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The GreenHome Institute is an official Department of Energy Partner and is here to help you take your home energy rating, contracting services, or home inspection business to the next level by training to become a Home Energy Score Assessor.
The Home Energy Score is a simple, fast, and more accurate way to evaluate an existing home before renovation and after to help homeowners understand their energy usage and meet their goals to reduce energy.
Hold a credential in one of these certifications at a minimum. GHI Can assist you with many of these if you need training
Additional Credentials Available Here
https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/home-energy-score/become-assessor
DOE Home Energy Score Assessor online training 8 – 12 hours
“The Home Energy Score Simulation Training (“Sim”) teaches prospective Assessors important information about the Home Energy Score. Through the Sim, you conduct virtual home walk-throughs designed to show a variety of situations you might encounter. The SIM and written exam require 8-12 hours of a candidate’s time to complete. Watch the short Sim overview video to find out more.” From the DOE Better Buildings Website
DOE Home Energy Score Assessor In-person (remote pending) mentorship – 1 day
Once you have passed the test and are qualified to score homes, you must be accompanied by a “mentor” (a highly experienced professional) during your first home walk-through. There may be opportunities to mentor on multiple projects, and there could be funding to pay for training. Please inquire. There may also be a fee for mentorship, all of which is contingent on funding and location or willingness to travel.
You will work with the GHI Home Energy Score Assessor Quality Assurance mentor to Conduct energy audits, Analyze building energy performance, and Identify energy and cost savings opportunities by going through one home as an example of how to conduct the home energy score assessment on the home properly.
Mentoring costs typically run about $500.00
Though we may have some ideas, GHI usually does not provide a mentoring house. You may have your own home for mentoring if needed.
All active home energy score assessors will now be sent a link to a special box.com invite; box.com will be used to do photo documentation for each home you visit so we can complete quality assurance on the home. It also helps if an issue or dispute arises in a real estate or contractor transaction based on home features; we have documented evidence of what was in the home per your assessment. In some ways, you can think of it as similar to a home inspector’s report. On the box file, we have two documents for you on how you need to capture and document information on box.com; in mid 2024, we will be doing additional training on that and will send further directions. Check your spam for the box.com invite to your file, and let me know if you do not see it. Note: If the box attempts to communicate, you need to pay them an access fee, which is not true. Please ignore it.
“The Home Energy Score is similar to a vehicle’s miles-per-gallon rating. The Home Energy Score allows homeowners to compare the energy performance of their homes to other homes nationwide. It also provides homeowners with suggestions for improving their homes’ efficiency.
The process starts with a Home Energy Score Assessor collecting energy information during a brief home walk-through. Using the Home Energy Scoring Tool, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Assessor scores the home on a scale of 1 to 10. A score of 10 indicates that the home has excellent energy performance. A score of 1 indicates the home needs extensive energy improvements.” – DOE
Under the new IRA law, your customers may claim up to 30% of their audit costs or $150 per assessment as a nonrefundable tax credit under HOMES 25C. As long as you are BPI certified or HERS or ERI certified, they may be able to claim it. GHI is working on an additional credential to be added to the IRA qualification list a well. Regarding the state Home Efficiency Rebate 50121, we believe the state will adopt HES to deliver up to $8000 to your customers by showing before and after energy reduction. However, we need your help in lobbying the state to accept that.
Homes that score 5 or are brought up to 5 can be GreenStar Homes Certified. Additional nonenergy benefits such as health, materials, water, and place also need to be addressed and evaluated, and you may be interested in doing this. Here are more details and information on our upcoming GreenHome Inspector training, which you prequalify for as a HES assessor.
Here are more details on the GreenStar Homes Program
Yes.
You may be interested in working with different partners based on the markets they serve, funding and/or incentives available to do assessments. We encourage you to partner with others as needed. It only requires that you have a separate email account for each partner.
The GreenHome Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded by members who support the residential green building movement. Becoming a member helps support our mission and keeps us going, and you can also receive several benefits.
The GreenHome Institute is a non-profit organization that empowers people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live.
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