Summary of Training Required for the Five Levels of California State Certified Building Energy Efficiency Professionals
Training Requirements for Energy Efficiency Professionals
- Verification and Diagnostic Rater(Can provide verifications of most Title24 Energy Measures. Some Title 24 Energy Measures require specialized training. Cannot do HERS II audits.)
- Basic HERS (Title 24), 3 days, currently only alterations.
- Building Performance Contractor
- Home Performance with Energy Star – Level I, 3 days
- Home Performance with Energy Star – Level II, 3 days
- Basic HERS (Title 24), 3 days
- (A home performance contractor with verifiable experience in the use of the field testing equipment can test out in the morning of Day 3 and not attend Day 3 of the HERS Verification and Diagnostic Rater class. They will have to demonstrate proficiency in field procedures during their proctoring. Certification as a Verification and Diagnostic Rater is required in order to move up and be certified as a California Whole-House Home Energy Rater. Without certification as a California Whole-House Home Energy Rater, the home performance contractor cannot personally do HERS II ratings. However, a home performance contractor can do HERS II ratings if they have a California Whole-House Home Energy Rater on their staff. Neither home performance contractors nor their employees can do Title 24 energy measure verification on their own jobs.)
- HERS II (Title 20) (not currently offered by CBPCA)
- Home Performance with Energy Star – Level I, 3 days (standard CBPCA class)
- Home Performance with Energy Star – Level II, 3 days (standard CBPCA class)
- Basic HERS (Title 24), 3 days
- Day 1 – Standards, Compliance manual and Reference manual specific to Title 24
- Day 2 – partially technical manual and partially building science
- Day 3 – field practice with the exam at the end of the day
- HERS II (Title 20) (not currently offered by CBPCA)
Summary of Regulations on CEC-defined Professionals
To be certified as a California Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Rater,
an applicant shall demonstrate competence in elements (A)-(G) and (P) of Section
1673(a)(1) of the HERS regulations with special emphasis on elements (H) and
(K)-(M) and emphasis on hands-on training and testing in the proper procedures
and use of test equipment. The certification permits the rater to collect any
data specified in Appendix RA3 of the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards
and to undertake analysis of that data as specified in Appendix RA3. The California
Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Rater shall also have a thorough
knowledge of Appendix RA2.
To be certified as a California Whole-House Home Energy Rater,
an applicant shall demonstrate competence in all areas of Section 1673(a)(1)
of the HERS regulations. And complete all of the cost-effectiveness evaluations
described in Section 1672(d) of the HERS regulations.
To be certified as a California Home Energy Analyst, an applicant
shall demonstrate competence in elements (A)-(C), (E), and (L)-(P) of Section
1673(a)(1) of the HERS regulations. A California Home Energy Analyst shall
also demonstrate in-depth competence in elements (G), (H), (I), and (J) of
Section 1673(a)(1) of the HERS regulations.
To be certified as a California Home Energy Inspector, an
applicant shall demonstrate in-depth competence in elements (A)-(G) of Section
1673(a)(1) and general competence in elements (L) and (P) of Section 1673(a)(1)
of the HERS regulations. A California Home Energy Inspector certification does
not permit the California Home Energy Inspector to conduct the modeling and
analysis required to produce a rating or to make recommendations for energy
efficiency improvements. The certification does not permit the collection of
data for the measures requiring field verification and diagnostic testing outlined
in Reference Appendix RA3 or Table 19.
To be certified as a rater, Building Performance Contractors are
required to receive in-depth training in all of the elements listed in Section
1673(a)(1) of the HERS regulations. In addition, they must have training and
certification by an organization approved by the Energy Commission, in the
health, comfort, and safety aspects of the operation of homes. To perform California
Home Energy Audits or California Whole-House Home Energy Ratings, a certified
Building Performance Contractor shall meet the requirements of a specially
approved HERS provider program that incorporates certified Building Performance
Contractors under the supervision of a HERS provider as part of the provider’s
Home Energy Rating System. They must also be a CSLB (California State Contractor License Board) Licensed “B” General Contractor.
1673. Requirements for Providers.
Training and Certification Procedures for Raters. Each provider shall conduct the following rater training and certification procedures. The Energy Commission may require providers to provide additional training to their raters to ensure an appropriate
level of rating quality.
Each provider’s training program shall include classroom and field training
of applicants for California Whole-House Home Energy Rater certifications,
incorporating training in analysis, theory, and practical application in at
least the following areas:
(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.
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.
(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.
