Energy Audit

Ed the Roofer

I hear a lot about Energy Audits. Particularly for residential clients is what I am seeking to find out about and I am in Illinois, if that helps.

What is involved in learning how to become certified in properly conducting this aspect of business?

Thanks,

Ed

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scottsanders250

Ed,

I'm down in the southwest suburbs and there are a few companies in the area that I know of offering audits. The first one is Jim Cavallo in Downers Grove (Google "Kouba-Cavallo Associates, Inc.") and the second is Lantz Rakow from D+H Energy Management in Huntley (Google "D+H Energy Management", third one down).

Both of these guys are certified H.E.R.S (Home Energy Rating System) raters by RESNET (Google "residential energy services"). If you want to conduct audits that allow for Energy Star, NAHB Green, or Energy Efficient Mortgage certification, you would have to get certified by that group.

Normally a HERS rater uses a blower door test with an infrared camera to pinpoint leaks in the building envelope. Some raters provide other services such as plan review to make suggestions for energy efficiency and submitting paperwork for Energy Star and NAHB Green certification.

Sorry for the links, but I can't post hyper-links until I make 15 forum posts. Let me know if you need anymore information.

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dhall

There are several organizations that you can get certified through. We are certified through RESNET which is one of the larger. We run our auditing business as a separate enity and that is all we do in that company. It is kind of like home inspections. You don't really want to be auditing and then selling them the repair services. Kind of a conflict of interest. Auditing by itself is not overly difficult if you know how a house is built. The two things you will find though are you will have to invest in some kind of pricey equipment. We have a blower door, duct blaster and and Inrared camera. You can figure on close to $10,000 in those three items. More importantly though is to do the job right you really need to learn about building science and keep up to date on advances and current theory. Like the thread from a week or so ago about spray foam on the underside of the roof deck.

Having said that if you are willing to do the research and some learning and spend the money for the tools I think that it is going to be a huge business in the next few years. California already requires some auditing anytime an air conditioner is changed out and NJ is talking about adding a manitory audit program of some sort.

Ed the Roofer

After I posted last night, I did some Google Searches and found a company out of Crystal Lake and e-mailed them and received a response from the owner this morning.

I found the ResNet site listed amongst other sites and certifications and something called BIP.

It seems that there are 3 basic levels, (Probably Many More Too), of Energy Audits and the one I would be interested in would be the Preliminary Evaluation at this time.

Yes, I am very studious with all things Building Science related, especially regarding roofs and attics, but with a fundamental understanding of other leak zone areas, such as Windows.

I will contact the gentleman today that had the timely courtesy of responding so promptly.

Ed

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Fenex

First post on this forum but I have frequented others in the past. For starters... Hey Oberon, hope all is well. Still having issues with the never-ending posts I see.... .

As previously stated in this thread, there are a couple of organizations that lead the field of home performance assessments and certification. They are Resnet and BPI. We try to avoid the term Energy Audits as "Audits" are typically received negatively by consumers (Thank you IRS). Resnet is the organization that oversees Home Energy Raters (HERS) and developed initially to certify builder's tax credits, Energy Star homes (EPA/DOE), Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) and Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM). BPI, the Building Performance Institute provides certification and accreditation primarily for building analysts & contractors looking to improve existing homes. The larger and most successful HP programs (i.e. New York, Cali, etc.) utilize the BPI approach. I am multi-certified through both organizations and know them and their staff/board members very well.

Of the two, BPI is a much more comprehensive assessment. It always includes additonal testing procedures such as combustion safety, CO, gas leak detection, and testing out procedures AFTER the work is performed. Contrary to the aforemention comment about "a conflict of interest", BPI is more concerned with actually fixing homes, not just rating them. Does your auto mechanic, who puts the brakes on the family car check it out and just tell you it's dangerous, leaving you to find someone else to fix it? Most BPI companies provide assessments and remediation, or part of it, and are held responsible for the results. The primary goal of any "audit" or program should be to improve homes, IAQ, comfort, energy efficiency, environment, etc, which only occurs when the work gets done... and done properly and responsibly. In other professional industries, such as medicine, providing diagnostic testing and giving a solution prescription... and then walking away without over-seeing the process and testing afterwards for potentially life-threatening results, is nothing short of malpractice.

To become a certified Resnet rater you must pass a written exam. For BPI certification you must pass a three point proctored written exam, field exam and report exam to become a (BA) Building Analyst. You will then choose a specialty (Envelope, HVAC, etc.) and repeat the three point process.

Resnet is currently in the process of working with BPI to include additional requirements such as combustion safety and a joint certification is in the works. I am currently working with BPI to develop a product and service provider certification that would allow contractors to get training and provide home performance remediation while working with certified BA's that will provide the diagnostics in and out.

Hope this helps a little.

Ed the Roofer

Thank you very much for the information on credentials for becoming certified and I am really grateful that I made contact with you, especially due to your close proximity to my shop.

Now, how much studying is required, where does one gain access to the information necessary and how would it benefit the specialty tradesmen, such as roofing with attic ventilation applications, siding installers and replacement window installers?

Would a certification be a feasible investment for these types of trades and potentially others, worth the investment to move forward, or even to arrange a partnership affiliation with?

Profit for the contractor is an obvious necessity, but along with energy usage reduction for the consumers, what and how are the marketing venues for this mainly unknown specialty trade?

By the way, Thank You once again.

Ed

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Oberon

Hey FenEx! Welcome to Contractor Talk. This is a great forum and I think that you will enjoy it here.

And I like to think that I have shortened my posts a great deal compared with the "old days" - nothing "Oberonic" (to quote Guy!) in any of the ones that I have posted here so far that I recall anyway.

Again, welcome and hoping all is well with you and yours.

mshoward

I saw this post from a couple of years ago. What are you guys and gals seeing with regard to energy audits these days? I also believe ResNet (HERS) and BPI still seem to be the major people to get certifications from. It seems to be a good niche to me. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Matt G

[quote=scottsanders250;478149]Ed,
.....
Both of these guys are certified H.E.R.S (Home Energy Rating System) raters by RESNET (Google "residential energy services"). If you want to conduct audits that allow for Energy Star, NAHB Green, or Energy Efficient Mortgage certification, you would have to get certified by that group.

Normally a HERS rater uses a blower door test with an infrared camera to pinpoint leaks in the building envelope. Some raters provide other services such as plan review to make suggestions for energy efficiency and submitting paperwork for Energy Star and NAHB Green certification.
quote]

When I think of HERS raters I think new construction. When I think of "Energy Audit" I think of existing homes.

mshoward

I was thinking of getting into both consulting on new homes and auditing/doing the work on existing homes...on a side note, did you used to work for Centex, Matt G?

Matt G

Oh.. I messed up and didn't realize the thread was so old.

Not sure I can help you, but anyway, there are classes, etc for HERS raters (new homes), although I don't know what is available for doing energy autidt on existing homes. In our area, Southern Energy Management is the major HERS rater, although there are a number of smaller energy contractors.

What is BPI?

No - I never worked for Centex.

edward ormsby

Building Performance Institute is geared to existing home performance where resnet at this point is I think more geared to new construction. BPI also includes combustion safety on all combustion appliances in the home. BPI also does quality controls on a random number of "BPI" certified audits. In order to become a BPI certified building analyst you have to past a written and field test. I just got my BPI BA and working on audits and home performance work in Charlottesville, VA. Google BPI's website for more info.

parts

Whoever does the ones I see do a very poor job I can't believe they went thru so much training and know so little. I get to go to the homes and I have to explain why they can't get R 20 in their existing 2x4 walls or R-49 in their 2x6 rafters unless they gut the house. I know there is a lot of things that go into the audits but they could at least know the basics.

parts

Looked at one that had the audit two days before they could not even ID they type of insulation saying it was either cellulose or horse hair. It was rockwool

SLSTech

To anyone interested - I just finished off both the BPI BA & RESNET HERS classes

For a recap & answers to why most don't know what the insulation is etc... you might enjoy reading about the classes & certifications

http://blog.sls-construction.com/tag/education

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Certified Energy Efficiency Audits, Ratings, Modeling, Verifications, & Consulting
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans

Rio

It's definitely an up and coming field. In California we're plowing headlong into all sorts of requirements, rules and regulations regarding energy efficiency. It's all in the name of a good idea but it's going way overboard on what's required by our statist government.

Having said that it's a good business to get into because it's going to be mandated more and more. Also, there's a lot of good reasons to be conscious of energy use in a building and how to reduce that use while still providing a healthy environment; buildings that can substantially reduce their energy use are worth more money and to show that they work they have to be tested.

parts

And the more and more they mandate stuff like this the more people get into it that have no reason other to make money turning it all into one big scam. It's good that people know this stuff but they are just creating another class of worker like the architect and engineer who are book smart but have no practical knowledge on who things are in the real world that just makes things more expensive. BTW I went to one the day before yesterday they didn;t even do a blower door test or fill out any of the rebate paperwork. They foamed a couple holes and told them to get CF light bulbs that was it. The home owners were not happy I am seeing this more and more. I have thought of getting certified but don't want to spend the money till business picks up and have money to spend on such stuff

MikeReynolds

Most dont realize just how hard those classes are. Most also dont realize that a lot of people that take those classes come straight from Walmart or the corner store trying to improve their lives and have never seen a building going up. Of course thers always those that have never taken the class and wing it too.

When do you take your test?

SLSTech

Tests have been taken - just waiting to hear that I passed

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Certified Energy Efficiency Audits, Ratings, Modeling, Verifications, & Consulting
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans

MikeReynolds

Good luck then.