Register by August 31st and get $100 off your BPI Analyst or BPI Analyst/Envelope Combo Course with coupon code: BPI100.
http://store.homeenergyteam.com/BPI-Certification

http://store.homeenergyteam.com/main/product_details/product/courselist_18

Homebuilders across America are jumping on the list daily, entering into agreements with the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to provide new home buyers an important measurement of long-term energy performance for each new home they build. The intent of these agreements is to raise consumers’ knowledge of new home energy performance by using RESNET’s HERS Index. Use of the HERS Index will differentiate homes built by these quality builders in their local communities.
The RESNET HERS Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. The HERS or Home Energy Rating System was developed by RESNET and is the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.

RESNET Certified HERS Raters are needed across the country to help builders keep up with the steadily increasing demand.

Home Energy Team Institute can help you get trained as a HERS Rater.

New classes are forming now in Atlanta, GA and Frederick, MD, and the first 15 registrants in each location receive a $495 discount with coupon code: HERSFALL
What are you waiting for? Get Trained. Get Certified. Get Hired.

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 20, 2011, seeks to give new life to the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). PACE allows homeowners to finance energy improvements through financing by a local government that is paid back through a special assessment on their property taxes.

PACE faced opposition in the secondary mortgage market because, as a tax assessment, it took a priority in the repayment if the home went into foreclosure. In 2010 the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency declared that PACE presented “significant safety and soundness concerns” to the secondary mortgage market and shut down its activity. These entities are all federal institutions.

The “PACE Assessment Protection Act” (H.R. 2599) introduced by Representatives Nan Hayworth (R-CA), Dan Lungren (R- NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) would rescind the warnings from the federal financial institutions that shut down PACE. The bill also would incorporate underwriting standards for PACE programs and establish rights of payment in foreclosure, consumer protections and limitations on delinquent payment collection. The bill has twenty co-sponsors. You can down load the legislation at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.2599:

The Alliance to Save Energy has prepared a summary of PACE that is posted at this link: http://www.ase.org/resources/inception-pace-financing-its-support-and-its-potential%20#PACE-Now-and-in-the-future

GreenTrainingUSA only offers a ONE DAY sale twice per year. Those registering for classes on May 25, 2011 will receive deep discounts on the following courses.
Coupon codes will be posted on Home Energy Team’s Facebook page by 11PM EST on Tuesday, May 24th and codes are good for online registrations until midnight on May 25th.

Go to HETI Facebook Page

RESNET HERS Course & Certification – Save $500
RESNET HESP Online Course & Certification – Save $200
RESNET EnergySmart Contractor Course & Certification – Save $140
RESNET HESP/EnergySmart Combo – Save $330
BPI Building Analyst Course & Certification – Save $200
BPI Building Envelope Specialist Course & Certification – Save $300
BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Combo – Save $300

All e‐Learning Modules must be completed within 45 days. There will be no extensions on
completion times. Offer valid for a limited time on all approved orders placed online. To
qualify, orders must use valid coupon codes found in email. Discount will be taken at
checkout with valid coupon code. Not valid on previous orders. Restrictions on bulk
purchases may apply. Offer valid on sale date only NO EXCEPTIONS. Not redeemable for
cash or credit. Other restrictions may apply.

The State of Maryland has obtained funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the purpose of occupational training and enhancement in “green” industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy.

If you reside in Maryland and possess a MD drivers license you may be eligible to receive the following trainings at NO COST to you: RESNET HESP Online Training & Certification, RESNET EnergySmart Contractor Online Training & Certification, RESNET HERS Training & Certification, or training for the BPI Building Analyst & Building Envelope Specialist Combination Course & Certification. Classes will fill quickly. Call Rachelle Moran today at Home Energy Team Institute for more information: 800-518-1877. rachelle@homeenergyteam.com

Home Energy Team Institute now has BPI Courses in Bloomington, IL.
The first class in Bloomington will be a Building Analyst & Envelope Combo Class & Certification on June 7-9, 2011.

HERS Raters get a $200 discount on the course by verifying their certification at registration and using coupon code: BA4HERS
http://store.homeenergyteam.com/main/product_details/product/courselist_18

With the roll out of the new Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star program, becoming a BPI Certified Analyst & Envelope Professional in Illinois gives contractors access to rebates and cash incentives not otherwise available.

In preparation for the new Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star (IHPwES) Program, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is building a searchable database of BPI BA+E certified contractors and energy auditors. After certification, contractors that sign the program agreement form will be highlighted on www.Illinoishomeperformance.org, distinguishing them as leaders in the field of retrofit work.

Look for more BPI course dates in Illinois – coming soon from Home Energy Team Institute

More information on the Illinois program: http://illinoishomeperformance.org/for-contractors/70-illinois-bpi-training

RESNET and the NAHB Research Center have teamed up to promote the 2012 EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) competition through RESNET Raters. One lucky Rater will win their 2012 RESNET dues paid!
Have you tested and verified highly energy efficient homes built or remodeled after January, 31, 2009?
Could the builders/remodelers of those homes benefit from winning a national award recognizing their accomplishments?
Would you like to have a chance to win your 2012 RESNET Dues paid?
Suggest to your clients that they enter the 2012 EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) New or Existing Homes Division and make sure they answer the question “where did you hear about the EVHA?” on the General Information form with your name. All RESNET Raters names received will be entered in a random drawing to be held after the July 29, 2011 EVHA entry deadline.
The winning rater will receive notice that their 2012 RESNET dues are “paid”. There is no cash prize for this promotion.
Drawing rules and more information about the EVHA at: www.nahbrc.com/evha.
NOTE: there will be a separate drawing for NGBS Verifiers.

Listen Up Contractors – Experience the EnergySmart Difference.
The EnergySmart logo carries clout, and it only takes ONE certified team member to get it for your company.
Sign up JUST ONE of your best team members for 8-hours of ONLINE EnergySmart Contractor Training for $349.99.
*They will pass the exam (guaranteed)*
*They will bring back tons of new ideas and strategies for:
- optimizing systems-based home performance measures for your clients
- reating new revenue streams for your company

Your training investment of $349.99 should easily be recouped with your first two EnergySmart jobs, and best of all, the jobs will keep coming, with this valuable company credential.

By purchasing the class through Home Energy Institute you don’t have to pay travel fees to send a valuable team member elsewhere to train. We’re the only RESNET Certified Training Affliate offering this course ONLINE.
Upon passing the course you are qualified to:
• Seek membership in RESNET and Purchase a listing in the RESNET directory – entitling you to promote your company with added credibility as RESNET EnergySmart Certified. Also enables you to carry the logo on all brochures, web sites, ads and business cards.
Register online to SEND US JUST ONE to train by March 11th and we’ll provide your 2nd year of CEQ Provider Certification for FREE. (A $150 value)

Use coupon code 2YEARCEQ during online registration.
*Home Energy Team Institute Success Guarantee – if you fail to pass your certification exam(s) for any reason, you can retake the course at no additional charge until you achieve a passing grade.

“Cash for Caulkers” is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 – also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or “Cash for Caulkers” – to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.

This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.

But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.

We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Below is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.

We also decided to combine these retrofits into three packages that will help homeowners get the best bang for their buck. But first, let’s review the program details.

Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?
The Home Star bill offers two rebate programs, the “Silver Star” program and “Gold Star” program. Here are details for each:

• Silver Star – Unless another amount is specified in the “Rebate Amount” column above, homeowners will receive a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit listed in our table. The maximum amount of rebates paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).
• Gold Star – To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY’ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.

Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation
Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize and seal their house “envelope.” The envelope includes outer walls, windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won’t be as effective.

Common Air Leaks

In some cases, savvy do-it-yourselfers may be able to handle these projects themselves. There are plenty of books and great online resources (e.g. ACEEE.org) that provide instructions. However, you should seriously consider hiring an auditor beforehand. Special diagnostics equipment will show where air is escaping and to what extent. For example, thermal imaging devices detect areas in walls that are poorly insulated and dispersing heat. This information would be unavailable without such devices.

So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.

How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York – one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 – this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.

Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).

Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts
Ducts are notoriously leaky and inefficient. They are one of the usual suspects in a crime of high utility bills, or when rooms are difficult to heat and cool. The EPA calculates that 20% of air moving through ductwork is lost due to leaks, holes and poor connections. Other sources put estimates closer to 40%. So while suffering from “leaky ducts” may sound innocuous, it can have a big impact on the efficiency and costs of heating and cooling your home.

Fortunately, duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.

Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.

Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater
Heating is the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country, it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.

If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:

Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.

Ground Source Heat Pump

An alternative to furnaces and boilers are ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Also known as geothermal heat pumps, GSHPs are one of the most efficient systems for heating and cooling buildings. According to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs are 50 to 70% more efficient than other heating systems, and 20 to 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners. They can also be used as an alternative water-heating system and save up to 50% on water-heating bills.

Ground source heat pumps are more economical than using oil or air-source heat pumps, but there is still a lot of debate over GSHPs versus natural gas. Homeowners will need carry out their own due diligence beforehand. For starters, here is an academic report that compares the two options.

Year over year, a ground source heat pump is more cost effective than natural gas. It’s the initial cost that really drives down the return on investment (ROI) and makes natural gas a more attractive option. However, there are several rebates and tax credits available that help subsidize the upfront cost.

Additional Financing Resources
With other legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the Senate’s final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime, homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green renovations. The federal government, state governments, local municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.

For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.

Another great resource is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or “DSIRE” website. This allows you to view rebates, loan and grant programs, financing options and tax credits offered in your region.

Finally, new home buyers should consider an energy-efficient mortgage or energy improvement mortgage. These mortgages allow consumers to count savings from energy bills as additional income, ultimately giving them more buying power. Home Energy Magazine has a helpful article here.

This article was originally published by Software Advice at: Cash for Caulkers – The Definitive Guide To The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010

Nowadays, a lot of home buyers are asking the tough, green questions to their real estate agents – are you one that can answer the questions or are you one that “can take a look into it later”?

A lot of the new shoppers are very savvy when it comes to energy efficiency and as a real estate agent, one who wants to satisfy the customer, should always be one step ahead. There are the aesthetic selling points to a home such as the outer appearance, fresh paint, shiny hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. But energy efficiency is also a key point that more and more people are inquiring about.

Older houses are lower-priced because of it and newer homes offer it as selling feature since the future owner won’t have to pay as much on the energy bill.

As a real estate agent who has completed the Home Energy Auditor Training, you’ll have a significantly improved knowledge about home energy and can pass that down to the clients. An experienced real estate agent can communicate to their customers where they can save on the energy bill in their new home and how to reduce the costs on a day-to-day basis. For sellers, a shrewd real estate agent can help highlight the energy efficient features of the home to help market it better.

The more you know, the more you’ll be prepared for any type of home energy questions a buyer might have. And when you’re considered the expert, you’re one step closer to building the trusting relationship that gets you a sale.

Other benefits include a standing 15% off discount for any of your clients that you refer for a home energy audit and they will also receive the benefit of priority scheduling, which means they will get serviced sooner.

Overall, the benefits are plenty for real estate agents so take the time to invest in yourself and invest in your career with some higher learning.