, the process for earning a LEED credential is as follows:
Please note that the LEED credentials are valid for two-year periods. LEED Green Associate credential holders must acquire 15 hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain their credential. LEED APs with a specialty must acquire 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain their credential. In addition to continuing education hours, individuals must also pay a biennial renewal fee to the USGBC.
For more information about LEED Certification requirements or LEED Accreditation, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
A growing trend in the last 10 years across all education sectors is the ability to participate in online learning. You commonly see this with colleges and universities offering online MBA programs, but this trend also applies to LEED AP online training like the kind that Everblue offers.
The LEED AP online only training is popular for both newcomers to LEED and those with experience.
If you’re just getting started with LEED, visit our What is LEED? overview series.
Online training is popular for several reasons:
Stop and start when convenient – fits with busy work schedules
Allows access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Portable – wherever Internet is present
Re-watchability – return to difficult concepts as needed
For Newcomers
With LEED AP online only training, you can take your time with course content.
Everblue’s online learning platform provides 180 days of access. Participants receive unique login credentials to this portal and can log in immediately after registration to get started.
The on-demand webinar features audio and visual content that crosses learning styles and caters to all participants. The program also includes a series of review quizzes, practice questions, and study materials.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of LEED AP online only training is the ability to pause, rewind, and restart modules when necessary.
** Please note – if you are truly new to LEED, you should consider enrolling in the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course before the LEED AP training.
For Those with LEED Experience
Someone working toward their LEED AP likely has previous exposure to LEED concepts and documentation.
For those with experience, a LEED AP online only course offers the flexibility to fast forward or skip through modules. Apply yourself where you need to! Draw on your experience with LEED projects to know where your strengths and weaknesses are.
In reality, you’re probably working toward your LEED AP because you need to meet a requirement or bring value to a particular project. Given your deadline or expected timeframe, the LEED AP online only training gives you the ability to fit in some learning around your busy work schedule. Whether you participate from the office, from home, or from your tablet on the bus, online learning is often more convenient than taking time away from work to attend a live class.
Taking the LEED Exam: Online and In Person
There is a caveat to earning a LEED credential all online. The LEED exams are technically administered by computer. Candidates will know their score immediately upon completion. However, all candidates must appear in person to be proctored at a secure Prometric testing center.
So although you have to carve out 2-4 hours of your day to attend your exam appointment, the rest of your LEED training and preparation can be done online.
For more information about LEED AP online only training, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
From Monday to Friday, Everblue has representatives available to live chat with website visitors and answer questions about the programs that we offer. We commonly hear that individuals want to pursue a LEED AP Certification.
This should not be a strange or noteworthy inquiry, since Everblue does, in fact, offer LEED AP Exam Prep. The strange part is that many who desire this credential don’t realize that there is a prerequisite: LEED Green Associate.
Let’s take a quick look back to the early days of LEED. When the LEED professional accreditation program launched, there was only one LEED designation: LEED AP.
The LEED accreditation program grew and thrived – partly due to its straightforward nature and also because of the admiration and respect given to the exclusive group of green building professionals with LEED knowledge.
Then, in 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council changed its LEED credentialing process. This change introduced a tiered credentialing process. From that point on, LEED AP Certification was no longer the only option. In fact, LEED AP Certification had a completely different meaning.
The new LEED credentials are as follows:
Tier 1: LEED Green Associate
Tier 2: LEED AP with Specialty
Tier 3: LEED Fellow
LEED Green Associate – this is a required first step for all LEED prospects. This designation highlights an individual’s basic understanding of green building principles and terminology.
LEED AP with Specialty – after passing the LEED Green Associate exam, a candidate can choose to upgrade to a LEED AP status with a specialty area. There are 5 specialties available: Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Interior Design + Construction, Neighborhood Development, and Homes.
LEED Fellow – LEED APs are eligible for this honor after having demonstrated significant technical knowledge and an exemplary level of leadership and advocacy. A LEED Fellow candidate must be nominated by an accomplished LEED AP peer. Due to the rigorous eligibility requirements, LEED Fellow is not a common designation.
So…what is LEED AP Certification now?
When the USGBC changed its LEED credentialing process, they gave existing LEED APs two options:
Opt into the new system
Remain a “LEED AP” for life
The ability to opt into the new system has since expired. Any “LEED AP” wanting to upgrade their status must now start from the beginning, at the LEED Green Associate level.
While this might sound unfair, please remember that 5+ years may have gone by since the LEED AP passed his/her exam. The reality is, the green building industry is changing and evolving so rapidly that knowledge from 5+ years ago simply is not enough to compete in today’s world. It is to a LEED AP’s benefit that he/she start fresh and learn the new material.
On the other hand, a LEED AP could sit back and continue advertising his or her knowledge as a LEED AP. Again, this is not to be confused with LEED AP Specialty. There used to be a tangible benefit to being a LEED AP; one could earn a point in the Innovation category on a LEED project simply for having the credential. Because LEED AP Certification is technically outdated, the USGBC does not reward these individuals with that free point anymore.
An intangible benefit of remaining a LEED AP is the soft marketability that the acronym adds behind your name. It is soft because it can be viewed one of two ways – an informed employer may be disappointed to see an outdated credential OR an un-informed employer may be impressed to see a credential pertaining to LEED. It’s a little bit of a gamble.
So the real question is: what do YOU mean when you say that you want to earn a LEED AP Certification?
There are only two possible answers to this question.
I want a LEED credential. I want to become a LEED Green Associate.
I want a LEED AP Specialty credential because a project/job I want requires it, and I want to be as qualified as possible. I know I have to pass the LEED Green Associate exam first, but my ultimate goal is to pass the LEED AP Specialty exam.
For more information about LEED AP Certification or recommendations on how to get started, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
More and more professionals in the home performance industry – HVAC, insulation, general contractors – are being asked to expand their skill sets and offer blower door testing. Why is this?
If you already know whether a BPI or RESNET certification fits your needs, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll talk you through training options in your area.
If you’re still trying to see how you can meet this demand, keep reading!
Building Codes
As the benefits of energy-efficient housing become more clear, legislators are pushing for building codes that contain stricter requirements on building materials and techniques.
Blower door testing is a requirement in the 2012 and 2015 versions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). In several cases, the code indicates that a certified professional must perform the blower door test.
What is Blower Door Testing?
A blower door is a large fan that an energy auditor will position in the opening of a home’s main exterior door. The blower door fan is connected to a red tarp that acts as a faux door, blocking out any incoming or outgoing air.
A certified home energy auditor adjusts the settings on the blower door and manipulates conditions within the home to calculate estimated air leakage into and outside of the house. The blower door test enables an energy auditing professional to determine how leaky a home is and to identify the areas in the home that are causing the air loss.
The IECC building code recommends blower door testing because it is a fast way to diagnose energy efficiency problems in the home. Air leakage is a problem for homeowners because it leads to higher energy bills and thermal discomfort.
Blower Door Testing Certification
The two most common energy auditor certifications for blower door testing are:
BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage (IDL)
RESNET HERS Rater
BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage
The BPI IDL Certification focuses primarily on the skills associated with setting up a blower door and performing the test.
Some consider IDL to be an entry-level designation because its sole focus on blower door testing as a physical skill set doesn’t prepare someone for all the skills to be a whole-house energy auditor. Unlike the BPI Building Analyst Certification, which encourages the “house-as-a-system” approach for evaluating energy efficiency, BPI IDL Certification really only looks at blower door testing.
For this reason, many professionals bundle BPI Building Analyst and BPI IDL Certification in order to bring additional value to their clients – performing blower door testing AND comprehensive home energy audits.
To earn BPI IDL Certification…
Pass a field exam
To earn BPI Building Analyst Certification…
Pass a written exam
Pass a field exam
RESNET HERS Rater Certification
The RESNET HERS Rater Certification, on the other hand, covers a wide range of energy auditor skills, including blower door testing and home energy audits. Because HERS Rater Certification spans the whole gamut of home performance skills, the process for getting certified can be pretty overwhelming when you first look at it.
* Note that Everblue’s HERS Rater Training program includes everything you need to get certified, making it a convenient one-stop-shop experience.
How to become a HERS Rater…
Step 1: Complete HERS Rater training & 2 supervised ratings Step 2: Pass the National Rater Core Exam Step 3: Pass the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam Step 4: Pass the National Rater Combustion Safety Simulation Exam Step 5: Sign a contract with a RESNET Quality Assurance Provider Step 6: Complete 3 probationary ratings
Which Blower Door Testing Certification Do I Need?
Unfortunately, this is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Each state has the ability to accept a different version of the IECC code. Furthermore, each state can make modifications to the IECC code as it meets that state’s specific needs (see state map of code adoption here). And finally, the IECC code itself does not explicitly name BPI or RESNET – both standards teach blower door testing, so potentially, either can be accepted.
This answer is up to your local code official, or Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Your local code official will be the one validating any permits and ensuring code compliance, so it is in your best interest to align your skills and certifications with this person’s preference.
It has been said that code officials look favorably on those with a HERS Rater Certification because much of the code compliance documentation already gets factored into a HERS Rater’s home assessment. Working with a HERS Rater is easier for code inspectors because much of the responsibility lies on the Rater to correctly complete the necessary paperwork. Not to mention, the 2015 IECC literally has a HERS compliance path.
Nevertheless, there are regions in the U.S. where the BPI IDL Certification has been deemed sufficient.
Whichever certification you seek, Everblue can provide the blower door training and exams you need. After you’ve spoken with your local code official and have an answer to which certification will qualify you for this new business, call us at (800) 460-2575, and we’ll set you up with training.
