We have over 10 years of experience helping agencies and program sponsors build, deploy and expand successful energy efficiency retrofit and weatherization assistance programs. More than 100 programs across the nation rely on BPI Standards and Professional Credentials as a key component to achieving residential energy efficiency goals.
BPI certification continues to play a key role in Weatherization Assistance Programs (WAPs) in fourteen states and counting! In many cases BPI certification is required by the WAP and by utility programs that work hand in hand with the WAPs to ensure a consistent, comprehensive outcome for customers served. The last two years have shown extensive partnerships emerging among the national WAP network, private sector companies and community based organizations. ARRA funding has created a perpetual motion that spurs training the next generation workforce, testing, certifications, jobs and a goal that is being met incrementally every day in the charge to weatherize millions of homes, save lives, put money back in the pockets of the most frail and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
In addition, the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (HPwES) program from DOE and EPA for market-value homes is active in 33 states. Forty-four program sponsors in 30 states have chosen to use individuals or companies with BPI credentials, and another three states are pending a similar decision.
BPI helped the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (WAP administrator) and Maryland Energy Administration (HPwES sponsor) join forces to specify BPI certification for all the energy auditors working under both programs—a process that took just under six months to go from first meeting to first graduating class of BPI certified professionals. To provide the infrastructure, the plan is to have all 16 community colleges in the state offer home performance training and BPI certification examinations in the future. We’ve also helped agencies like the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Energy Trust of Oregon and Austin Energy build and maintain their energy efficiency incentive programs.
Most recently, the California Energy Commission, State Energy Office and California Public Utility Commission in an unprecedented collaborative effort worked with major utilities to create a uniform retrofit rebate program for whole-house retrofits. The program requires BPI certified professionals on both the basic and advanced rebate paths. CEC invested $20 million into workforce development and, with extensive partnering, was able to leverage $55 million in workforce funds for energy efficiency jobs training. Training to prepare contractors for BPI exams was funded through workforce investment boards and community colleges in preparation for the launch of Energy Upgrade California.
