The Residential Energy Services Network, or RESNET, introduced a new exam on July 1, 2016 that further tests a candidate’s ability to evaluate the energy consumption of a home and offer a score based on the findings. The exam is called the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam.
About the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam
Developed by gamification software geniuses at Interplay Energy, the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam creates a 3D experience for HERS Rater candidates to explore virtual homes. Candidates can walk around the house, measure walls and windows, etc. in order to simulate the energy audit process and collect pertinent information for developing a home energy score. The simulation is a great teaching tool because it is very involved and detailed, so it adds an extra layer of learning.
Here is a brief introduction to the Practical Simulation tool, from Stephen Quirk at Interplay (published Feb. 7, 2015):
Candidates must complete two separate home energy ratings within the RESNET Practical simulation software. There is said to be a pool of 10 houses available, so candidates in the same class will not be tested on the same two houses. Candidates will have up to 2 hours for each home assessment.
More info about the exam:
It is a proctored test
Open book, open note
Passing score is 80% or higher
Must complete test house 1 and test house 2
When going through the exam registration process, candidates will supply the name of their training provider and the email address of their instructor. This will allow the instructor to receive a copy of the exam results. Candidates will also receive a copy of their feedback report.
How Does the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam Fit Into the Certification Process?
In order to become a certified HERS Rater, a candidate must complete the following:
5 home energy ratings
Pass the National Rater Core Exam
Pass the National Rater Combustion Safety Simulation Exam
Sign a contract with a RESNET Quality Assurance Provider
Submit all home energy ratings to the QA Provider
Now, candidates must also pass the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam. This exam does not replace any of the pre-existing requirements.
Who Needs to Take the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam?
All new HERS Rater candidates must take this exam starting July 1, 2016. Everblue has already factored the exam into its RESNET HERS Rater Training program.
Existing HERS Raters must take this exam by February 2018. To get a jumpstart on this requirement, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
In July 2015, NABCEP announced that it would be changing the name of its Entry Level Program to “NABCEP Associate Program.” Over the following year, very few details about the rebranding came out, so some wondered if the name change would, in fact, occur.
One year after the first announcement, NABCEP sent a reminder to all of its training providers about the pending changes to the Entry Level Program and identified July 22nd as a possible launch date. Today’s email from NABCEP now shows that the launch has been pushed back to August 15th, so as to not interfere with the processing of the August 5th Professional Certification Exam Application Deadline.
If NABCEP is a new acronym for you and you’d like to start a career in solar energy, visit our Introduction to Solar series.
What is NABCEP?
NABCEP, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, is the leading organization for solar certification. When solar installers and technicians pursue certification, they work toward an esteemed credential from NABCEP.
What is the NABCEP Entry Level Program?
The first step for candidates interested in solar photovoltaics (PV) is the NABCEP PV Entry Level program, which demonstrates one’s basic knowledge of solar panel design and installation.
This program requires that a candidate complete coursework that covers the NABCEP Entry Level Learning Objectives with a Registered Exam Provider like Everblue. After then completing a Candidate Eligibility Form, an individual will sit for the NABCEP Entry Level Exam. Upon passing this exam, an individual will receive a certificate of knowledge that can be used as a foot in the door to solar PV jobs and a qualifier for advanced NABCEP Certification exams, such as the NABCEP PV Installation Professional or NABCEP PV Technical Sales exams.
How is NABCEP Associate Different from the NABCEP Entry Level Program?
The NABCEP Associate exam is still an entry level examination that confirms a basic knowledge of the subject tested. The NABCEP Entry Level Learning Objectives will not be changing at this time, except for the rebranding in name.
The main reason why NABCEP is rebranding the Entry Level Program is to better recognize the achievement of those who have passed the exam. This name change should help employers identify those who have demonstrated a basic knowledge of fundamental principles and concepts in the application, design, installation, and operation of solar photovoltaic systems.
“NABCEP’s Associate Program will provide those achieving the credential a respected mark of distinction signifying their knowledge of the technology and commitment to safety and quality standards,” said Don Warfield, NABCEP Chair. “As demand for a skilled, clean energy workforce continues to grow, NABCEP Associate credentials will assure employers, consumers, and other stakeholders that these individuals have attained a threshold of knowledge enabling them to perform basic services.”
To follow through on its goal of recognizing these qualified individuals, NABCEP will:
Allow an experience-based eligibility pathway for the exam
Provide a logo and wordmark for credential holders to use
Maintain an online directory where employers can verify a candidate’s credentials
Programmatically, the biggest change with the launching of the NABCEP Associate Program is that maintaining the NABCEP Associate credential will require recertification every three years from the original exam date. NABCEP Associates will need to document at least 12 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain the credential.
Becoming a NABCEP Associate
To qualify for the NABCEP Associate exam, a candidate must (a) complete coursework that is aligned with the NABCEP Learning Objectives from a Registered Exam Provider or (b) demonstrate at least six months of work experience in the solar PV, solar heating, or small wind industries.
Candidates who fail an exam will be able to schedule and pay for a re-test. Candidates will be allowed up to four attempts per year to pass.
Individuals who previously passed the NABCEP Entry Level Exam will be able to obtain the new designation through a simple registration process.
According to NABCEP’s most recent announcement, the NABCEP Associate Program rebranding will go into effect on or around August 15, 2016. It’ll no doubt take some time for both NABCEP and Everblue to update all language to reflect these changes (and for word to get out that the rebranding has occurred), but we plan to keep in stride with NABCEP.
For any questions about this rebranding or Everblue’s PV101 Solar Associate training program, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
“As NABCEP continues its mission to offer quality credentialing programs for the renewable energy industry, we are pleased to announce the NABCEP Associate Program for those starting their careers in this rapidly growing industry,” said Richard Lawrence, Executive Director “A workforce trained to NABCEP’s competency-based, industry-verified standards enhances consumer confidence, improves quality, and expands the use of clean, renewable power.”
We’re often asked whether we offer online solar energy training courses. We do! All of our Solar Training Courses are available as self-paced online webinars. Students gain instant access to the online materials and can log in to participate any time 24/7 for 6 months.
But depending on your experience and learning style, it might be better for you to take an in-person solar installation course.
You don’t want to be this guy, right?
At Everblue, we strongly believe in quality education. Our training is designed to help professionals advance in their careers and/or help job-changers transition into a growing workforce with real-world technical skills.
You’ll find that we offer our PV201 Solar Installation course in an online format with an optional live training add-on. That way, if you feel more comfortable getting your hands on the equipment and practicing the solar installation technique, we’ll have you covered!
Our solar instructors are experienced solar panel installers with the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification.
It’s beneficial for our participants to interact with this type of professional in a training environment and to get instant feedback on their installation techniques before they go out and apply for jobs. We’re happy to provide this kind of service – in fact, we prefer it.
We are not just a training factory. Everblue was founded with the purpose of educating professionals on real environmental topics and giving them the skills to go out and make a difference. We call this intense green jobs training.
As our student Rob Blake said, “It was clear that the staff cared about our success and matched our efforts in achieving it. If you want to learn, you need to interact and ask questions. EverBlue creates that environment.” Stephanie Sowers echoed those sentiments when she said that her instructor, Bobby, really cared about the participants as individuals and wanted them to succeed.
Adding solar to your skills doesn’t have to be difficult or costly.
1. Meet the training requirement to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional exam
IREC Accredited curriculum
Includes 58 hours of education
40 of those hours are approved as Advanced Training
2. Make qualifying for the NABCEP exam and gaining real-world solar skills EASY
One educational program to take you from beginner to technician
Includes self-paced online training AND live hands-on solar panel installation training
One-time payment of $1,899
The NABCEP PV Installation Professional training program provides a fundamental range of knowledge regardless of whether you want to pursue NABCEP Certification. With this training, you’ll be able to start working as a solar panel installer or incorporate the knowledge into your advertising, business development, and sales strategies.
To begin your journey with solar energy training courses, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.
The value that structural engineers bring to LEED certification projects is their expertise in building materials and structural systems with consideration to structural adaptability for future use and alternative uses.
Structural engineering – a specialty within the field of civil engineering that focuses on the framework of structures and designing those structures to withstand the stresses and pressures of the environment. Structural engineers are trained to understand and calculate the stability, strength, and rigidity of built structures, to develop designs and integrate their design with that of other designers, and to supervise construction of projects on site. They are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds, structural elements, and materials to achieve goals.
Jim Lucas of Live Science notes that structural engineering is among the oldest types of engineering, dating back to the first instance of tree branches being lashed together with vines to make a shelter. Throughout history, people have been designing and building increasingly larger and more sophisticated structures.
LEED Certification & Structural Engineering
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED standards were developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to honor buildings, homes, and communities that were designed, built, and maintained with energy-efficiency and sustainability in mind.
Cross-functional teams of construction professionals collaborate on design, materials, and systems in order to earn points toward a building’s LEED Certification label (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum). The USGBC recommends a series of strategies and techniques, known as LEED credits, to do this. The point values on the LEED credits vary, so it’s up to the project team members to pick and choose which credits to pursue to meet their goals. It’s important for building professionals to learn the idiosyncrasies of LEED so that they can make smart decisions upfront and implement items with efficiency and effectiveness.
Engineering contributions include improving building durability, reducing costs, addressing climate change, improving occupant comfort, and increasing building resiliency.
How do Structural Engineers Contribute to LEED Certification?
Considering that LEED certification is a label for buildings, it seems reasonable that structural engineers would be involved with the process. Structural engineers will want to join the LEED certification process early in the design phase to collaborate with the architect and develop a scheme for an efficient structural system.
At the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), structural engineer JQ worked with design architect Perkins + Will to earn a LEED Platinum designation for the university’s student services center. The building consists of a four-story concrete frame, steel bar joist roof, and steel-framed clerestory in the center of the building to bring natural light to the interior spaces.
A structural engineer’s knowledge of building materials and structural penetrations helps LEED project teams to:
Decrease material consumption
Create a waste management plan
Encourage recycling and reuse
Reduce stormwater runoff
Source local materials
Reduce carbon omissions
According to Chris Hofheins, a building’s structure can have a significant impact on its embodied energy – i.e., the available energy used in the work of constructing a building. A building’s structure accounts for about 25% of the building’s embodied energy but only 10% of the building’s cost. A structural engineer with LEED knowledge can assist with sound sustainable design principles that can significantly reduce the building’s embodied energy.
With regard to LEED certification projects, structural engineers contribute most to the Materials & Resources credit category – which LEED Version 4 revamped to offer 13 points across five credits. Structural engineers can also assist with earning the new prerequisite for Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning.
As Hofheins explains, the four most common structural materials – steel, concrete, masonry, and wood – each have a unique set of attributes and properties. Structural engineers should be careful when specifying the structural components of a building in order to capture all of the available LEED points and minimize the building’s embodied energy.
Which LEED Credential Does a Structural Engineer Need?
The first step for any building professional interested in sustainability is to pass the LEED Green Associate exam. This designation demonstrates an understanding of the LEED Rating System as a whole, with basic familiarity of all the LEED credit requirements.
After passing the LEED Green Associate exam, a structural engineer may choose to upgrade to a LEED AP with a Specialty. There are five specialties available – Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Interior Design + Construction, Neighborhood Development, and Homes.
Individuals who upgrade to a LEED AP Specialty generally work on LEED projects on a regular basis and therefore benefit from the advanced specialty knowledge. Not to mention, LEED certification projects earn a free point for having a LEED AP Specialty team member. A structural engineer who upgrades to a LEED AP Specialty benefits from greater knowledge, marketability, and job opportunities.
To learn more about how YOU can gain LEED knowledge, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or enroll in our popular LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course.
RESNET stands for Residential Energy Services Network. RESNET is a non-profit organization that created technical standards for home energy auditing and home energy rating.
What is the difference between a home energy audit and home energy rating?
HERS Raters are trained to do both home energy audits and home energy ratings.
Home energy audits involve a prioritized list of improvements and a projected cost/benefit for each of the improvements. A HERS Rater directs customers to a qualified contractor to implement the suggest improvements.
Home energy ratings generally apply to new home construction or major remodeling. The HERS Rater evaluates all the systems in the home and inputs the results into sophisticated computer software. The software can identify how energy-efficient the home is compared to the standard home built to code. This score, or rating, is based on an index. If the rating is 15% better than code, it may qualify the home for the prestigious ENERGY STAR Homes designation.
What does HERS stand for?
HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. This system is represented by an index of scores from 0 to 100, where 100 represents the energy use of the standard home built to code and 0 represents a home that uses no net purchased energy.
What does a HERS Rater do?
Using building science knowledge, a HERS Rater performs home energy audits to help clients reduce energy use in a home (and therefore lower the HERS score). He/she performs a series of diagnostic tests inside the home to evaluate insulation, ventilation, window and lightbulb efficiency, utility rate structures, combustion appliance safety, etc. This information will be entered into energy modeling software, which identifies how energy-efficient the home is compared to the standard home built to code. This is how the HERS Rater acquires the HERS Score – a number that represents the home’s energy use in a quick and precise manner.
Who should earn a HERS Rater Certification?
The RESNET standards are best applied to new homes because the HERS Rater is able to predict energy use of a prospective home from blueprints and provide the builder with feedback on how to better optimize systems in the home for enhanced energy efficiency. Any new construction professional interested in energy savings or home improvement may take an interest in RESNET HERS Rater Certification. Those occupations may include:
Builders
General contractors
HVAC technicians
Insulation contractors
Home inspectors
What are the steps for becoming a certified HERS Rater?
Put in its simplest form, the steps to become a certified HERS Rater are as follows:
1. Pass the RESNET Core Written Exam with a score of 80% or higher
2. Pass the RESNET Practical Simulation Exam
3. Pass the RESNET Combustion Safety Written Exam with a score of 80% or higher
4. Pass the RESNET Combustion Safety Simulation Exam with a score of 85% or higher
5. Complete 5 home energy ratings
6. Partner with an approved RESNET Quality Assurance Provider
The easiest way to complete these steps is to enroll in a RESNET Training program. Such a program includes these components, saving candidates from piecing together each part separately. We believe in a “one-stop-shop” mentality, so our all-inclusive program provides everything that is needed to earn the HERS Rater Certification.
To learn more about the idiosyncrasies of each step, please call us at (800) 460-2575.
What is a Quality Assurance Provider or QAD?
Quality assurance (QA) is the process by which a third party reviews the home energy ratings submitted by a HERS Rater to ensure compliance with the RESNET standards.
The RESNET standards specify that a QA Provider must check 10% of a Rater’s energy modeling files and perform an on-site QA review of 1% of a Rater’s rated homes each year.
A QAD, or Quality Assurance Designee, is a person who works for a Quality Assurance Provider in the role of reviewing home energy ratings submitted by HERS Rater. RESNET QADs are experienced HERS Raters themselves, having rated at least 25 homes and earned a passing score on the QAD test. There are a slew of additional qualifications to ensure that a HERS Rater is knowledgeable enough to become a QAD.
How long does it take to become a HERS Rater?
Participants have one year from the time of training to complete all of the certification requirements, namely working with their Quality Assurance Provider to complete the remaining 2-3 home energy ratings.
It is only after candidates completes all requirements that they can call themselves a certified HERS Rater.
What topics are covered in a RESNET training course?
The RESNET HERS Rater training is designed to help you become a certified home energy auditor and home energy rater. During the course, you will learn building science principles, including home depressurization, duct pressure diagnostics, duct tightness testing and verification, combustion appliance safety, thermal and pressure boundary evaluation, work scope prioritization, and home energy modeling.
Is HERS Rater Certification recognized nationwide?
Yes and no. HERS Rater Certification is recognized nationwide, with the exception of California. California puts its own spin on the HERS Rater program.
California’s HERS Index is a scale of 0 to 250. The CA HERS Rater designation is called California Whole-House Home Energy Rater. Because of its unique building code requirements and state-specific legislation, California has strict requirements on how HERS training shall be conducted. CalCERTS is the only organization in the U.S. approved to provide HERS training in California.
What are the benefits of becoming a HERS Rater?
As a certified HERS Rater, you will be able to do the following:
Help homeowners save more on their energy bills
Negotiate better pay and more referrals
Participate in utility programs that require a HERS Rater
Enhance your marketability and grow your business
On a more tangible level, here’s a sample listing of the organizations and programs that encourage RESNET:
ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program
2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
RESNET EnergySmart Builders
U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity
Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum
Multiple Listing Service
Will I be able to meet my state’s energy code, which requires blower door and duct testing, if I have a HERS Rater Certification?
Most state codes do not explicitly list RESNET HERS Rater Certification as a way of fulfilling its requirements. However, the skills learned in a HERS Rater course will help you to fulfill the state code requirements for blower door and duct testing. The RESNET HERS Rater course covers blower door and duct testing to fulfill the 2012 and 2015 IECC building codes.
Furthermore, the 2015 IECC includes a compliance path that relies on the HERS index. Builders who choose this option work with a certified HERS Rater to make informed decisions on insulation, windows, etc. that will meet the code requirements. So states that have adopted 2015 IECC – AL, FL, HI, IL, MD, MI, NJ, NM, and VT (so far) – offer great job opportunities for HERS Raters.
What equipment will I need to work as a HERS Rater?
As a home energy auditor, you will be using the following equipment (at a minimum):
Blower door
Duct blaster
Manometer
Carbon monoxide analyzer
Combustible gas leak detector
Infrared camera
HERS Raters can be self-employed or part of a larger energy efficiency company. Equipment prices range by manufacturer, date, or whether the equipment is used or new. Our students receive a 12.5% discount from The Energy Conservatory and a 14% discount from Retrotec.
Ready to Become a RESNET HERS Rater?
If you’re ready to move forward with HERS Rater training, register online or give us a call at (800) 460-2575.
Heating and cooling, waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing. Ironically, these concepts are also addressed in LEED. Continue reading to learn about the dynamics of LEED for plumbing contractors.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services (MEP) is a significant component of the construction supply chain. MEP design is critical for design decision-making, accurate documentation, performance and cost-estimating, construction planning, and managing and operating the resulting facility.
LEED Certification & Water
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an environmental standard for buildings, homes, and communities.
These structures earn a LEED Certification label (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) based on the number of strategies, or LEED Credits, incorporated into the design, construction, and operations processes.
The LEED Credits consider water efficiency, building materials, site selection, regional needs, and more.
Although LEED Certification is most known for its commercial applications, it also applies to residential building. With regard to homes, LEED offers:
Reduction in monthly energy bills by installing solar energy for heating water
Water use reduction and less water waste
Ground-breaking wastewater technologies
Water-resourceful landscaping
Greater resale value
According to Aladdin Plumbing Corp, the installation of Energy Star appliances and efficient plumbing fixtures and waste lines can bring over a 40% reduction in water use.
How Do Plumbing Contractors Contribute to LEED Certification?
Plumbing contractors are involved in the early stages of a LEED Certification project because they need to understand a building owner’s needs and goals. With this knowledge, a plumbing contractor or engineer can recommend the most cost-effective and efficient plumbing designs and fixtures.
Plumbers’ knowledge of building codes and different system options has allowed them to become further involved in the design process. When working on green buildings, plumbers can encourage and install water-efficient appliances, such as dual-flush toilets, or systems that reuse gray water.
Knowledge of these systems is helpful for projects seeking LEED Certification:
Water distribution systems
Water treatment systems
Water heating systems
Pressure booster systems
Sanitary, waste, and vent systems
Storm drainage systems
Fire protection systems
As well as these skill areas:
Choosing flow and flush fixtures for water use reduction calculations
Encouraging strategies for water re-use
Offering designs that include solar hot water systems
Using BIM programs to produce 3D documents for project coordination
Preparing and submitting LEED documentation
Educating building owners on waterless fixture maintenance
Plumbing contractors can help LEED project teams earn credits in several categories, beyond simply Water Efficiency.
Sustainable Sites – contributing to conversations about stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, vegetated roofs, irrigation systems, shower heads, and site pollution prevention
Energy & Atmosphere – participating in field verification tests with a commissioning agent and providing water metering cut sheets
Materials & Resources – submitting receipts for materials and considering transportation impacts associated with product sourcing
Indoor Environmental Quality – providing cut sheets for on-site applied low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings
LEED Certification requires input from multi-disciplinary professionals. Only by working as a team can the project take the most advantage of the sustainability services and strategies offered.
LEED Accreditation can be an advertising strategy for many trade professionals. Use your LEED credentials to communicate your knowledge and comfort with LEED Certification projects. When LEED project teams look to hire contractors to assist with certain components of the project, they look for companies that understand the LEED requirements and have experience working on LEED projects. This ends up being more cost-effective than hiring a less experienced contractor and having to hold their hand along the way. Regardless of how many years of experience in a particular trade, LEED Certification projects require a unique understanding of LEED-specific guidelines.
Which LEED Credential Does a Plumbing Contractor Need?
All trade professionals considering a LEED credential must first work toward the LEED Green Associate. This entry-level credential demonstrates a basic understanding of the LEED Rating System and sustainability principles. This is the required first step for everyone.
After passing the LEED Green Associate exam, a plumbing contractor may consider upgrading to a LEED AP with a specialty in Building Design + Construction (BD+C). This advanced credential takes a deeper dive into the intricacies of the LEED BD+C Rating System.
LEED projects earn a free point toward LEED Certification simply by having someone working on the project who holds an advanced LEED AP Specialty credential in the same track as the project. Since LEED Certification projects rely on points to dictate which label the structure earns, it’s advantageous for project teams to find easy ways to earn points where they can.
To learn more about how YOU can gain LEED knowledge, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or enroll in our popular LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course.
California has long been known as the leader for solar energy. The state generates well over half of our country’s solar electric capacity, largely due to the sunshine it receives but also the community and governmental support that it receives. Now, five cities with solar requirements in California are additionally supporting the growth of solar energy.
If you want to help meet the demand for qualified solar panel installers, which will inevitably be driven by all this support, visit our Introduction to Solar series.
The state of California will soon require that all residential construction be “net zero energy” by 2020 and all new commercial construction be “net zero energy” by 2030. This will require that legislation include advanced energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies and components. Several municipalities with solar requirements in California have already started to take action.
The trending course of action is to require rooftop solar energy systems to be built on all new buildings – residential and commercial. This action seeks to capitalize on the falling cost of solar power.
With the deadlines for these ambitious state energy goals in sight, more and more cities are actively joining the cause with solar requirements in California.
California Cities that Require Rooftop Solar Panels
2008 – Culver City
2013 – Lancaster & Sebastopol
2016 – San Francisco & Santa Monica
2017 – San Mateo
San Francisco
The mandate in San Francisco requires photovoltaic or solar hot-water panels on all new residential and commercial buildings up to 10 stories tall. The ordinance notes that installing solar panels at the time of construction is cheaper and easier for developers than adding them later.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica appears to have some of the strictest requirements yet. Multifamily dwellings and non-residential buildings, including hotels and motels, are required to install a solar system with a minimum total wattage of two times the square footage of the building. For example, a 4-story building with 10,000 square feet would need a 20-kilowatt system. The only exception to the solar panel requirement is if it is technically infeasible due to lack of available and/or unshaded areas.
While the upfront cost on commercial buildings is estimated to increase by 0.75%, the solar panels will reduce long-term electricity costs by an average of 11%. Southern California Gas Company offers rebates of up to $500,000 to assist with any upfront costs. The 30% federal tax credit also helps to reduce these costs.
San Mateo
The City of San Mateo began requiring the installation of solar systems on all new construction projects starting January 1, 2017. The city also requires cool roof installation on all new multi-family and commercial developments with low-sloped roofs.
The City Council approved updating its building code in May 2016 and will now impact new single-family, multi-family, and non-residential construction.
The proposed ordinance from May required that developers incorporate a range of features, such as solar panels, cool roofs, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Other requirements (by structure) included:
New single-family homes – at least a 1 kW solar PV system
Multi-family buildings with between three and 16 units – at least a 2 kW system
Multi-family buildings with 17 or more units – at least a 3 kW system
Non-residential buildings with less than 10,000 square feet – at least a 3 kW system
Non-residential buildings with more than 10,000 square feet – at least a 5 kW system
As an alternative, developers on any new construction project could skip solar panel installation if they instead provide a solar hot water system that can collect at least 40 square feet.
The requirements must be cost-effective and not present an unreasonable burden to builders. Thankfully, the decreasing price of solar panels has made it easier to incorporate these technologies.
In areas that have not yet mandated rooftop solar, state law requires 15% of rooftops on all new small and mid-sized buildings to be “solar ready” – meaning that the roof is unshaded by the proposed building itself and is free of obtrusions.
Arm Yourself with Solar PV Skills
At Everblue, we offer solar panel installation training in multiple cities across the United States – including in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.
Our courses introduce fundamental principles about solar energy, electricity, and safety. They also focus on gaining field experience as a solar panel installer. After participating in an Everblue solar training course, attendees should feel comfortable designing and constructing solar PV arrays on residential and commercial buildings.
Our NABCEP PV Installation Professional program bundles all of our solar training courses into one comprehensive program. With this package, you’ll gain a wealth of knowledge as well as hands-on solar panel installation skills. The NABCEP PV Installation Professional program qualifies participants to sit for the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam and fulfills the educational pre-requisite to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Exam.
Architectural Lighting Design – a field within architecture, interior design, and electrical engineering that is concerned with the design of lighting systems, including natural light, electric light, or both, to serve human needs.
The design process takes into account: the kind of human activity for which lighting is to be provided, the amount of light required, the color of the light as it may affect the views of particular objects and the environment as a whole, the distribution of light within the space to be lighted (whether indoor or outdoor), and the effect of the lightened system itself on the user.
LEED Certification & Lighting Design
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a rating system for structures that were designed, built, and operated with energy efficiency in mind.
The LEED Rating System is comprised of categories, such as Water Efficiency and Materials & Sources. These categories offer a holistic approach to green building. Within each category, there are a series of LEED credits that identify specific actions or features that would lead to greater energy savings. Each LEED credit is worth a point value toward the LEED Certification of the project, and ultimately the LEED Certification label of the building – Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum – is based on the number of points earned.
So the question is, can lighting play a role in a building’s energy efficiency? Yes, lighting design can yield great energy savings.
Sustainable lighting goes beyond just choosing and incorporating LED light bulbs; we must also take into account lighting system design intent. Design intent is the difference of simply saving energy but also improving occupant satisfaction. Good lighting design involves proper daylighting design and outside views for the people using the building.
Although daylight doesn’t sound like a quality that is directly related to electrical lighting, it can affect the electrical lighting design. For example, Electrical Contractor Magazine notes that increasing daylight may lead to the installation of high-reflectance ceiling tiles. Ensuring views for open office occupants may require lower partitions, which can also affect the lighting design.
Good lighting design creates a balance between function and artistry, while maintaining an energy-efficient and cost-effective design. Lighting design services include: interior lighting plans, exterior lighting plans, lighting control system design, lighting fixture selections, LEED light pollution analysis, LEED lighting controllability analysis, and energy code compliance documentation.
Lighting design is important to LEED Certification projects for two main reasons:
reducing the negative environmental effects associated with excessive energy usage
offering solutions for occupants that encourage greater satisfaction and productivity
Lutron Electronics, a leading designer and manufacturer of energy-saving lighting controls and light control systems, notes that lighting controls can conserve 60% or more in lighting energy and 20% or more in HVAC energy. These savings can be accomplished through the use of occupancy sensors and astronomical timeclock scheduling, among other strategies.
With regard to occupant wellbeing, a lighting designer may plan to use lighting system controls, controllable window treatments, and daylight harvesting to improve comfort.
Specifically, lighting designers can contribute to LEED Certification projects by achieving the following credits:
Sustainable Sites – Light Pollution Reduction
Energy & Atmosphere – Optimize Energy Performance
Energy & Atmosphere – Advanced Energy Metering
Energy & Atmosphere – Demand Response
Indoor Environmental Quality – Interior Lighting
Indoor Environmental Quality – Daylight
The LEED v4 standards, which replaced LEED v3 in 2014, revised and overhauled some of the credits pertaining to lighting. Specifically, the LEED v4 standards now offer multiple paths to LEED credit compliance and are based on industry standards (as opposed to a standard particular to LEED).
How Do Lighting Designers Contribute to LEED Certification?
Lighting designers play a key role. They must consider the type of lighting fixture (LED, CFL, etc.) and identify strategies for daylighting and lighting controls that satisfy LEED Certification requirements and other code and standards requirements. They must also factor in lifecycle costs, safety and security, and maintenance and warranty issues.
Within the Energy & Atmosphere credit category, there is a required prerequisite called Fundamental Commissioning and Verification. This prerequisite mandates the completion of an owner’s product requirements document, or OPR. The OPR details how the building owner envisions the LEED project to be designed and built. It is imperative that a lighting designer review the OPR and meet the listed requirements, such as goals, budget, schedule, codes, return on investment, lifecycle costs, safety, and warranty.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine offers an example of lighting goals for a commercial office building from a sample OPR:
Lighting design including energy efficiency and controls shall conform to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010.
Maximize daylighting to all employees. Use daylighting controls and light switches for all private offices.
Use LED lighting.
Meet or exceed the recommended lighting levels in the Illuminating Engineering Society Lighting Handbook based upon people 25 to 65 yr old.
Use 3,500 K color temperature for all lighting.
Minimum of 80 color rendering index (CRI) for all lamps and light sources.
Provide night lighting at all entrance doors to the building.
Project is targeting LEED-NC v3 Silver certification at a minimum.
The Fundamental Commissioning prerequisite also requires a Basis of Design (BOD), which describes the technical approach to meet the OPR requirements. The BOD lists who is responsible for each component of the design; the lighting designer would likely be listed as the responsible party for the coordination and design of the lighting systems.
A lighting designer must be knowledgeable about code requirements to know whether he/she can satisfy the OPR requirements. It may take several conversations with the building owner to understand his intentions and previous experience with certain requirements listed on the OPR. The lighting designer must balance the the goals of the building owner, the requirements of the building code, and the LEED Certification requirements.
Near the end of the LEED Certification project, the lighting designer should specify an operations and maintenance manual for the building owner. The lighting designer will review the O&M manual to ensure the correct lighting fixtures, controls, etc. are included.
Which LEED Credential Does a Lighting Designer Need?
All professionals interested in earning a LEED credential must first pass the LEED Green Associate exam. This designation represents a broad understanding of the LEED Certification process and the LEED credit requirements and thresholds listed therein.
With LEED’s explosive growth in the commercial building sector, it seems reasonable that a lighting designer working in such an environment would want to understand the overarching goals and requirements. Earning the LEED Green Associate designation can be a marketable tool for standing out and aligning your services with those needed for a LEED Certification project.
After passing the LEED Green Associate exam, a lighting designer may choose to upgrade to a LEED AP with a Specialty. Most likely, a lighting designer would opt for the LEED AP Building Design & Construction (BD+C) designation.
To learn more about how YOU can gain LEED knowledge, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or enroll in our popular LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course.
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 13, 2016) – The Department of Energy has named Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) the primary training provider of the Solar Ready Vets program at Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army installation in Fayetteville, NC. Everblue, a designated Veteran Owned Small Business, will collaborate with FTCC to offer the solar training portion of the program.
Everblue will deliver classroom and hands-on solar PV installation training, building upon Solar Ready Vets requirements as well as Everblue’s own solar curriculum which is both accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and aligned with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Entry Level Learning Objectives. In addition, students will have access to PV operations and maintenance simulation software through Interplay Solar and extended access to online training and resources through Everblue. At the end of the program, Everblue will administer the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam to participants.
The Solar Ready Vets program prepares military veterans for careers in the solar energy industry by training them to size and install solar systems, safely connect them to the grid, and understand and comply with local building codes. This program trains active military personnel who are in “transitioning military” status – within six months of leaving military service and becoming a veteran – and prepares them for careers as solar PV system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related occupations.
Lasting between six and eight weeks, the Solar Ready Vets program includes OSHA safety training, electrical training, hands-on solar panel installation training as well as resume writing, interview tips, and other soft skills assistance. Each cohort will be comprised of approximately 20 active military personnel.
The first of several planned Solar Ready Vets training program cohorts for Fort Bragg began on Tuesday, May 31 at FTCC in Fayetteville. The program is free for qualifying military personnel living in Cumberland County. Tuition assistance will be available to veterans outside Cumberland County.
After graduation from Solar Ready Vets, service members will have the opportunity to interview with leading national and regional solar companies for a wide variety of jobs within the industry.
For more information or to register, please contact Pendy Evans at FTCC by emailing [email protected]. Everblue can be reached by calling (800) 460-2575 or by emailing [email protected].
About Everblue Everblue is the nation’s leading training provider for solar panel installation, green building, and energy efficiency. Its curriculum is focused on short-term courses for individuals in the green technology field or those seeking a career path in solar and energy efficiency. Everblue’s courses are approved by the American Institute of Architects, Building Performance Institute, Green Business Certification Institute, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, and North American Technician Excellence.
LEED for pest control contractors is especially important for environmentally-conscious pest management companies that opt for an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which focuses on pest prevention at the outset and uses pesticides only as needed.
The intent of the IPM plan is to first keep pests out. This can be accomplished by identifying and repairing cracks and crevices in the building’s façade. From there, pest management professionals are challenged to use non-chemical solutions to treat the problem. This allows for a safe and healthy environment for occupants.
Because the LEED Certification standards value indoor air quality and health, pest management is actually one of the requirements for earning the coveted LEED label in existing buildings.
LEED Certification & Pest Control
LEED Certification is a label for structures that have been designed, built, and maintained with energy-efficiency and environmental health in mind.
To earn such a label, the structure must embody a series of characteristics in a variety of topic areas. Each characteristic, or LEED credit, is worth a point value, and ultimately the LEED Certification label – Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum – is based on the number of points earned.
Pest management companies can offer insight and expertise with regard to the following LEED credits:
Sustainable Sites – Site Management
Indoor Environmental Quality – Green Cleaning
Indoor Environmental Quality – Integrated Pest Management
The value of an IPM program is that it encourages proactive solutions that can prevent the use of chemical pesticides in the event of an infestation. This approach, therefore, has less of a negative impact on people, property, and the environment.
IPM plans generally include the following components:
Interior and exterior building maintenance guidelines
Sanitation consultation and cleaning procedures
Non-chemical solutions for pest treatment
Guidelines for identifying pests and choosing treatment
Action thresholds for various types of pests
A plan for emergency application of pesticides
Protocol for notifying occupants of an expected pesticide application
Pest sighting records and service reports (analyzed annually for effectiveness)
According to Services Magazine, the IPM standards recommended by LEED are considerably more complex than a standard IPM program. A “traditional” chemical-based pest control approach often focuses solely on the application of chemicals designed to kill and repel the pests. Such a program ignores the reason(s) why pest problems exist in the first place.
The LEED Certification standards require that the use of pesticides be limited to times when pests are actually present and where non-chemical approaches are unsuccessful or inappropriate. For both indoor and outdoor pest control, the LEED standards call for the use of IPM combined with least-toxic pesticides and that such pesticides be used only after all other options are exhausted.
A knowledgeable pest management professional can develop and implement an effective program that will keep a facility pest-free while also meeting necessary LEED Certification requirements.
How Do Exterminators Contribute to LEED Certification?
Pest management is one aspect of the LEED Certification process that is fairly easy to implement within existing buildings. However, most LEED project teams – albeit multi-disciplined – generally don’t have an in-house pest management professional. Therefore, it’s more likely that a project team will contract what they deem to be an environmentally-responsible pest management company. This is a great opportunity for exterminators to advertise their knowledge of the LEED standards and show their value to LEED project teams.
To earn the 2 points for minimizing pest problems and exposure to pesticides, a LEED project team must have in place an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for the building and grounds within the project boundary. This written IPM plan must include documentation for all procedures used in a project’s pest management program to earn the points.
To earn the Integrated Pest Management credit, LEED project teams must:
Develop, implement, and maintain an IPM plan
Use only least-toxic chemical pesticides
Ensure minimum use of the least-toxic chemical pesticides
Apply least-toxic chemical pesticides only in targeted locations
Apply least-toxic chemical pesticides only for targeted pest species
Identify what circumstances constitute an emergency application of pesticides
Develop a communications strategy for normal and emergency conditions
Given the targeted subject matter, LEED project teams will be looking for a knowledgeable exterminator to assist with these efforts.
Which LEED Credential Does an Exterminator Need?
The first step for all LEED candidates is to earn the LEED Green Associate credential. This designation highlights general knowledge of sustainability principles and a broad understanding of the LEED Rating System for buildings.
After passing the LEED Green Associate exam, an exterminator may choose to advance to a LEED AP with a specialty in Operations and Maintenance (O+M). Since there is a large opportunity for pest management in existing buildings, it makes sense that an exterminator would want to learn more about the requirements for earning a LEED Certification label for that building type.
To learn more about how YOU can gain LEED knowledge, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or enroll in our popular LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course.
Everblue will deliver classroom and hands-on solar PV installation training, building upon Solar Ready Vets requirements as well as Everblue’s own solar curriculum which is both accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and aligned with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Entry Level Learning Objectives. In addition, students will have access to PV operations and maintenance simulation software through Interplay Solar and extended access to online training and resources through Everblue. At the end of the program, Everblue will administer the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam to participants.
Lasting between six and eight weeks, the Solar Ready Vets program includes OSHA safety training, electrical training, hands-on solar panel installation training as well as resume writing, interview tips, and other soft skills assistance. Each cohort will be comprised of approximately 20 active military personnel.
