Home Inspectors--Expand Your Business by Becoming
a Home Energy Survey Professional (HESP)

Only $199

The course includes:

10 DVD set Energy Auditor Training.

1 DVD : Energy Business and Marketing issue

1 Book Energy Assessment and Improvement by Harbuck

What about certification? RESNET offers the HESP certification. This includes passing a $50 exam. You set up a proctor at a local library, college, or other testing center. RESNET uses a provider system. You can take and pass the test on your own ($50), but to claim you are certified HESP, you need to find a providor to certify you and to oversee your work (fees are paid to the provider). Check the RESNET website for a list of providers. If you do not tie in with a provider, you cannot claim you are certified, you can only say you passed the HESP test.

 

Become an Energy Auditor/BPI Building Analyst/HERS Rater or
an Energy Retrofitter/BPI Envelope Professional

For Only $499

We feel the best way to be trained is visually, so, we use dozens of DVDs in our training so you see the things you should be auditing or retrofitting.

$499   Package Covering Energy Auditor/BPI Building Analyst/HERS Rater/DOE-Weatherization Auditor Or

$499 Package Covering Energy Retrofitter/BPI Envelope Professional/DOE-Weatherization Installer/Contractor.

$399  Either of these packages is only $399 if you have purchased our home inspector training package. Call in your order to get this discount.

Add only $15 for S&H

These courses cover all the topics required of BPI (BA & EP Certifications), RESNET (HESP, Rater, BPA & CHER certifications) and Weatherization for Auditors and Installers (including mobile homes), including the topics on both the written and field exams for these certifications.

These Courses include the following: 

21 DVD set Energy Auditor Training: Covers all the BPI Building Analyst Standards, the HERS Rater Standards, and DOE-Weatherization Core Competencies, OR

12 DVD set Energy Installer Training: Covers all the BPI Envelope Professional  Standards, and the DOE-Weatherization Installer Core Competencies for Installers/Retrofitters/Contractors/Construction Workers.

Plus each course includes the following:

3 DVD Energy Auditor, Building Analyst (B.A.), HERS Rater, and DOE-Weatherization Training: Whole House Assessment, Diagnosing and Air Sealing 
  

1 CD which includes BPI documents, OSHA, Thermal Bypass, Sample State Weatherization Standards, and Worker Safety

1 DVD : Energy Business and Marketing Issues

4 DVD Equipment Training: Blower Door, Pressure Pan, Zone Pressure Diagnostics, Duct Blaster

1 Book "Energy Assessment and Improvement" by Harbuck

What does an energy auditor do? An energy auditor determines how to make a home more energy efficient and comfortable. An energy auditor examines the heating and cooling equipment, thermostats, air infiltration, duct systems, filters, insulation, weatherstripping, windows, lighting, and appliances. The auditor inspects the attic, basement or crawlspace and runs diagnostic tests using blower doors to check the home's envelope and duct leakage. An auditor can also use an infrared camera to find trouble spots. A home energy auditor identifies how much energy a home uses and then recommends prioritized improvements to increase the home's energy efficiency and comfort level.

What does an energy retrofitter do? A energy retrofitter makes a home more energy efficient and comfortable by changing the physical characteristics of the building. An energy retrofitter retrofits the heating and cooling equipment, thermostats, air infiltration, duct systems, filters, insulation, weatherstripping, windows, lighting, and appliances. An energy retrofitter uses the  prioritized improvements list created by the auditor to increase the home’s energy efficiency and comfort level.

What certification is needed? DOE and most states do not require licensing to offer energy auditing services to the public. Some non-profit groups have created certifications that are increasingly being recogized, but not mandatorily required. The two most recognized and respected groups are BPI and RESNET (don't be fooled by schools saying they will certify you--their certification is usually not recognized anywhere). BPI has been around for decades. With BPI, you can pass the certifications and be able to work on your own. With RESNET, you must always work with a provider. *See next page to learn about providers.

What education and training is needed? It is virtually impossible to pass the certification exams without education and training. Audits are visual processes and we feel the best way to be trained is visually in a user-friendly format. The program is self-paced utilizing dozens of visually-oriented DVDs and an industry standard book. Most importantly, the emphasis of the DVDs is to expose you to on-site situations, so that when you get out on-site, you will be more familiar with the surroundings and can get started on the job much sooner.

With home study, you get to keep all of the material and review it as often as you want. Most of our competitors offer a 2 or 3 day class. Honestly, how can you learn and retain all this information in 2 or 3 days? One competitor even told us they teach to the test, but most of their students have no idea what they are doing after that.

How do I get certified? Remember, no state currently requires certification. We can help you with BPI certification.

1. BPI Building Analyst Certification. This certification involves both a written and field exam. Our training package covers the material for both exams. The fee for the test is around $225. We can direct you on how to set up the proctored written exam. You must pass the written exam before coming to the field training and field exam. We can direct you to companies that offer field testing in an area near you.

2. BPI Envelope Professional Certification. This certification involves both a written and field exam. Our training package covers the material for both exams. We can direct you on how to set up for the proctored written exam. The fee for the test is around $225. We can direct you to companies that offer field testing in an area near you.

3. Combined BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional. Receive both certifications. You will have 4 hours to complete both field tests on the test day. Because much of the material overlaps, the extra time will help in completing the testing.We can direct you to companies that offer field testing in an area near you.

Why is BPI certification so expensive?
- Exam givers, both written and field, must be certified by BPI. They have gone through a lot of training to get to this status.
- The field exam is one-on-one just for you. This means the trainers time is not divided amoung several people and so the costs are not shared.
-The examiner has to pay a fee to BPI for each test given for the BPI review.
- The field exam has to be on an actual home.

What equipment is needed? Energy auditors usually need a blower door, a duct blaster, and manometers. In total, the costs range from $3000 to $5000. If you don't want to make the equipment investment, consider doing a HESP inspection. See above for details.

There are Two Methods To Order Any Item On This Page--Choose What's Most Convenient For YOU

1. Call Us Toll Free at (888) 466-4677 and place your order over the telephone. OR

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Prices subject to change. 2-3 day delivery available on training. Purchased DVD's licenses only for training one individual. Copyright penalty for prohibited use. Licenses are available for training additional trainees at reduced rates. Not available to professional trainers.

 

Certifications in the Home Energy Arena

Definitions

There are basically two types of work being done in the energy arena:

Evaluator/Auditor--does a survey or tests the house to see what condition the house is in from the energy standpoint.

Installer/Contractor--Once the house has been evaluated, this person uses the information collected from the evaluator's directions to work the home. Installers do some testing as well, but typically only to see if their work is proving to be productive or to address possible safety issues in the homes they are working in (e.g. installers are required to "test out" at the end of each day and when their work ends to ensure that their work has not compromised the safety of the occupants)

BPI has both evaluator and installer certifications while RESNET only has evaluator certifications.

Certifications (in order of increasing difficulty of achieving)

Home Energy Survey Professional -- HESP (RESNET) Type: Evaluator –
50 question test, No Field Exam. You don't need a provider to take the test, but you do need a provider to evaluate homes.

Residential Building Envelope Air Leakage Control Installer -- ALCI - (BPI) Type: Installer
This certification a special testing circumstance -- there is a very basic field exam with props that is directed solely at proving ones' skills at caulking, blocking bypasses, foaming, etc. Technically there is no "written exam" since questions are delivered verbally by the field examiner and the examinee answers them verbally. So, in essence, this involves both a question based verbal exam as well as the field exam but both are limited to the examinee proving their knowledge and skills in the Air Sealing arena (no blower door or combustion appliance zone (CAZ) testing, no auditor oriented inspection skills required, etc.)

Diagnostic Home Energy Survey Professional - DHESP (RESNET) Type: Evaluator-- Must first be certified as a Home Energy Survey Professional
      In addition to having the knowledge base of the HESP, the examinee must also prove an ability to conduct diagnostic testing on both the building envelope and ductwork. You can be designated by your RESNET provider as a DHESP. In most cases this probably means that your provider will require to show him/her that you can properly conduct these diagnostic tests and show familiarity with any special concerns with your local climate.

Building Analyst -- BA (BPI) Type: Evaluator|
This is the oldest and most common certification available for evaluating existing homes.

Envelope Professional -- EP (BPI) Type: Installer
This is the oldest and most common certification available for retroffing existing homes.

Home Energy Rater - Rater - RESNET Type: Evaluator - New Homes only 
You must have a provider, pass the RESNET Energy Rater exam and, in the process, show proficiency:
in the field in blower door testing, in evaluating a home in accordance with the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating System, in entering data collected on a home evaluation onto a computer program, and in providing a final report on the rating of three homes

Comprehensive Home Energy Auditor--- CHEA-- (RESNET) Type: Evaluator
You must have a provider and you must be a Rater and then also show proficiency in:
Providing a work scope according to BPI BA standards
Providing combustion testing according to BPI BA standards
OR
Must be a BA and then also be able to accomplish:
Building simulation and performance analysis
Provide HERS ratings in accordance with the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating System
OR
Be certified by the Texas Home Energy Rating Organization

Other Specialized Certifications

Manufactured Housing Professional Type: Installer
See BPI web site

Heating Professional: Type Evaluator and installer
See BPI web site

A/C or Heat Pump Professional: Type Evaluator and installer
See BPI web site

Multifamily certifications
See BPI web site

*RESNET Providers. You must find a provider on your own. Because you might be competing with a provider in your area, you might have to look for a provider outside of your area, but thi can involve significantly greater costs. Home Energy Raters are certified by RESNET-Acredited Rating Providers, not by RESNET itself. Not all Rating Providers have the same cost structure and business model. The Rating Provider must perform quality assurance "desk audits" on at least 10% of all energy ratings and follow-up field inspections on at least 1% of your ratings. All these processes require fees that are paid by the Rater to the Rating Provider.