Prior to BPI Certification 2023, there were no formal prerequisites for a person to earn certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI) – other than passing the written/field exams associated with the desired certification. But now, BPI Certification prerequisites exist.
What Are The BPI Certification Prerequisites?
All candidates are required to start with the BPI Building Science Principles certificate of knowledge. This is where you’ll gain fundamental knowledge about how building science works, including the relationship of how systems in the home affect occupant comfort, health, and safety.
After you pass the BPI Building Sciences Principles written exam, you can advance toward the BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) certification. This is an entry-level certification for those who collect data in homes and perform diagnostic testing.
After you pass the BPI Building Analyst Technician field exam, you can advance toward the BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) certification. This certification is designed for experienced practitioners who do energy modeling and provide work scope recommendations.
As you can see, the BPI Certification prerequisites include tiered certifications and the passing of various exams.
The Building Performance Institute offers 10+ certifications, and it can be overwhelming if you’re new to the industry. To keep it simple, just remember the BPI Certification prerequisites:
Candidates cannot use work experience or other industry certifications to skip or bypass any of the BPI Certification prerequisites. Go ahead and get started with the BPI Building Science Principles training today!
When you enter a new industry, especially a technical one like residential energy efficiency, there’s going to be a learning curve. But this learning curve can be easily overcome with the proper introductory training. And that’s what BPI Building Science Principles (BPI BSP) is!
Not every person interested in human health needs all the education of a doctor or surgeon, but they should have a basic understanding of human anatomy. BPI BSP is the entry-level anatomy course for home energy efficiency. What’s particularly great about BPI BSP is that it’s relatable; we all live in homes, and when you better understand how your home functions, you can make better use of it to maximize your comfort, happiness, and energy bills.
What Does BPI BSP Cover?
Officially, BPI Building Science Principles teaches people about the basics of building science as well as the widely-used terminology in the industry.
Building science alone is a term that describes how various components of a home interact to affect the home’s overall performance. Understanding the relationships between the building envelope, heating, A/C, insulation, mechanical ventilation, lighting, appliances and other systems of the home will enable you to assist yourself and others. BPI BSP teaches you how these systems affect the comfort, health, and safety of occupants and durability of the home.
Who Uses the Building Science Certificate?
Homeowners and office staff would likely view building science as “good to know” information.
It should go without saying that home energy auditors, contractors, and other technical professionals NEED to understand building science in order to do their jobs properly.
The Building Performance Institute (BPI) agrees with that statement so much that they’ve actually listed BPI BSP as a prerequisite to its BPI Certification 2023 scheme. Anyone interested in earning BPI Certification going forward has to first earn the BPI Building Science Principles certificate of knowledge, due to the strong foundation that it provides. Previously, a candidate could jump to whatever BPI certification they were interested in, but now BPI wants to carefully foster professional development and ensure that individuals are getting the necessary training along the way.
How to Earn BPI BSP
This first step is not designed to be an arduous undertaking. Simply learn the material and pass a 100-question multiple-choice exam with a passing score of 70%.
In our previous post, we summarized the BPI Certification 2023 changes. Put simply here, when we refer to the updated BPI Certifications, we’re speaking about the fact that the Building Performance Institute (BPI) is sunsetting the BPI Envelope Certification and instead bulking up the BPI Building Analyst Certification.
The best part about the updated BPI Certifications is that BPI has baked prerequisites into the process. Before, some people had to bat above their average – ie, those new to the industry had to go all-in on a technical certification that was beyond their work experience. While it was great from an aspirational standpoint, I can see how it would also be overwhelming. With the updated BPI Certifications, candidates have a very clear path for professional growth.
How the Updated BPI Certifications Provide Career Milestones
Everyone new to home energy efficiency must now start with the BPI Building Science Principles certificate of knowledge. This is where a person gains a strong foundation for building science.
After passing the BPI Building Science principles exam, a candidate can pursue the BPI Building Analyst Technician, which is an entry-level certification for those who do data collection and diagnostic testing.
After passing the BPI Building Analyst Technician exam, a candidate can pursue the BPI Building Analyst Professional, which is for the experienced practitioner whose work includes energy modeling and work scope development.
Although the updated BPI Certifications now have prerequisites baked into them, a person can jump off the train wherever it fits their career. Some people may be satisfied with just the BPI Building Science Principles knowledge (eg, office staff, customer service, program administrators, marketing professionals). For those who plan to work in the field, the BPI Building Analyst Technician certification is the natural next step to build on the foundational knowledge from BSP. And likewise, for those who want to hold more senior positions in the field, the BPI Building Analyst Professional certification is the natural next step. There’s a place for every person, and each step in that process provides valuable knowledge.
What if you earned BPI Certification under the old structure? BPI has provided direction for those who already hold an active Building Analyst and/or Envelope certification. They can re-certify to the existing certifications before the May 31, 2023 sunset OR transition to the new certifications as they’ve been designed. For more information about this, give us a call at 800-460-2575.
We previously wrote about BPI Certification changes back in 2020, but of course the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the pilot and launch of those changes. Three years later, and the Building Performance Institute (BPI) is ready to talk seriously about BPI Certification 2023 changes once again.
Background
BPI’s home energy auditor certifications have been highly regarded in the industry for over 20 years. Because building science and energy auditing practices are continuously evolving, BPI likewise updates its certifications now and then to keep pace with industry advances.
The aforementioned talk of changes fell under this cycle. BPI established a Scheme Committee composed of Subject Matter Experts to evaluate the BPI Building Analyst and BPI Envelope certifications against the current state of the industry. Their mission was to compare the existing Job Task Analysis (JTA) for Building Analyst to those of the HEP Energy Auditor and BPI Envelope Professional, to eliminate redundancy.
BPI Certification 2023 Summary of Changes
The Scheme Committee determined the following about the BPI Building Analyst:
It should absorb the BPI Envelope.
It should include energy modeling and work scope development.
It should be broken into two certifications.
It should have BPI Building Science Principles (BPI BSP) as a prerequisite.
Let’s discuss these BPI Certification 2023 changes in greater detail…
Similar to this update, BPI had a big update in 2014 to Building Analyst, which beefed up the JTA to almost match Envelope. For the last eight years, Building Analyst and Envelope were nearly identical. So by sunsetting the BPI Envelope designation, BPI will be removing a choice that has long caused confusion anyway.
Ironically, however, by once again beefing up Building Analyst, BPI realized that the new JTA was lengthy and broad in scope. This necessitated dividing the JTA into two certifications once again. The BPI Certification 2023 names are BPI Building Analyst Technician and BPI Building Analyst Professional.
BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) covers data collection and diagnostic testing. Candidates must first earn the BPI Building Science Principles certificate of knowledge before they can attempt the BA-T certification. To earn the BA-T certification, candidates must pass a field exam (no written exam).
BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) covers the principles of using computer software to model the energy upgrade potential of a home and developing a scope of work. A passing score on the BA-T field exam is a prerequisite before a candidate can pursue this certification; and to earn the BA-P certification, candidates must pass a written exam only.
Thus, BPI Certification 2023 will require the following (mandatory) progression:
BPI announced these changes in October and stated that the exams for the updated certifications would be available at BPI Test Centers on January 1, 2023.
Given the massive lift for BPI Test Centers, training providers, and the industry at large to understand these changes, we asked BPI about the potential overlap of legacy BPI certifications and BPI Certification 2023 credentials.
In response, BPI agreed to extend the opportunity for participants to earn the legacy BPI certifications through May 31, 2023. They want to still advertise the BPI Certification 2023 credentials but understand that all the stakeholders need time to make the necessary changes to appropriately deliver the new programs. As a result, we anticipate a hard cutover from the old scheme to the new scheme on June 1, 2023.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law in August 2022, invests $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create good-paying jobs in clean energy, and improve household energy efficiency across the U.S. It is the most significant federal climate investment in U.S. history. These residential and commercial energy efficiency-focused investments are divided between rebates, training grants, and federal tax credits — explained more in depth below.
Tax Credits
Some Inflation Reduction Act funding is not yet available, as federal guidance is pending, and states are still designing their programs to meet federal guidelines. However, homeowners and building developers can take advantage of federal tax credits immediately!
The IRA expanded and extended several energy efficiency tax credits for homeowners as well as residential and commercial building developers. In particular, the IRA revitalizes tax credits found in Internal Revenue Code Sections 25C, 25D, and 45L.
25C – the Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit
The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit offers homeowners an annual tax credit for energy efficiency home improvements.
It replaced the Non-business Energy Property Credit, which was previously a lifetime credit of just $500. The IRA updated this credit to provide annual credits of up to $1,200 per year plus an additional $2,000 for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. The shift from a lifetime credit to an annual credit provides significantly more flexibility to homeowners, who will now be able to spread out their home energy improvement projects over the 10-year life of the 25C credit.
Key takeaways:
Starting in 2023, credit increases to 30% of total installation costs through 2032.
Lifetime cap of $500 will be replaced by annual $1,200 total limit (plus an additional $2,000 for electric heat pumps).
25C credits be combined with rebates offered through DOE’s $8.8 billion Home Energy Rebates Program, an IRA program not yet available to the public.
Eligible services and home improvements include:
Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters ($2,000 credit)
Insulation and air sealing ($1,200 credit, installation costs not covered)
Energy audits ($150 credit)
Energy-efficient HVAC systems, incl. furnaces, boilers, and central AC ($600 credit)
Electrical panel upgrades ($600 credit)
Energy-efficient windows and doors ($500 credit for doors, $600 credit for windows, installation costs not covered)
Roofs are no longer eligible
A separate $2,000 annual limit for heat pumps and heat pump hot water heaters
45L – New Energy Efficient Home Credit
IRC Section 45L, the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, offers tax credits to single-family and multi-family home builders for new (or substantially reconstructed) energy efficient homes.
45L provides two tiers of tax credits depending on which standards eligible construction or re-construction projects meet. Single-family home projects (including manufactured homes) that meet ENERGY STAR standards are eligible to receive a $2,500 tax credit, while new multi-family dwelling units can receive $500 per unit. The higher tier of credits created by the IRA is available to homes that meet DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program requirements, which are more stringent than ENERGY STAR. For projects that qualify for this higher tier, builders can receive $5,000 per single-family home and $1,000 per multi-family dwelling unit.
Key Takeaways:
Credit revived and made retroactive for 2022 (at original $2,000)
Starting in 2023, credit increases to $5,000 for single-family, multifamily, and manufactured homes through 2032
Energy-efficiency standards are higher in the IRA-version of 45L than before
No limits on the number of single family or multi-family units that can qualify for a 45L credit
Credits are boosted for projects where workers are paid “prevailing wages.”
25D – Residential Clean Energy Property Credit
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, taxpayers can receive a tax credit to cover 30% of the costs of installing solar energy property on their homes, in addition to other clean energy improvements. For example, this credit also applies to solar systems that are paired with battery storage. Starting on January 1, 2023, this credit will also apply to standalone battery storage installed without solar. For a full list of upgrades that are eligible for this tax credit, click here.
Key Takeaways:
Raises credit from 26% to 30% through 2032; will step down in 2033 and be eliminated for residential in 2035.
Credit is retroactive to solar systems installed during the 2022 tax year.
There is no maximum dollar amount that can be claimed.
Starting in 2023, stand-alone battery storage qualifies for a credit.
Rebates & Training Grants
In addition to tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act also sets aside $9 billion in funding for residential energy efficiency upgrades as well as training for home energy performance contractors!
$8.8 Billion Home Energy Rebates Program
The IRA created two new programs that will provide households with $8.8 billion in rebates for high efficiency electric appliance upgrades and whole-home energy retrofits. Collectively, they are known as the Home Energy Rebate Programs. Individually, they are referred to as the Home Efficiency Program and the Home Electrification Program. Home Energy Rebate funding will be distributed to state energy offices and subsequently flow to program implementers – who will vary from state to state based on each states’ unique program design and guidelines. Rebates are expected to be available to the public in early 2024.
$4.3 billion for DOE Home Efficiency Program
Formerly referred to as the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings or “HOMES” Program.
Rebates amounts are performance-based: the more energy you save, the more you earn.
Up to $2,000 for energy efficiency retrofits with modeled energy savings of 20-34%.
Up to $4,000 for energy efficiency retrofits with modeled energy savings of 35% or more.
Upgrades can include HVAC and other electric appliances as well as weatherization measures (e.g. insulation, air sealing, windows/ doors, etc.)
Low-moderate income households are eligible for additional rebates up to $8,000.
Home Efficiency rebates cannot be combined with other federal grants or rebates, but CAN be combined with state/utility rebates and federal tax credits.
$4.5 Billion for DOE Home Electrification Program
Rebates targeted towards low-moderate income households for high-efficiency electric appliances and equipment
Maximum rebate of $14,000 per household
Eligible upgrades and their rebate amounts are as follows:
Heat pump water heaters: $1,750
Heat pump for space heating and cooling: $8,000
Electric stoves: $840
Heat pump clothes dryers: $840
Electrical panel upgrades: $4,000
Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation: $1,600
Electric wiring: $2,500
Installation: $500
Home Electrification rebates cannot be combined with other federal grants or rebates, but CAN be combined with state/utility rebates and federal tax credits.
$200 Million for Residential Energy Contractor Training
Officially known as DOE’s Training for Residential Energy Contractors or “TREC,” this grant program sets aside $200 million for state energy offices to fund their own workforce development activities specifically for residential home energy performance contractors. DOE expects to distribute these funds to states as early as 2023, and will be available to states through September 2031.
Some say that the climate bill could create up to 1,000 new companies. Its passage will be huge for startups as well as the big venture capital firms that back them. In other words, it’s a great time to start a solar company and get in on the influx of cash coming from this legislation.
Perhaps the biggest impact is that government investment in climate initiatives will give private investors and consumers much more confidence in the climate space. This could reveal itself by way of utilities offering rebates for solar panel installation and home energy audits, which in turn drives up homeowner demand and CREATES MORE WORK in the industry.
Are you prepared for the new business coming your way? Start honing your skills now so that you can take full advantage of this funding!
The biggest chunk of money from this legislation goes to clean energy, such as solar. Browse Our Solar Courses and learn how to sell, design & install solar panel systems!
The bill also includes rebates for people who invest in energy-efficient home improvements, which means a lot of homeowners are going to be wanting home energy audits. This just screams BPI Building Analyst – register today so you’ll be certified and ready to get that business!
The utility will reward existing HEIP and HEEAP Program Contractors with a financial incentive toward BPI training and certification.
Everblue Training, a nationally recognized provider of sustainability and energy efficiency courses, has entered into an agreement with Georgia Power, the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, to provide discounted BPI Building Analyst training to its contractors.
Participants of Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) and Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) may apply for the opportunity to receive a monetary credit toward online BPI Building Analyst training through Everblue.
The BPI Building Analyst training prepares home performance contractors to become certified home energy auditors. BPI-certified professionals analyze whole-house energy use by performing a series of diagnostic tests using specialized equipment. Through combustion safety testing and air leakage testing, a BPI Building Analyst professional can identify heating and cooling problems that lead to high energy costs, health problems, and occupant discomfort.
“The BPI Building Analyst Certification is a natural fit for Georgia Power’s HEIP and HEEAP contractors,” said Sean Gray, Everblue’s BPI Program Manager. “Both the HEIP and HEEAP programs require technicians to use building science principles during a home energy assessment, and the educated recommendations that they provide to homeowners result in lower energy bills, greater thermal comfort, and sometimes life-saving home improvements. Here at Everblue, we’re honored to play a role in that knowledge-sharing. Together with Georgia Power, we are empowering contractors and home occupants alike.”
The online BPI Building Analyst program provides a quick and convenient format for getting BPI certified, by including self-paced video modules and both the written and field certification exams.
“This is such a great professional development opportunity for participating contractors,” Gray said. “In addition to the valuable knowledge gained, they’ll also be able to add a nationally recognized industry certification to their resume. That level of credibility will help them stand out from competitors and help instill confidence in their homeowner clients.”
Everblue has been an approved BPI Test Center for over 10 years and has trained tens of thousands of home performance professionals across the country.
Existing HEIP and HEEAP program contractors may apply for this opportunity by emailing Erica White at [email protected].
For more information about BPI Certification, call Everblue at (800) 460-2575 or visit the company website at everbluetraining.com.
About Everblue
Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
Everblue, a nationally recognized education company, will work with the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) to train and certify weatherization contractors across the state in home performance and energy efficiency concepts.
As the state’s official training partner, Everblue will develop curriculum, train, and provide technical assistance to participants on the following topics:
Whole-House Energy Auditing
Quality Control Inspections
Combustion Safety
Health and Safety in accordance with ASHRAE 62.2 2016
These courses will enable Florida weatherization contractors to earn the esteemed HEP Energy Auditor and HEP Quality Control Inspector certifications, which represent the home performance industry’s highest levels of technical understanding and achievement.
This knowledge contributes to FACA’s mission of increasing the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, improving occupant health and safety, and providing career advancement opportunities for weatherization contractors.
Everblue has been offering building science training since 2008 and maintains a close relationship with the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the non-profit organization that created the professional certification standards for home energy auditors and weatherization contractors.
As an approved BPI Test Center, Everblue’s instructors provide BPI training classes and administer corresponding BPI certification exams, allowing for a one-stop-shop certification solution for candidates.
In addition to meeting BPI’s quality standards, Everblue’s training curriculum is aligned with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s job task analyses and accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The organization also has more than ten years of experience preparing participants for in-demand energy efficiency careers.
“Since inception, we have regularly trained students from weatherization agencies across the country as part of the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program,” said Chris Boggiano, co-founder of Everblue. “The vast majority of our BPI training students pass their written and field certification exams on their first attempt. Our instructors have both deep real-world experience and a passion for educating others that make our classes second to none.”
FACA will host Everblue’s BPI training courses at its state-of-the-art weatherization training center in Tampa, FL, in Spring 2021. Everblue will also conduct training at the FACA Annual Training Conference in May 2021 to all 18 weatherization agencies in Florida.
For more information about Everblue’s BPI Certification programs, or to view its 2021 training schedule, please visit https://everbluetraining.com/ or call (800) 460-2575.
About Everblue Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
Everblue, a nationally recognized and accredited education company, will work with the Louisiana Housing Corporation to train and certify weatherization contractors across the state in home performance and energy efficiency concepts.
As Louisiana’s Weatherization Training Center Partner, Everblue will develop curriculum, train, and provide technical assistance to participants seeking the following certifications:
Everblue has been offering building science training since 2008 and maintains a close relationship with the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the non-profit organization that created the professional certification standards for home energy auditors and weatherization contractors.
As an approved BPI Test Center, Everblue’s authorized instructors provide BPI training classes and administer corresponding BPI certification exams, allowing for a one-stop-shop certification solution for candidates.
In addition to meeting BPI’s quality standards, Everblue’s training curriculum is also aligned with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s job task analyses and accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The organization likewise has more than ten years of experience preparing participants for in-demand energy efficiency careers.
“Since inception, we have regularly trained students from weatherization agencies across the country as part of the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program,” said Chris Boggiano, co-founder of Everblue. “The vast majority of our BPI training students pass their written and field certification exams on their first attempt. Our instructors have both deep real-world experience and a passion for educating others that make our classes second to none.”
The LHC will host Everblue’s BPI training courses at its state-of-the-art Weatherization Training Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
For more information about Everblue’s BPI Certification programs, or to view the training schedule, please visit https://everbluetraining.com/ or call (800) 460-2575.
About Everblue
Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
About LHC
The Louisiana Housing Corporation’s mission is to ensure that every Louisiana resident is granted an opportunity to obtain safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing. The organization administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy-efficient and affordable housing for working families, drive housing policy for Louisiana, and oversee the state’s Disaster Housing Task Force. For more information, visit https://www.lhc.la.gov/.
For those of you who are thinking about adding home energy audits and blower door testing to your skills, you’ve likely come across BPI Certification in your research. It’s a nationally recognized certification program for home energy professionals and contractors. So, how much is BPI Certification?
Well, it depends on which BPI certification you want to pursue. There are 14 certifications to choose from.
Quick background: What is BPI? What is Everblue?
BPI stands for the Building Performance Institute, a nonprofit organization that created ANSI-accredited standards for home energy auditing.
BPI relies on a network of partners, like Everblue, to provide BPI training courses and to administer the BPI certification exams.
There are some organizations out there that only provide training but are not approved to offer the exams. As an approved BPI Test Center, we at Everblue do provide all necessary BPI training & testing in one package, making for an easy one-stop-shop experience for you.
So as you ask “How much is BPI Certification?” remember to keep in mind that there are costs associated with training and exams. Best case scenario, as is here at Everblue, you register for a program that includes both – because you need both.
How to Get BPI Certification
Most of the BPI certifications require that you pass a written exam and a field exam.
The written exam is a computer-based test comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions.
The field exam is a one-on-one proctored experience where candidates demonstrate proper use of the energy auditing equipment and knowledge of how to correctly perform the corresponding diagnostic test.
As a BPI Test Center, Everblue staff is responsible for proctoring all certification exams. And the exam fees paid by participants are actually hard fees that we then pay to BPI.
Typically, a written exam will cost about $400 and a field exam will cost about $700. Note that these fees are per designation.
The bulk of the expense is in those exam fees…and you can’t really avoid that! If you need to be certified, then you need to take and pass the certification exams.
Although many of the BPI certifications have a similar process of training + written exam + field exam, the question of “How much is BPI Certification?” then depends on which – and how many – BPI certifications you intend to pursue. After all, you might choose to get certified in 1, 2 or 3+ areas, which means that you have to pass multiple written exams and multiple field exams. Each of those exams has a cost associated with it.
Which BPI Certification should I get?
Excellent question! As I mentioned above, there are 14 professional certifications from BPI that you can pursue.
The most popular BPI certifications are:
BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage – meant for technicians who need to get certified in blower door and duct leakage testing (typically for state energy code compliance reasons)
BPI Building Analyst – meant for professionals who want to offer whole-house energy audits, blower door testing, air quality testing, combustion safety testing, and retrofit improvement recommendations
There are natural overlaps in subject matter among these three certifications, so we’ve packaged our BPI training program in such a way that participants can pursue 2 or 3 designations at once. This ultimately saves you time and money.
For more detailed information about all of the various BPI certifications, view our BPI Certification Explained page.
Now, how much is BPI Certification?
As I mentioned earlier, the cost of BPI Certification first takes into account training + written exam + field exam.
Then, you have to factor in which – and how many – BPI certification(s) you want to pursue.
Please visit our course pages below to see current pricing rates:
While it’s important to set the expectation of how much you’ll be spending to earn BPI Certification, remember that the expense is an investment in your future and your success.
We’ve trained many experienced industry professionals who came out of BPI training saying, “Wow, I’ve been doing this work for years…but I actually learned a lot of new skills and equations during this course.” Check it out for yourself! Visit our Everblue Training Reviews page to see what past participants have said.
More often than not, those who take a BPI certification course typically work in related fields, such as HVAC or insulation, and need to learn specifically about building science principles and blower door testing to capitalize on new business opportunities. Experienced industry professionals get BPI certified because they want to go into business for themselves and/or obtain the necessary certification required by their state to continue doing business.
Not sure if BPI certification is right for you? Give us a call at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll talk you through the options that make the most sense for you.
E4TheFuture and E2 have released their latest energy efficiency jobs report, which highlights the fact that energy efficiency has historically proven to be a job growth catalyst in the aftermath of economic meltdown.
The 12-page report cites the Recovery Act investments after the 2009 financial collapse that led to the weatherization of more than 1 million homes. “Electricians, HVAC technicians and other construction workers – as well as manufacturers of building supplies and ENERGY STAR® appliances – quickly returned to work. Consumers and businesses saved billions of dollars, our environment benefitted, and our nation became more energy secure. Now with the right stimulus policies, we can do it again, but better.”
Energy Efficiency Jobs in 2020 – Prior & During COVID-19
Energy efficiency has historically been a job-creation powerhouse, growing two times faster than overall nationwide employment since 2017 to reach nearly 2.4 million workers at the end of 2019.
For the last four years, the energy efficiency sector became one of the biggest, fastest-growing, and most beneficial sectors for both our economy and our environment.
The energy efficiency workforce was projected to grow 3% in 2020. Of course no one could have predicted the pandemic.
Instead of growing as expected, there was a loss of 13.5% energy efficiency jobs in the U.S. In addition, there was an increase in utility and energy costs due to more people working from home. Ordinarily, efficiency and weatherization would reduce energy costs by 25%, but as one weatherization consultant noted, the pandemic shut down service for over 120 days and resulted in hundreds of delayed home service deliveries.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, the “Energy Efficiency Jobs in America” report aims to learn from lessons of the past and create a game plan for future success.
Workforce development is vital to future economic health, and federal stimulus money has proven to be a fast way to get unemployed and transitioning people back to work quickly with new, relevant skills.
The report notes that “Energy efficiency jobs are a great option for those previously employed by contracting energy sectors and those in industries struggling to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. These are high quality jobs offering above average wages and, in many cases, benefits for young people and mid-career individuals entering the workforce.”
If you are a contractor in need of energy efficiency training, visit our Course Catalog or call (800) 460-2575 for guidance on how to proceed.
Local Job Support & Appreciation
What’s great about energy efficiency jobs is that they are inherently local; the vast majority cannot be off-shored. With on-site work required to improve homes and buildings, it’s likely you know energy efficiency professionals in your community.
Stimulus money can get the ball rolling on the training front, but communities can also help support homegrown small businesses by using locally made products and hiring professionals to do home energy audits and weatherization work.
Where can you find trained professionals in your community?
Energy efficiency is a proven catalyst for broad economic recovery that can create solid careers in every state and county for years to come.
A model of a robust stimulus package for retrofits of existing buildings illustrates how such a stimulus would create jobs, save money, reduce energy dependence and spur economic growth, all while reducing pollution and climate emissions.
Federal policy leadership is essential to ensure that both indoor air quality and energy efficiency are addressed to benefit property owners, occupants, and the country.
We need to…
Continue funding for federal energy efficiency programs with a proven track record.
State energy programs
Weatherization programs
Energy efficiency and conservation grants
Support initiatives that incentivize existing building owners to make smart indoor air quality and energy efficiency upgrades to their properties.
Commercial and residential building tax credits
Residential energy efficiency rebate programs to drive job creation for local contractors
Programs to encourage greater efficiency and sustainability in the U.S. housing supply
Programs focused on resilience, energy efficiency, and air quality in public buildings
Support programs that move the country forward on indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
Strengthen building and appliance efficiency standards with training and enforcement
Direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure rebuilding projects after natural disasters meet the most current international building codes
Fund energy audits, technical assistance, and financing options for large manufacturers
Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in federal energy efficiency programs.
Strengthen workforce development and apprenticeship programs for the energy efficiency sector while prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion
Create a workforce grant program to help organizations and small businesses hire and train new energy efficiency employees with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion
In conclusion…
State and local leaders can keep energy efficiency jobs growing by:
Adopting efficiency and indoor air quality standards for new construction and existing buildings
Adopting energy benchmarking and reporting requirements for existing buildings
Incorporating broader use of performance contracting in public buildings
Advancing commercial and residential property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs
Modernizing regulation to align utilities’ incentives with energy efficiency investments and assure transparent and comprehensive cost-effectiveness evaluation
Investing in related infrastructure to enable interval data analytics and efficiency building upgrades to boost resilience
We interviewed Stephen Cowell, the founder of E4TheFuture, several month ago about his thoughts on the future of energy efficiency industry. He reiterated the importance of stimulus money, incentives, and support at that time and was likewise optimistic about the future bounce-back of the industry.
Should You Get an Energy Efficiency Job?
Despite how unsettling things appear, now is actually a great time to begin researching energy efficiency jobs.
There are advocates at the local, state, and federal levels who are working diligently to ensure that people get back to work with high-paying, in-demand energy efficiency jobs.
Now is the time to begin training and preparing, so that when the stimulus money and incentives go into effect, you can hit the ground running.
We want to be part of your success journey. We helped thousands of people earn BPI Certification in 2009-2011 during the time of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and we’re ready to do it again.
This time, we now have the ability to offer online BPI training and testing. For those who are still living their lives predominantly from home, you can take the next steps for your career with online training.
For more information about online & in-person training, visit our BPI Training Catalog or call us at (800) 460-2575.
