Guide to Energy Audit Certification

Not long ago, Energy Audits were virtually unknown. Now, there's a good chance you know someone who's had a home energy audit done, and a decent chance you've sipped a cup of coffee next to an auditor. The question we repeatedly hear from home owners is this: "Is this auditor any good?" and, perhaps more importantly, "How would I know?" We talked to a lot of people who are hungry for this information. In response, we have compiled a state by state list of auditor certifications and programs, pulling together the most up-to-date information we could find. We don't have answers for every state yet, so we've designed this list to be interactive. Please read it. Make comments. Ask questions. Let us know what you think. We will constantly update this list. This is an important and quickly growing field, and our goal is to ensure that you, wherever you are, will be able to have an audit that is not only competent and thorough, but also helpful. We'll keep you posted about new developments. We look forward to hearing from you.

In this Guide:

I. Auditor Certifications & What They Mean

II. Taking it on: What You'll Want to Know Before Hiring an Auditor

III. State by State Guide to Energy Audit Resources

I. Auditor Certifications and What they mean.

When choosing a home energy auditor, word-of-mouth recommendations are key. But it's also helpful to know what training your auditor has undergone. Below you will find the most common certifications, and the training each certification requires. By no means is this list exhaustive. Auditor training programs are popping up like tents in a gold rush. Those listed below are, however, the names you're most likely to come across. Keep in mind, too, that an audit need not necessarily be conducted by someone using "auditor" as a title. In your state, home energy audits may be performed by Home Performance Contractors, Building Analysts, Energy Inspectors or Home Energy Raters. All of these titles are used to describe qualified personnel who can competently perform an audit.

The Building Performance Institute (BPI):

An energy auditor certified as a BPI Building Analyst has passed a two-hour, 100-question, written exam with a score of at least 70%, in addition to passing a field exam. BPI does not mandate formal training prior to the exam, but a classroom or online course is highly recommended. A typical prep course for the BPI certification exams is about a week of full-time training. A BPI Building Analyst is certified to conduct blower-door tests (which should be done both before and after upgrades), combustion appliance inspection and repair, air quality testing including carbon monoxide detection, duct testing and airflow testing. For more information about BPI's standards, take a look at their Technical Standards for Building Analysts (PDF).

A BPI analyst needs to be re-certified every three years, either by re-taking the exams or by providing proof of continuing education from a BPI affiliate. BPI training may seem short - a week's worth of classes - but bear in mind that most contractors seeking BPI certification already have extensive experience in the building industry. For this reason, most businesses with BPI certified contractors will market themselves as Home Performance Contractors rather than Energy Auditors. Auditing may be just one of the services they offer, and many Home Performance Contractors prefer to make the improvements suggested by the audit themselves. As you evaluate your options, keep in mind that the competencies to perform an audit are not necessarily the same as those required to execute an effective energy efficiency retrofit, and selecting the individual to perform the work indicated by an energy audit is entirely up to you. As in any sales pitch, if a contractor tries to pressure you into having work done, (or whistles at your daughter), hire someone else.

You can find a directory of BPI-certified Building Analysts here. Note that all Home Performance Contractors affiliated with the Home Performance with Energy Star program are BPI-certified Building Analysts.

The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET):

A RESNET-certified auditor, or a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rater, has passed a two-hour, 50-question written exam with a score of 80% or better. RESNET qualified auditors have performed two ratings supervised by a RESNET training provider, and three more "probationary" ratings within 1 year of passing the written exam. ALL ratings done by a HERS Rater are submitted to a RESNET affiliate for quality control and approval. A HERS rater also takes approved continuing education courses throughout the year, totaling at least 12 hours of classroom instruction. Like BPI, RESNET does not provide or mandate formal training as a prerequisite for taking their certification exam, but it comes highly recommended. A typical RESNET training course is about a week's worth of 8-hour days in the classroom and the field. According to RESNET's National Energy Audit Standard (PDF), in addition to evaluating a home's energy consumption, an auditor should inspect - and, if a health hazard is detected, repair - combustion appliances.

Note that a HERS Rater is trained to do both home energy audits and home energy ratings. You will probably want an audit rather than a rating. Whereas a rating results in a number (some compare a home energy rating to a car's fuel economy), a home energy audit will result in a prioritized list of improvements and a projected cost/benefit for each of the improvements. Most raters are trained and willing to do both; just be sure to make it clear what you're looking for. A RESNET-certified auditor should be willing, furthermore, to direct you to a qualified contractor to implement the improvements suggested in the audit. A directory of HERS Raters is available here.

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE):

Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), is an accreditation awarded by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). CEAs have completed an auditing seminar and passed a four-hour written exam with a score of 70% or better, in addition to satisfying stringent education/experience prerequisites, which are: either a four-year engineering degree plus a minimum of three years of work experience in energy management or auditing, a four-year degree in an unrelated field with five years of auditing or energy management experience, a two-year degree with eight years experience, or ten years of work experience in the energy field. CEA's must be re-certified every three years.

Home Performance with Energy Star Programs:

Home Performance with Energy Star is a subsidiary of the EPA's Energy Star program. The Home Performance Program, as opposed to Energy Star Homes (which is a label for new buildings), is focused exclusively on upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes. The program operates through a system of regional partners, some of which are independent, and some of which are sponsored by utility companies or state agencies. The programs listed below in the state list, though each independent of one another, have a degree of uniformity in that they all require affiliated contractors to hold a certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI).

Other Programs and Certification processes:

There are other certifications out there. In a relatively new field, you want to be wary of "fly by night" auditors whose qualifications are slim to none. That said, there are good training programs that are not affiliated with the organizations we've detailed above. The Maine Housing Authority, for example, provides an in-depth, two-week, 8 hour/day course followed by a written exam and a field test. Other states provide similar programs, which we've listed below. In addition to states, private, independent organizations offer certifications such as CMC Energy Services and Denby Energy, to name a couple.

II. Taking it on: What You'll Want to Know Before Hiring an Auditor

Before hiring an auditor, be sure to ask what certifications they hold, what kind of training they have undergone, and what their audit will entail. Among other things, a good complete audit will involve a blower-door test, a duct leakage test, leakage assessment using an infrared camera, and a written report detailing the auditor's findings. Find out if the auditor is also a contractor who intends to fix the problems he or she uncovers. For some homeowners, this is a benefit. Once you have found a trustworthy individual, you need not seek out another to do the work. This can be an advantage because a typical audit uncovers a laundry list of actionable items, some big and some small. Comprehensive documentation in the audit report is often difficult. If the auditor returns to do the contract work, he or she will have a clear memory of every issue uncovered during the audit, even if some of those issues didn't make it into the report. That said, for some homeowners separating the person conducting the audit (collecting and analyzing the home's data) from the person doing the work is the best way to eliminate any chance of a conflict of interest.

Your audit will only be valuable if you take action steps to improve the energy efficiency of your home after the audit is completed. In order to ensure that you will have the information you need in order to take those steps, you will want a report at the completion of your audit that is helpful to you. Ask your auditor to provide you with a sample report. Does the report mean something to you? Are recommended retrofits or renovations prioritized based upon estimated return on investment (ROI) or need? Ask the auditor if she will take time to walk through the recommendations and if you will be able to retain a copy for your records. (Some auditors provide home owners with a small portion of the report, and keep the rest on file in their own offices, and make it available upon request).

Go ahead and ask for a couple references, too - it won't be an unusual request in this field, and will help to insure that you are making a good investment. Before your auditor arrives, read our articles on home energy audits and how to prepare your house for an audit.

III. State by State Guide to Energy Audit Resources

*As you can see, this is a work in progress. We will continue to add to this list, and we welcome your input. Please let us know about resources in your area.*

Alabama - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Alaska - The Alaska Building Science Network (ASBN) oversees state certification for Energy Raters, who are qualified both to perform energy ratings on new homes and energy audits on existing homes. An AKWarm Certified Energy Rater has undergone 2 years or 4,000 hours of relevant education, taken a Cold Climate Home Building Course or its approved equivalent as well as an Air Tightness/Blower Door Certification workshop, all followed by a comprehensive Home Energy Rater course conducted by ABSN. An AKWarm Rater's first five audits or ratings are reviewed by ASBN, and 16 credit-hours of continued education approved by ASBN is required every two years for re-certification. The ABSN website provides a list of AKWarm-certified raters.

Arizona - Arizona has a Home Performance with Energy Star program. They have lists of certified energy auditors for customers of the utilities APS and SRP.

Arkansas - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

California - California has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through the California Building Performance Contractors' Association.  CALCERTS, HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rater.  Another program, unique to California, is CHEERS  (California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services), a non-profit certification provider that follows RESNET's HERS (Home Energy Rating System) standards. (NOTE:  "CHEERS had decided to stop accepting new projects that are subject to California regulations effective as of midnight, October 4, 2010, in consultation with the California Energy Commission.  CHEERS is taking this action because CHEERS is not in compliance with regulations for the CHEERS registry and database.")

Colorado - Colorado has a Home Performance with Energy Star program, which provides a list of certified contractors. 

Connecticut - The state of Connecticut subsidizes energy audits provided by the state's utilities - Connecticut Light and Power, and the United Illuminating Company. The Home Energy Solutions program, administered by the utilities, oversees the certification of "vendors" (auditors) for participation in the HES program, in collaboration with the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Contact your utility for more info on finding an auditor.

Delaware - Delaware has a state Home Performance with Energy Star program with a directory of home performance contractors here.  

Florida - Gainesville Regional Utilities is currently on track to become a Home Performance partner, although there is currently no program in place. We'll let you know when they follow through.

Georgia - Although there is no statewide program, a number of Georgia utilities offer Home Performance with Energy Star programs, including Southface, Georgia Power, and Jackson Electric Membership Corp. Home Performance contractors working with Southface can be found here. Georgia Power associated Home Performance contractors can be found here.

Hawaii - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Idaho - Idaho has a Home Performance with Energy Star program. You can find a Home Performance contractor with the Idaho Home Performance with Energy Star contractor search.

Illinois - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Indiana - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Iowa - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Kansas - The Kansas Building Science Institute offers an intensive two-week Weatherization Inspector/Auditor training course that covers building science principles, combustion appliance inspection procedures and blower-door air leakage testing, which is also intended to serve as preparation for BPI's Building Analyst certification exam. Because the state weatherization program does not require BPI certification, some auditors may have taken this class, or KBSI's RESNET Energy Rater class, without obtaining an official certification from either of those organizations.

Kentucky - Kentucky has a Home Performance with Energy Star program, and provides a directory of home performance contractors by county.

Louisiana - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Maine - Maine has a Home Energy Savings program supported by Efficiency Maine. Efficiency Maine participating Energy Advisors are certified by BPI. 

Maryland - Maryland has a Home Performance with Energy Star program. Their website provides an interactive map to locate a qualified auditor in your area.

Massachusetts - Massachusetts has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through MassSave. Information about how to find an auditor is on their site.

Michigan - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Minnesota - The Minnesota Building Performance Association, an Energy Star partner, has a list of home energy consultants categorized by certification.

Mississippi - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Missouri - The MO Department of Natural Resources manages Energy Auditor Certification. More information here. To qualify, an auditor must be BPI or RESNET certified or, at the DNR's discretion, trained by another approved program. Also, energy auditors in business prior to 2009 can receive a one year provisional certification. A Fact Sheet on the MO certification program is here (PDF). The list of Certified MO Energy Auditors is here (pdf). In addition, the MO Home Performance with Energy Star program lists auditors through their partner organizations.

Montana - Montana currently has no statewide or regional certification or Home Performance programs. The state's website recommends a do-it-yourself audit, for which we can presumably credit the yet indomitable frontier spirit of Montanans. Respect.

Nebraska - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Nevada - Nevada has a Home Performance with Energy Star program called HomeFree Nevada. 

New Hampshire - There is no state-run auditor certification program in New Hampshire. There is in New Hampshire the Residential Home Performance Association, which is an organization made up of independent energy auditors and weatherization professionals in New Hampshire. They offer a list of certified auditors in the state, conveniently grouped according to what each company offers for services (audits only vs. audits and products, etc).

New Jersey - New Jersey has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through NJ Clean Energy. Here is a list of contractors (you'll be prompted to agree to a disclaimer before you can view the list).

New Mexico - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

New York - New York has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Find an auditor here.

North Carolina - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

North Dakota - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Ohio - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Oklahoma - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Oregon - Oregon has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through the Energy Trust of Oregon; a list of Home Performance contractors is here.

Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through PA Home Energy. Find a Home Performance contractor here .

Rhode Island - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

South Carolina - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

South Dakota - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Tennessee - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Texas - Texas has a Home Performance with Energy Star program in the Austin area through Austin Energy. A list of certified contractors is here.

Utah - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Vermont - Vermont has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through Efficiency Vermont. There is a search page on Efficiency Vermont's website - just type in your zip code and select "Home Performance Contractor."

Virginia - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Washington - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

West Virginia - No immediately identifiable web information. Got references? Please help us make this complete.

Wisconsin - Wisconsin has a Home Performance with Energy Star program through Focus on Energy. Here is a search page for certified contractors.

Wyoming - The Wyoming Energy Council has a Wyoming Home Performance with Energy Star program. For a contractor to be involved in the Home Energy with Energy Star program he must first be a Wyoming Energy Council "preferred contractor," and then attend the six-day training course provided by Wyoming HP with Energy Star.

VERSION:

Updated: 4/1/09; added 50 states.

Updated: 10/13/09; fixed broken links for the state of California; removed a link that, upon further inspection, we ultimately deemed unhelpful for homeowners.

Updated: 11/16/09; fixed broken link for list of auditors in Missouri. 

Updated: 1/12/10; added HomeFree Nevada Home Performance program, fixed broken links throughout.

Updated: 2/6/12; fixed links for Delaware, New York, Maine, Wyoming.