Frequently Asked Questions
For Our General Audience

These is our FAQ for our General Audience. For members of our ARN Providership, we have a more in-depth set of FAQs.

The answers expressed here are strictly our opinion and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or standards of any program we represent.

(Click on the questions/links below and the system will 'auto scroll' to the answer.)

Q1: Regarding National Certifications: What is the difference between RESNET HERS Rater training and certification and BPI Building Analyst training and certification?

Q2: In today’s economy, should I become a HERS Rater or a BPI Building Analyst?

Q3: I am new to this industry – do you have a recommended training/certification/work path for me to follow?

Q4: What is the ENERGY STAR program and similar programs?

Q5: Will I be able to use the training I receive in the HERS Rater class to perform commercial energy audits?

Q6. Is a Network Rater in the Accurate Rater Network required to use REM/Rate software for their energy ratings?

Q7. Does the west coast handle HERS Raters differently then the rest of the nation?

Q8. I understand that Florida uses a different rating system and software.  Will your training and/or software apply in Florida?

 

Q1: What is the difference between RESNET HERS Rater training and certification and BPI Building Analyst training and certification?

A1: HERS Raters are trained and certified to analyze and quantify building energy performance. They calculate the energy usage of a residential building and determine the Home Energy Rating System Index Number for the building. This process is standardized across the nation and requires the use of certified software. Because of the level of standardization and normalization, HERS Ratings are used nation-wide to qualify homes for multiple programs and incentives. HERS Ratings can be performed on existing homes, but are mostly used in new construction to qualify homes for programs such as ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, NAHB Green Build, EEM/EIM, and the Federal Energy Tax Credit.

HERS Rater training includes training on all aspects of energy usage in a home, heat flow, air flow, moisture flow, heat load calculations, proper use of infiltration and duct leakage testing equipment and interpreting results, reading and working with building plans, creating scaled sketches, proper use of certified software, climate zones, construction techniques, thermal bypass and insulation installation inspections and reporting. Two ratings are performed during the training class. To complete certification, a two-hour, 50 question test is taken and a minimum 80% score must be achieved. Three additional probationary ratings must also be satisfactorily performed.

BPI Building Analysts are trained and certified to perform energy audits on existing homes. They analyze the energy usage of the home and its occupants as well as evaluate the home for any health and safety issues. Energy audits are not normalized but are specific to the particular home and occupants being examined. There is no specific software tool required, however, there are standards that must be followed. These standards are used to ensure that no harm is done to the residence or its occupants as a result of the audit or completion of the resulting work order.

BPI Building Analyst training includes training on all aspects of energy usage in a home, heat flow, air flow, moisture flow, potential health and safety issues, proper use of infiltration, duct leakage, carbon monoxide and combustible gas testing equipment and interpreting results, creating scaled sketches, understanding and interpreting BPI Standards and writing work orders. There are several utility programs and state programs that require BPI Building Analyst Certification in order to be listed as a qualified energy auditor. To complete certification, a two-hour, 100 question test is taken and a minimum 70% score must be achieved. (Candidates already certified as HERS Raters will take a 90 minute, 50 question test.) A field test must be taken to demonstrate equipment proficiency and appropriate use and interpretation of BPI Standards.

 

Q2: In today’s economy, should I become a HERS Rater or a BPI Building Analyst?

A2: When people are building and moving into new homes, there will be more work for HERS Raters, when the construction industry is slowed down, and people are remaining in and fixing up their existing homes, there will be more work for Building Analysts. It is a great idea to have both certifications. Not only does this give you well-rounded knowledge of what is happening with energy and moisture in a house, but also brings health and safety and lifestyle aspects into your analysis toolkit. Having both certifications can smooth out the fluctuations in the construction industry and widen your potential client base. However, if you must choose one of the other, we recommend that if you plan to focus on new construction, you become certified as a HERS Rater and if you plan to focus on existing homes, you become certified as a Building Analyst.

 

Q3: I am new to this industry – do you have a recommended training/certification/work path for me to follow?

A3: Congratulations on choosing to become involved with energy and green! There is a lot to learn and even those of us who have been working in this field for over three decades are still learning new things every single day. The recommended path below will help you gain expertise one step at a time.

RESNET Certified Field Inspector – this class will provide training on energy usage in a home, creating scaled sketches, gathering energy usage data in the field, proper use of infiltration and duct leakage testing equipment and understanding of basic residential construction techniques and materials. There is a two-hour, 50 question test taken and a minimum 80% score must be achieved. A Field Inspector works under a Certified HERS Rater who is responsible to complete the Field Inspector’s certification by overseeing their performance in the field while they gather data for three Home Energy Ratings.

BPI Building Analyst – this class will add training on potential health and safety issues, proper use of carbon monoxide and combustible gas testing equipment and interpreting results, understanding and interpreting BPI Standards and writing work orders. To complete certification, a two-hour, 100 question test is taken and a minimum 70% score must be achieved. A field test must be taken to demonstrate equipment proficiency and appropriate use and interpretation of BPI Standards.

RESNET Certified HERS Rater – this class will add training on heat load calculations, reading and working with building plans, proper use of certified software, climate zones, advanced construction techniques, thermal bypass and insulation installation inspections and reporting. Two ratings are performed during the training class. A two-hour, 50 question test is taken and a minimum 80% score must be achieved. Certified HERS Raters must belong to a RESNET QA Provider’s network and three additional probationary ratings must also be satisfactorily performed for the QA Designee to complete their certification.

Where you go from here is up to you. There are advanced HERS Rater training and certification classes available, you may choose to become a Green Rater, to qualify to certify homes for national green programs, to include infrared inspections in your offerings, etc. There are also advanced BPI designations focusing on building envelope, multi-family, HVAC systems and more.

 

Q4: What is the ENERGY STAR program and similar programs?

A4: To learn more about the various energy and green programs that require training and/or national certification, please click on the "Programs" tab on the top menu of this page.

 

Q5: Will I be able to use the training I receive in the HERS Rater class to perform commercial energy audits?

A5: Many small businesses are run out of residential structures or small commercial buildings that use residential heating, cooling and water heating equipment. The information you gain in the HERS Rater class will be very helpful to you in these cases. In addition, you will want to study construction, insulation and lighting techniques used in commercial buildings and ensure you understand the terminology found in utility incentives and other programs for commercial businesses. If you are planning to perform audits for larger commercial structures, you will also want to study commercial HVAC equipment and possibly invest in software used to analyze energy use in commercial buildings. Two such software programs are Energy 10 and Visual DOE.

 

Q6. Is a Network Rater in the Accurate Rater Network required to use REM/Rate software for their energy ratings?

A6. At this time, yes. The Accurate Rater Network does not currently support the use of Energy Gauge as we have no experts on staff trained in that software. This may change in the future if we have enough requests from ARN Home Energy Rater members or potential Home Energy Raters wanting to use the Energy Gauge software.

 

Q7. Does the west coast handle HERS Raters differently then the rest of the nation?

A7. Well, not the entire west coast, just California. They have energy codes that are more strict than the rest of the country, so the HERS Rating system and many of the programs for which ratings are performed are tweaked some to take that into account. There is also a difference in Florida where state law requires the use of Energy Gauge software and the Florida Solar Energy Center as a QA Provider for all HERS Raters in that state. The rest of the country is standardized with only climate-specific considerations. Of course local codes always take precedence, but those vary municipality to municipality, so some homework on the local requirements is expected by the HERS Rater and the QA Provider needs to be prepared to help with those interpretations, but being from Seattle you should be able to choose any QA Provider you would like and they should be able to work with you without any issues.

Q8. I understand that Florida uses a different rating system and software.  Will your training and/or software apply in Florida?

A8. The State of Florida has mandated that only a software program named "EnGauge" is recognized for residential energy testing.  The Florida Solar Energy Center originally developed the EnGauge software but now it is managed by the University of Central Florida.  Florida is introducing a state-wide rebate program named "Cash for Caulkers" on August 30th of 2010 and has specified that the testing must be conducted by a certified home energy rater in order to receive any rebate monies.  Residential energy software programs, such as REM/Rate and REM/Design, are not recognized by the State of Florida as valid energy calculation software tools, at least as far as rebates and other state-certified incentives are concerned.  A link to the Q&A regarding what Florida will and won't accept is available here.  The Florida Statute detailing their "Cash for Caulkers" program can be found here.  The training provided by the Accurate Rater Network is based upon the national certification program administered by RESNET and there is no training related to the EnGauge software system being offered by ARN.