The unprecedented funding allocated to weatherization assistance programs and residential energy efficiency initiatives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has created an urgent need to ramp-up existing programs and launch new ones. But with this great opportunity to help more families and take a huge step toward achieving America’s energy and environmental goals comes a responsibility to spend tax payer dollars wisely on projects that can create sustainable jobs in our communities and provide return on investment (ROI).
We are an organization that develops national standards for residential energy efficiency retrofit work. These standards are recognized across North America. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, we bring together leading building science experts from across North America to develop our standards using a consensus-based methodology. Taking a holistic view, we ensure that all styles and ages of dwelling are included, and all climate zones are covered.
So how can we help you with your programs?
Training
Your program relies on highly skilled, professional contractors – contractors who cannot only achieve the desired energy efficiency goals, but can also protect and enhance occupant comfort, health and safety. The problem is, there just aren’t enough of them around to meet the demand. You need to train more quickly – and make sure they’re trained to get it right.
Our coast-to-coast network of independent training organizations covers every aspect of whole-home performance evaluation and execution. The house-as-a-system approach teaches students about the relationships between different components within the home, how to identify problems at the root cause and provide solutions that improve energy efficiency while enhancing important safety functions such as mold prevention, indoor air quality, carbon monoxide testing and combustion appliance safety checks.
Access our network of training organizations. But we can also help you build your own training infrastructure. Some states are choosing to offer training programs that prepare students for BPI exams through their community college networks. We can help you bring your colleges on board.
Licensed curricula is available from some of our longest-standing and highest-profile training organizations, including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and ENERGY STAR® partner Performance Systems Development (PSD).
These turn-key courses include instructor presentations and student handouts, as well as written and field examination protocols. To help your instructors feel confident with the course material, train the trainer sessions are available that encompass every aspect of training.
Professional certification
Spending public funds on work performed by members of the private sector means you need to know that your residential energy efficiency incentive or weatherization assistance program is achieving maximum ROI, while providing the best-possible experience for homeowners and tenants.
BPI certified professionals are individuals who have proven their skills, meeting our stringent, nationally recognized standards by passing both written and field examinations. Ongoing Continuing Education Units (CEUs) keep these elite individuals on top of emerging issues, technologies and best practices.
Using the house-as-a-system approach, they conduct comprehensive whole-home assessments that go beyond a traditional energy audit to establish performance levels and trace problems to the root cause. Then they prescribe and prioritize real solutions based on proven building science. At the end of each job, a second assessment confirms the desired performance improvements have been achieved.
The result is work that’s done right – the first time. Energy efficiency is enhanced for the long-term, while occupant comfort, health and safety are not just protected, but often dramatically improved.
Company accreditation
BPI accredited contracting companies have made an organization-wide commitment to quality and accountability. The companies in this elite group follow BPI standards for home assessments and retrofit solution implementation, and comply with requirements for a minimum number of specialized BPI certified professionals on the payroll—that means that no matter which crew is assigned to a project, it will provide the highest possible level of skill for the task.
Each and every job that BPI accredited contractors complete is documented and the information is archived at the company and submitted to BPI. Why? Because participation in, and compliance with, our nationwide quality assurance program is a mandatory requirement for all BPI accredited contracting firms.
Quality assurance
Developing a quality assurance program from scratch is costly and time consuming – and you may not have the human resources available to run it on an ongoing basis moving forward.
We have established nationwide quality assurance protocols and procedures for home performance contracting companies. As an independent, third-party organization, BPI has developed rigorous requirements that all of its accredited contracting companies must comply with in order to retain their status. We take it seriously. Unresolved noncompliance can result in delisting.
We also oversee and administer the quality assurance program, which gives you an important additional layer of risk protection.
