BPI Professional Certification

Web: www.bpi.org

BPI training, from a network of affiliates, teaches the fundamentals of home performance evaluation, home performance assessments, building envelope and HVAC testing and more. Whole-home retrofit planning helps prioritize repairs and provide customers with an economic forecast of return on investment through energy savings. Training on the execution of retrofit projects has a focus on the house-as-a-system concept, tracing problems to their root causes and prescribing solutions that actually work.

BPI Building Analyst Professional Certification is granted to individuals who have passed a written exam demonstrating a knowledge of the fundamentals of whole home retrofit planning and execution, and passed a proctored field test demonstrating competence in using equipment to perform key measurements and safety tests.

All BPI Professional Certifications are based on demonstrated knowledge and competence in applying building science and safety principals.

Web: www.natresnet.org

HERS Rater

HERS raters are certified by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to conduct audits and accurately determine the home's HERS Index, which rates energy efficiency for uses such as real estate marketing programs and energy efficiency financing programs.

The HERS Index is a scoring system in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.

Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20% more energy efficient.

HERS Raters in Washington are trained and certified by:

• Washington State University Energy Program, in Olympia
  www.energy.wsu.edu/projects/building

Performance Tested Comfort Systems Northwest

Web: www.ptcsnw.com

PTCS Certified Technician

Many utilities offer conservation programs that provide financial incentives to customers who have Duct Sealing and Heat Pumps installed by a PTCS™ Certified technician.

Examples include: ENERGY STAR^® Homes Northwest, public utilities that utilize funding from Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA’s) Conservation Rate Credit, and Puget Sound Energy’s Air Source Electric Heat Pump program.

PTCS™ “Service Providers,” such as Ecos Consulting and Proctor Engineering, provide quality control by reviewing forms and conducting on site inspections. Feedback is provided to technicians and utilities in order to continue to improve the quality of the installations.

Customers can use the database at www.ptcsnw.com to find a duct sealer or heat pump installer in their area which employs PTCS Certified technicians.

Laborers International Union of North America

Web: www.liunabuildsamerica.org/weatherize

The Laborers International Union of North America’s residential energy efficiency training program provides credentials that satisfy the Home Star legislation’s certified workforce criteria. LIUNA’s weatherization training is cited as a national standard by the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. LIUNA credentials individuals in three areas of home performance:

• Technician/Installer
• Weatherization Supervisor
• Energy Auditor

• General Construction
• Safety and Environmental Hazards, including EPA-approved Lead Renovator training

www.olympic.edu

Olympic College offers a Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate Course

The Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate Course will benefit you, your organization and the environment in many ways.

The Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate Course is a nine-month, specialized training program, designed to enable graduates to advise employers or clients on strategies and tools for implementing sustainable building. In this program, you will learn knowledge and skills that respond to Washington state's new high performance for state-funded building and the growing green building movement.

Building Performance Center
Located In: Bellingham
Web: www.bpc.oppco.org

The Building Performance Center, a division of The Opportunity Council in Bellingham Washington provides training for all Washington low-income weatherization agencies.

The BPC provides technical training, diagnostic services, indoor air quality investigations/mitigation and energy efficiency retrofits.  They analyze and develop practical solutions to problems associated with building performance and the indoor living environment. The BPC also provides consulting services in organizational and program development.

Energy Conservation Training Company
Located in: Portland
Web: www.econtc.com

Energy Conservation Training Company (ECONTC) offers training programs to prepare students for the growing clean energy economy. We are pleased to be participating in the creation of a new clean energy economy for a better American way.

ECONTC offers Building Performance Institute, BPI – Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, Heating Professional training and certification courses. We also offer PTCS duct sealing technician training and certification courses. RESNET HERS Rater Training is available through ECONTC’s Training Ally relationship with Saturn Resource Management. 

Comfort Institute
Located in: Bellingham
Web: www.comfortinstitute.org

Comfort Institute supports HVAC service/replacement contractors nationwide who are expanding their problem solving abilities and promotes through Home and Duct Performance diagnostics and repair.

CI provides technical classroom, DVD and in-field training in all areas of home performance, customized for the unique needs of HVAC contractors. Classes are held at locations throughout the country. CI distributes all the needed diagnostic instruments, and many repair products. CI supplies its member contractors with an extensive library of consumer marketing and sales tools, as well as advanced sales and marketing training.

EOS Alliance
Located in: Seattle
Web: www.eosalliance.org

EOS Alliance is an environmental training center in Seattle that is working to increase the availability of home performance testing and installation skills training in the Seattle area.  Initial classes are being presented in their South Seattle classroom by instructors from the Building Performance Center.

Shoreline Community College
Located In: Shoreline
Web: www.shoreline.edu/cat_nrg.aspx

Shoreline Community College offers energy audit and retrofit courses as part of their Zero Energy Technology program.

South Seattle Community College
Located in: Seattle
Web: www.southseattle.edu

South Seattle Community College has been offering Residential Energy Audit courses (see below) and plans to offer additional weatherization skills training soon.

Laborers Northwest Training Center

Located in: Kingston, and also offering training on the Duwamish Campus of South Seattle Community College
Web: www.nwlett.org

The Laborers Northwest Training Center, a leader in construction training, offers all levels of the LIUNA weatherization training program, leading to nationally accepted credentials for Technician/Installers, Weatherization Supervisors, and Energy Auditors. The Northwest Training Center also includes foundational training in general construction, and safety and environmental hazards, including EPA-approved Lead Renovator training. These foundational classes play a central role in living up to our commitment that tomorrow’s workforce will be drawn from the weatherization community we serve.

CleanEdison - Training at Seattle Locations

CleanEdison is a national trainer that offers local BPI classes in the Seattle Area.

CleanEdison can help you and your organization enter into the fast growing Energy Audit business through our world class training and test preparatory services which will enable you to get  your Certification from the Building Performance Institute ("BPI").

BPI certified professionals generally begin with the Building Analyst Professional certification which enables you to perform the necessary Energy Audit.  Professionals will often then acquire a specialty certification in Envelope, Heating and/or Multi-family depending on their experience level and the type of work which they typically handle.

BPI Accreditation will increase revenue by creating contracting services necessary to reconcile the results from the energy audits.  Moreover, BPI Accredited firms set themselves apart from non-accredited firms by providing access to the vast array of state and local incentives to their clients which are only available to accredited firms.

As a BPI recognized training affiliate, CleanEdison provides comprehensive online and field training courses that prepare you and your organization to meet the rigorous demands of the BPI Accreditation process, while easily fitting into your schedule.

Web: www.cleanedison.com/

Seattle Class Locations: www.cleanedison.com/find-courses/wa/seattle.html

EverBlue - Training at Seattle Locations

Everblue is a national trainer that offers local BPI classes in the Seattle Area.

Become a BPI Accredited home energy retrofit contractor.  More and more Federal, State and Local energy efficiency and weatherization programs require contractors to be BPI Accredited businesses. BPI requires BPI Accredited companies to employ a minimum of one full-time Building Analyst and one full-time specialty designation, such as Envelope Professional. These designations can be held by the same individual, but in any case your first step is to obtain your individual certifications.

Web: www.everblueenergy.com
Seattle Class Locations: www.everblueenergy.com/locations?location=Seattle%2C+WA