Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (formerly GHEU)
This 9-day intensive home performance training series, composed of Levels 1, 2, and 3, teaches whole-house energy efficiency and building performance testing, evaluation, and contracting with homeowners for upgrading existing homes to improve comfort, safety, health, durability and energy efficiency. This program was developed to meet the increasing demand among homeowners for comprehensive energy efficiency solutions and better quality, energy-focused remodeling, a market that is expected to grow for many years to come.
This training series is designed for remodellers, HVAC contractors, solar contractors, insulation contractors, or anybody with a serious interest in developing a business in whole-house energy efficiency retrofitting or remodeling. Those who complete the series will be eligible to test for Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification.
LEVEL 1 (go to training schedule)
Day 1: Classroom
Day 9: Classroom
Certified Building Analyst Review and Testing
* BPI Info for Students
* Test In Test Out Requirements for BPI Contractors
* BPI Building Analyst Standards
* BPI Shell Standards
* BPI Heating Standards
* BPI AC & Heat Pump Standards
Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification in California
BPI Certification – Raising the bar in Home Performance contracting
BPI is the home performance contracting industry's credentialing organization and is well recognized, credible, and rigorous. The greatest benefit is to be part of a national initiative to bring about systematic improvement to the performance of our nation’s 110 million existing homes. Whole-house performance, energy efficiency and combustion safety are central to BPI certification testing. Your BPI certification demonstrates your knowledge and competence in these areas.
BPI Certification Specialties
Become BPI certified in one or all of these specialty areas: Building Analyst Professional, Envelope Professional, Heating Professional, and Air Conditioning/Heat Pump Professional.
Preparatory Courses
No courses are required to test for BPI certification. However, we encourage all students to prepare for written testing by completing the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (formerly GHEU) series including Level 1, 2, and 3 courses (the earlier five-day or six-day versions are substitutes for Level 1 and 2). Approximately 85% of students who complete these courses will pass their written exams on first attempt. All four BPI specialty written tests are offered on the 3rd day of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Level 3 - BPI certification training course. Students who take the Level 3 course are not required to pursue BPI certification.
Costs of BPI Certification
Each BPI certification requires both written and field testing. As an affiliate of BPI, CBPCA offers BPI written tests for $150 and field tests for $415 ($125 test fee plus $290 for the proctor). If, for example, a student wishes to be certified as a BPI Building Analyst, the cost is $565 in total fees. Written test proctoring is included in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Level 3 class. If the field proctor needs to travel a long distance to proctor a student, the cost is higher.
Cost for each BPI certification: |
|
|---|---|
| Written proctoring | Included in HPwES Level 3 class (see training schedule) |
| Written test fee | $150 |
| Field proctoring | $290 (in most cases) |
| Field test fee | $125 |
| Total | $565 (not including cost of Level 3 class or field trainings) |
Field Exams
To prepare for BPI field testing, students generally need at least five days experience testing homes. This experience can be gained by completing the following CBPCA field trainings: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR – Level 2 (formerly GHEU), Basic Home Performance Assessments (3 days), and Advance Home Performance Assessments (3 days). Students can substitute the two Home Performance Assessment classes for an equivalent number of days in small group field training or field mentoring, either scheduled or private.
All of these training opportunities can be seen on the CBPCA training schedule here: http://www.cbpca.org/contractors/maintraining.html. Before taking any BPI field test (aka proctoring), please review the BPI field guide for that test, all four of which are on the above CBPCA website.
NATE Certification exemption
Students who are already North American Technical Excellence (NATE; http://www.natex.org/) service tech certified in Air Conditioning and Heat Pump will not have to take the Air Conditioning/Heat Pump BPI written exam, but will still need field testing to be BPI certified in this specialty. Proof of the NATE designation is required by BPI.
Continuing Education Requirements
BPI requires the following continuing education every three years to maintain certification.
Hours of technical training: |
BPI testing required: |
|---|---|
| If 30+ hours of documented technical training in 3 years | field proctoring only |
| If 10-29 hours of technical training: | 50 question written test + field proctoring |
| If less than 10 hours of technical training: | 100 question + field proctoring |
Basic Home Performance Assessment
Workshop Overview:
This three day class will give students who have already been introduced to Home Performance Assessment (HPA) the opportunity to gain more hands on experience with the tools and procedures involved in assessing a typical California home. The procedures taught will be in line with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (formerly GHEU) Level 2 (HPwES 2) class.
Prerequisites:
Students participating in this workshop should have completed HPwES (formerly GHEU) 1&2 or an equivalent. Students should be familiar with the tools involved in HPA prior to attendance. Students that have not come through the HPwES or GHEU classes but have practical experience with HPA tools and procedures should be allowed to attend.
Objectives:
Students will gain competence in operation of HPA testing equipment. Test protocols covered in the workshop will include:
Advanced Home Performance Assessment
Workshop Overview:
This three day class will give students who have already developed basic skills in Home Performance Assessment (HPA) the opportunity to gain more hands on experience evaluating a home. The students will test a home with the instructor as a resource and coach. In this class the students will be expected to attempt to lead the process. The procedures taught will be in line with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR class.
Prerequisites:
Students participating in this workshop should have completed HPwES 1&2 (formerly GHEU) or an equivalent and have basic field experience. Students should be able to operate the tools involved in HPA prior to attendance. Students that have not come through the HPwES or GHEU classes but have practical experience with HPA tools and procedures should be allowed to attend.
Objectives:
Students will gain competence in the assessment of existing homes. Test protocols covered in the workshop will include:
Note: Depending on classes confidence level with test procedures as well as class size and instructor student ratio it is possible that some topics may not be covered.
Schedule: Day one – Begin HPA
Day two – Conclude HPA
Day three – Develop reports and present to homeowner
(see training schedule)
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CBPCA is the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® partner in California. We promote whole-house energy efficiency upgrades for homes and homeowners in California.
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