Page 23 – Everblue Training

LEED for HVACR Technicians: Why You Should Get Accredited

Contractors working in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVACR) may wonder how LEED certification can improve their career and grow their HVACR business. As a comprehensive green building program, LEED seeks to optimize all systems in a building to ensure maximum efficiency, energy savings, and occupant comfort. HVACR plays an important role in that process. Thus, there are applications of LEED for HVACR technicians, especially those who pursue the MSCA GreenSTAR program.

If you’re new to LEED and want to get a better understanding of how it works, please visit our What is LEED? overview series.

If you’re familiar with LEED already and want more information about how to use it to further your HVACR career, keep reading.

Become a GreenSTAR

The MSCA GreenSTAR program recognizes HVACR professionals who demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. This designation represents a contractor’s understanding of the latest green technologies in HVAC as well as a contractor’s ability to deliver energy-efficient and cost-effective indoor environmental solutions.

MSCA GreenSTAR program is like LEED for HVAC technicians

The Mechanical Service Contractors of America, or MSCA, is the leading national trade association for HVACR contractors. MSCA created the GreenSTAR Qualified Contractors Program in 2007 in direct response to the growing demand for LEED certification in commercial buildings.

LEED is identified as a prerequisite in at least four different ways on the MSCA GreenSTAR application. It’s clear that an HVACR company cannot claim an interest in environmental stewardship and sustainability without having demonstrated legitimate experience or exposure to LEED concepts.

How LEED for HVAC Technicians Fits into the GreenSTAR Program

LEED certification concepts are closely tied to the MSCA GreenSTAR approach. Like LEED, MSCA diagnoses and services buildings using a “whole building” approach. GreenSTAR contractors view buildings as an ecosystem – people, air, water, equipment, and systems all operating together to maximize the quality of the environment while minimizing resources and optimizing return on investment.

building with green wall image

Similar to how LEED impacts the design, construction, and operations of building projects, MSCA believes in a predictable building efficiency cycle. This includes building efficiency into every decision and meeting goals every step of the way. The cycle rotates among three stages: Evaluation, Solutions, and Savings.

During the Evaluation period, an MSCA GreenSTAR contractor will identify benchmarks and offer energy conservation recommendations in a report.
Solutions can range from commercial energy audits, retro-commissioning, green preventative maintenance programs, utility bill analysis, and LEED certification.
Savings come from INCREASED equipment lifespan, property values, rental income, tenant satisfaction and comfort, and employee productivity. There are additional monetary savings from DECREASED energy costs, energy consumption, operations and maintenance costs, and down times.

LEED and GreenSTAR Empower HVACR Contractors & Clients

The MSCA GreenSTAR designation demonstrates environmental service excellence in the mechanical and HVACR industries. An MSCA GreenSTAR contractor possesses the skills and expertise necessary to deliver energy-efficient and cost-effective indoor environmental solutions to meet customer needs and ensure tenant satisfaction.

Companies with this designation can assure their clients that they specialize in cost-reduction strategies and energy-efficient solutions.

How HVAC Companies Benefit from MSCA GreenSTAR

Provides an opportunity to stand out and be a leader
Illustrates commitment to ongoing green building training and education
Demonstrates proven LEED experience
Highlights an understanding of equipment upgrade and energy efficiency issues

What Clients Get When Working with a MSCA GreenSTAR Company

Reduced energy costs
Improved air quality
Improved water efficiency
Improved employee productivity & satisfaction
Assurance that all federal and local environmental regulations are met

How to Earn the MSCA GreenSTAR Designation

The GreenSTAR designation is exclusive to MSCA STAR companies that have proven their commitment to environmental stewardship and are recognized as leaders in the green movement within the HVAC industry.

According to MSCA, fewer than 1% of HVACR contractors nationwide qualify for the GreenSTAR designation.

Specifically, a company can apply for the MSCA GreenSTAR designation after meeting the following criteria:

Company must be an MSCA member
Company must have MSCA STAR Qualification
Company must employ at least one LEED accredited professional
Company must be a USGBC Member – either with a local chapter or the national organization
Company must verify that at least 25% of all employees have participated in a green training or education program
Company must offer specific sustainable services and recommend “green” procedures and equipment
Company must develop an internal “green” policy and/or acquire LEED certification, of any type, of its building
Company must participate as a project team with a LEED EB or LEED NC registered project within the past three years

Companies can pursue this designation by completing the application on the MSCA website.

It’s a wise and strategic move for HVAC companies to acquire knowledge and technical experience in the green building space; LEED Certification has nearly become standard practice in federal and municipal buildings, as well as homes and multi-family apartments, offices, hospitals, and retail buildings nationwide.

If you’re interested in learning more about LEED for HVACR technicians, visit our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training or call (800) 460-2575.

Register now for LEED Green Associate Exam Prep

RESNET Simulation Exams Moving to WebGL Platform

The Residential Energy Services Network, or RESNET, recently sent out an email notification regarding the technology that powers two of its HERS Rater Certification exams – the CAZ Simulation and the Practical Simulation. Due to unexpected Internet browser updates, these two exams will have limited availability through May 15, 2017.

If you’re new to RESNET and looking to understand how to get certified, please visit our Getting Started With RESNET series.

If you’ve participated in RESNET HERS Rater Training and have completed all requirements except for the CAZ Simulation Exam and/or the Practical Simulation Exam, keep reading…

How to Access the RESNET Simulation Exams

The RESNET simulation exams operate through a plugin called Unity. This plugin enables video game software to work as designed, with interactivity and realistic scenarios. Unfortunately, many of the Internet browsers are moving beyond Unity and adopting other simulation platforms like WebGL.

For the last few months, RESNET had been recommending that candidates use Mozilla Firefox to access these exams. Firefox was the last Internet browser to support the Unity plugin.

Going Forward

On Mar. 7, 2017, Firefox unexpectedly made changes to its browser that resulted in mass disruptions on software programs using the browser.

RESNET has been working with Interplay, the developer of the interactive exams, to find a short-term workaround and a long-term solution to this issue.

RESNET and Interplay plan to move the simulation exams to the WebGL platform by May 15 for future use.

In the meantime, candidates are encouraged to contact Interplay directly if they are needing to complete these exams before a deadline. RESNET may offer a grace period to existing Raters because of this technology glitch.

Solar Installation Equipment Provided by Everblue Partners

Everblue Training, a nationwide provider of solar energy training courses, has begun partnering with leading equipment manufacturers who are providing widely used or cutting-edge solar products. This type of mutually beneficial relationship will enable Everblue to familiarize aspiring solar installation professionals with the brands and products used in the solar industry.

solar panel installation training image

In its quest to keep pace with a rapidly-changing industry, Everblue is teaming up with manufacturers nationwide that have demonstrated a commitment to an alternative energy future and have developed innovative solutions to current energy issues.

“We want our solar installation training to reflect where the industry is going,” said Vince DiFrancesco, Everblue’s Solar Program Manager. “The current trajectory is module-level power electronics and system architectures, battery-based systems, integrative grounding and bounding equipment, and rapid shutdown-compliant equipment. We’re looking for partners who see this shift in the making and are preparing to meet the demand.”

DiFrancesco expects to see a continued transition from grid-connected string-inverter systems to module-level power electronics with battery backups that are rapid shutdown-compliant, driven primarily by policy and code. And with pressure being put on net-metering programs and solar incentive programs, stakeholders are looking for self-consumption and storage solutions as well.

The 2014 National Electric Code first mandated the rapid shutdown requirements, which are even more stringent in the 2017 code. With rapid shutdown now a requirement, solar installations in states that have adopted the codes will need to include a compliant solution such as module-level micro-inverters or DC-to-DC power optimizers.

These policy and code changes will inherently offer options during the solar design and installation process. Everblue’s equipment partnership program will enable the NABCEP-approved solar training provider to introduce these various strategies and techniques during its course using the most effective, modern technology.

Specifically, Everblue is pursuing partnerships with companies that develop microinverters, battery systems, racking, non-isolated string inverters, modules, and rapid shutdown-compliant equipment.

For more information about the Solar Training Partners program, please contact Everblue by emailing [email protected] or by calling 877-755-3287.

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. Since its founding in 2008, Everblue has trained over 70,000 professionals worldwide.

Benefits of Using an LMS

The greatest benefit that an LMS offers is that it’s based in technology, meaning that everything is fast. If you need to update a setting that affects many courses and participants, you do it once and it’s done. If you need to accommodate hundreds of people taking the same test at the same time and all getting instant scores, an LMS can get it done much faster than a human grading paper-and-pencil exams.

We believe that any modern organization that offers professional development and growth opportunities should be offering those activities in an online format. We could explain the benefits of online learning all day, but for now, we’ve distilled our beliefs to the most important ones below.

Top 5 Benefits of Using an LMS

Create Engaging Courses – you can design your training to fit a user’s learning style (audio, visual, etc.) by incorporating text, images, and videos into your LMS platform. With this type of variety and interactivity, you’ll keep your participants focused and interested.

Reach More Users – you can invite users from all over the world to join your secure LMS portal. This is incredibly helpful if you work for an organization that has remote employees. Now, nobody can miss out on the training.

Provide Consistency – now that you’re reaching more people with your online learning, the LMS offers the ability to maintain a consistent message. No matter where users are located, they benefit from receiving the same high-quality training, just as you’ve designed it.

Easy Tracking & Reporting – as an LMS administrator, you can track the progress of all your participants. You’ll be able to see who has finished the program, what activities still need to be completed, and – more importantly – who’s never even logged in!

Better User Results – because participants are more engaged with the online course content, you can count on them paying more attention and retaining the information. You’ll see in the quiz scores just how effective online learning can be!

To learn more about LMS hosting or to see a demo of how one works, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

LEED Exam Documents & Resources that Prove You Passed

Pursuing a LEED professional credential can be a daunting and overwhelming endeavor for some individuals. Those who put in the time to study the LEED credits, baseline measurements, and case studies, however, will likely find themselves in a successful position. And after all that hard work, you definitely want to show off your achievement. We’re going to talk to you today about the LEED exam documents that you can share with employers and clients to prove that you are, in fact, a LEED Accredited Professional.

If you’re just getting started with LEED, visit our New to LEED? Start Here! series.

The LEED exams are administered by computer, though candidates must be proctored in person at a Prometric Testing Center. Prometric has facilities in nearly every major city in the world, and candidates are able to choose the exact date and time of their exam session based on Prometric’s availability in the computer lab.

Your LEED Exam Score

Because the exams are digital, candidates will know their score immediately after they end the exam. Individuals will receive a printed sheet of paper that lists their score out of 200 possible points and whether that score has resulted in a Pass or Fail. This LEED exam document is a great resource to show your friends and colleagues to represent your understanding of LEED.

When it comes to sharing the news of a passing score, individuals do not need to focus on the actual point value of their results. The green building world, employers, and clients will not ask what point value was achieved on the LEED exam. All that matters is that the candidate Passed.

LEED exam results sheet

The printed LEED exam document will also share proficiency results for each of the LEED Credit Categories. This information is debatably more valuable to candidates who Fail the exam because it gives them feedback on which specific LEED areas to focus on for future exam attempts.

On the other hand, new credential holders can use this information as a guide for LEED continuing education efforts. All LEED credential holders must complete continuing education every 2 years to maintain their professional credential; it could be a wise idea to explore these weaker areas for professional development.

LEED credit category results

Before a new credential holder leaves the secure testing environment, a Prometric staff member will notarize the printed exam results. This can serve as temporary proof that an individual passed the LEED exam. The USGBC will make the official LEED certificate available within 48 hours.

Accessing Your LEED Certificate

The USGBC encourages credential holders to stay green by downloading their official certificate. With the digital copy, an accredited professional can email the certificate, upload to social media/websites, and/or print from home. Upon request, GBCI will mail a printed copy for a $25 fee. This request can be made from inside an individual’s USGBC account.

To log into your USGBC account and download your certificate, go to:

www.usgbc.org
Click the Account link in the top right
Add the username and password from your exam registration
Navigate to the Credentials tab in the left sidebar
Choose the Overview link in the left sidebar
Midway through the page, you’ll see Download Certificates

The USGBC updates its platform somewhat regularly. If you’re unable to find your official certificate within your USGBC Account, you can call the USGBC directly at 800-795-1747 (U.S.) or 1-202-742-3792 (outside the U.S.).

LEED Credential Maintenance

As mentioned above, all LEED credential holders are required to participate in continuing education. The LEED professional credentials are valid for 2 years at a time.

LEED Green Associate credential holders must earn 15 hours of continuing education, with 3 of those hours specific to LEED concepts. LEED AP Specialty credential holders must earn 30 hours of continuing education, with 6 of those hours specific to their LEED AP specialty track.

You’ll also notice on the Credentials Overview page of your USGBC Account that there is a gray box at the top of the screen. This gray box defines a credential holder’s “reporting period” – in other words, the time period in which the earned credential is valid. A credential holder must earn all of his or her continuing education hours during this time period.

LEED GBCI Number image

When it comes to submitting LEED continuing education hours to USGBC, a credential holder must know his or her GBCI number. This number is specific to each credential holder, thus it enables USGBC to attribute the continuing education hours to the correct individual.

Please note: some individuals will have a Member ID# and a GBCI#.

The Member ID# is only applicable to individuals who work for a USGBC National Member Company. This ID# is shown at the top of your USGBC Account. This affiliation is valuable to employees because they can get a $50 discount on their LEED exam registration.

You’ll see in the above screenshot that the GBCI# is shown on the Credentials Overview page as well. This will be the ID# you use when submitting your continuing education.

Now that you’re a newly accredited LEED Green Associate or LEED AP, share the news with your colleagues and associates! Check out our post on 14 ways to flaunt your LEED credential. Be proud of your accomplishment!

When you’re ready to participate in continuing education, Everblue offers a comprehensive online program that is specifically designed to satisfy the LEED Credential Maintenance Program requirements for LEED Green Associates and LEED APs with a Specialty.

Install Solar Panels in Rhode Island with REP License

Licensing and certification requirements for solar installers vary by state. In some states, individuals are required to have an electrical contractor’s license. In other states, individuals can pursue a renewable energy designation without electrical experience. Either way, you need to learn what it takes to install solar panels in your state.

If you want to begin learning about solar energy, visit our Introduction to Solar series.

Rhode Island offers a unique best-of-both-worlds approach – a pathway for those with electrical experience and a pathway for those without electrical experience.

Officially, an individual with electrical experience should pursue:

a state electrical contractor’s license (called Certificate A) AND
a journeyperson electrician’s license (called Certificate B)

To achieve these licenses, a candidate must:

Certificate A – show proof of at least 6 years of experience in their respective trade and must possess a journeyperson electrician’s license for at least 2 years
Certificate B – show proof of at least 4 years of apprentice electrical experience

Those without electrical experience can still participate in the solar installation industry. Here’s how…

The state of Rhode Island created a new type of contractor called the Renewable Energy Professional (REP), which is a designation that allows individuals to install solar panels without holding an electrical or plumbing license. Only contractors or individuals without an electrical license are required to obtain the REP limited license to perform ancillary non-electrical work on renewable energy systems.

There are several ways that someone can qualify for a Renewable Energy Professional license – with eligibility being that at least one of the following is met:

The applicant holds a current certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) as a PV Installation Professional or Solar Heating Installer.
The applicant holds a current certification from Underwriter Laboratory (UL)’s PV Installer Certification program.
The applicant holds an associate’s degree or higher in a renewable energy technology.
The applicant holds a certificate from the SEI Solar Professionals Certificate for Residential and Commercial Photovoltaic Systems.
The applicant holds a certificate of training from a manufacturer of a specific technology for the installation of that specific technology.
The applicant holds a training certificate from Everblue (that’s us!)

An added bonus here is that Everblue’s NABCEP PV Installation Professional package aligns with the training requirements for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification (bullet point #1 above). Beyond the training, a candidate would need to document work experience on 3-5 permitted solar PV installations to qualify for the NABCEP PV Installer exam. At the end of the day, someone can begin working in the solar industry with a NABCEP Solar Installation Certification and a Rhode Island Renewable Energy Professional license!

So it is indeed possible for someone to perform solar panel installation work without holding an electrical or plumbing license. Through the Renewable Energy Professional designation, an individual demonstrates 80+ hours of education in the areas of solar energy, electricity, safety, PV installation technique, solar system design, and solar sales.

For more information about installing solar panels in Rhode Island, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 or start a live chat on our website.

Learn more about Everblue's NABCEP Certification Training

HERS Score Included by Utility Programs to Show Compliance

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.

graph showing required HERS Score for utility rebate programs

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.

HERS Rated Homes Reach New Levels in 2016

This broke the record for the number of homes HERS rated in a year!

For a better understanding of HERS Scores, visit our RESNET HERS Explained page.

image showing number of HERS rated homes

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.

BPI HHE Webinar: Top 6 Drivers of Healthy Home Assessments

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.

Healthy Home Statistics

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.

BPI HHE supporting facts & timeline

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.

NABCEP Exam Dates for Spring 2017 & How to Qualify

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.

NABCEP Logo

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.

solar training collage

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.