Legal Functions of State-Certified Energy Efficiency Professionals
| Building Performance Contractor | Whole-House Home Energy Rater | Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Rater | Home Energy Analyst | Home Energy Inspector | |
| Legal Functions: | |||||
| Verifies and does diagnostic testing of Title 24 energy measures | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Collects data | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes* |
| Processes data | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Evaluates Validity of data | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Does HERS II data analysis | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Does HERS II cost effectiveness analysis based on HERS Reg. 1672 (d) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Considers health, comfort and safety in analysis | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Considers occupant behavior in analysis | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | N/A |
| Recommends Improvements | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Poduces HERS II California Whole-House Home Energy Rating Certificate | Yes | Yes | No | Yes* | No* |
| Produces HERS II California Home Energy Audit Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes* | No* |
| Qualifications and Training: | |||||
| Requires B-1 Contractors License | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Certified by HERS Provider | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Requires signed agreement w/ Provider | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| * Must be supervised by Whole-House Home Energy Rater | No | N/A | No | Yes | Yes |
| Applicable training requirement regulation sections | HERS Reg. 1673(a)(1) [all sections] | HERS Reg. 1673(a)(1) [all sections] | HERS Reg. 1673(a)(1) (A)-G) and (P) w/ special emphasis on (H) & (K)-(M), Appen. RA2 | HERS Reg. 1673(a)(1), (A)-(C), (E) and (L)-P), (G), (H), (I), (J) | HER Reg. Sec. 1673(a)(1) elements (A)-(G)and (L) & (P) |
| Training in hands-on use of equipment | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Quality Control: | |||||
| Audited by HERS Provider’s Quality Assurance Reviewer | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Number of Q.A. audits to be performed | 1 or 5% annually of HERS II ratings | 1 or 1% annually of each type of energy measure verified and HERS II ratings | 1 or 1% annually of each type of energy measure verified | N/A | N/A |
| Applicable Regulations | 1673 (i), (J) | 1673 (i), (J) | 1673 (i), (J) | N/A | N/A |
| Review of building permits | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Review of state licenses/certifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| * Must work under supervision of Whole House Energy Rater | |||||
Summary of HERS Regulations
1673 (a)1
(A) Home energy consumption and efficiency data collection, organization and analysis;
(B) Principles of heat transfer;
(C) Building energy feature design and construction practice, including construction quality assurance, on-site renewable generation, and
“house as a system” concepts;
(D) Safety practices relevant to home energy auditing procedures and equipment;
(E) Home energy audit procedures;
(F) Energy efficiency effects of building site characteristics;
(G) Types and characteristics of space heating, space cooling, service hot water, and hard wired lighting systems;
(H) Mathematical calculations necessary to utilize the rating system;
(I) The modeling and use of Energy Commission-approved HERS software required to produce a California Whole-House Home Energy Rating
or a California Home Energy Audit and the associated California Home Energy Rating Certificate, California Home Energy Audit Certificate and HERS
reports in accordance with the algorithms, procedures, methods, assumptions, and defaults specified in the HERS Technical Manual.
(J) Methods of cost-effectiveness analysis including interest and discount rates, cost-benefit ratios, life cycle cost analysis, calculation of present value,
cash flow analysis, payback analysis, and cost estimation.
(K) The function and proper use of diagnostic devices including but not necessarily limited to: duct leakage testing equipment, blower doors, and air flow
and pressure measurement devices;
(L) Construction types, equipment types, and their associated energy efficiency ramifications;
(M) Field verification and diagnostic testing requirements of the Title 24, Part 6, Building Energy Efficiency Standards and the Reference Appendices;
(N) Interpretation of prioritized recommendations for efficiency improvements and customized adjustment procedures for specific occupants.
(O) The behavioral, psychological, cultural, and socioeconomic influences on energy consumption of home occupants in the United States and California.
(P) California Home Energy Rating System Program requirements specified in these regulations.
1672. Requirements for Rating Systems.
(d) Energy Uses Rated. Each rating system shall rate the total combined energy efficiency of the following energy uses of each home rated:
(1) Space heating;
(2) Space cooling; and
(3) Service hot water;
(4) Lighting in conditioned space.
(5) Exterior lighting mounted on buildings or lighting in an unconditioned garage.
(6) Electric appliances.
(7) Gas appliances.
(8) Other interior electric and natural gas uses specified in the HERS Technical Manual.1673 (a)1
(A) Home energy consumption and efficiency data collection, organization and analysis;
(B) Principles of heat transfer;
(C) Building energy feature design and construction practice, including construction quality assurance, on-site renewable generation, and
“house as a system” concepts;
(D) Safety practices relevant to home energy auditing procedures and equipment;
(E) Home energy audit procedures;
(F) Energy efficiency effects of building site characteristics;
(G) Types and characteristics of space heating, space cooling, service hot water, and hard wired lighting systems;
(H) Mathematical calculations necessary to utilize the rating system;
(I) The modeling and use of Energy Commission-approved HERS software required to produce a California Whole-House Home Energy Rating
or a California Home Energy Audit and the associated California Home Energy Rating Certificate, California Home Energy Audit Certificate and HERS
reports in accordance with the algorithms, procedures, methods, assumptions, and defaults specified in the HERS Technical Manual.
(J) Methods of cost-effectiveness analysis including interest and discount rates, cost-benefit ratios, life cycle cost analysis, calculation of present value,
cash flow analysis, payback analysis, and cost estimation.
(K) The function and proper use of diagnostic devices including but not necessarily limited to: duct leakage testing equipment, blower doors, and air flow
and pressure measurement devices;
(L) Construction types, equipment types, and their associated energy efficiency ramifications;
(M) Field verification and diagnostic testing requirements of the Title 24, Part 6, Building Energy Efficiency Standards and the Reference Appendices;
(N) Interpretation of prioritized recommendations for efficiency improvements and customized adjustment procedures for specific occupants.
(O) The behavioral, psychological, cultural, and socioeconomic influences on energy consumption of home occupants in the United States and California.
(P) California Home Energy Rating System Program requirements specified in these regulations.
1672. Requirements for Rating Systems.
(d) Energy Uses Rated. Each rating system shall rate the total combined energy efficiency of the following energy uses of each home rated:
(1) Space heating;
(2) Space cooling; and
(3) Service hot water;
(4) Lighting in conditioned space.
(5) Exterior lighting mounted on buildings or lighting in an unconditioned garage.
(6) Electric appliances.
(7) Gas appliances.
(8) Other interior electric and natural gas uses specified in the HERS Technical Manual.
