Energy Auditors Training - DIY?
There are so many places to get trained!! Some are expensive too!! I've also seen websites that will show a homeowner how to do an audit themselves! Why would someone pay for something they can learn to do themselves? It seems like in order to do an audit that a homeowner could not do themselves, you would have to purchase a lot of expensive equipment. I'm overwhelmed! -------------------- Mike Denby's response: Thanks for the questions. Lets break this into two parts. First part Getting trained. There are only three main sources for training for home energy audit certification 1) BPI, 2) RESNET, 3) Denby. BPI and RESNET have tons of licensed individuals across the country that train to those two standards. The pros are that:1) these are tech-based trainings, and 2) they include whole home approaches. The cons are that the programs are very expensive, about $1,500 for the course alone, let alone the travel, time, tools and extras. Additionally, some of the best trainers still have about a 50% failure rate. That means that even if you shell out the $1,500 you have only a 50/50 chance of making it through the course. In contrast to the Tier 2 training of BPI and RESNET, Denby Energy pioneered the Tier 1 level energy audit and today maintains the most comprehensive, up to date and practical training programs available today. Denby has several licensees out there reselling its product, so check before you buy to make sure you are getting the Denby approved training. The Pros of the Denby Programs are that: 1)it has a substantially lower cost to entry ($247 gets you started); 2)it focuses on practical energy savings and does not waste time with theory; 3) it takes as little as two days of training to get certified under the Denby Programs. The cons are that the Denby Programs do not cover the theory in the BPI/RESNET classes and do not promote the use of tech-based audits. However, the Denby programs are a great starting point for getting into the energy auditing business. For the low cost to entry and the quick study time, you can actually start with the Denby energy program and upgrade to the BPI/RESNET if you feel you want to add the theory and tech-based approach. Part 2 Can the homeowner just do this themselves? This question is true for so many things in the United States, from carpet cleaning providers, to landscapers, to tax preparation. The quick and simple answer is YES. Of course they can do it themselves but they can also do their carpets, landscaping and taxes themselves. But the majority of Americans would rather pay a "professional" to do it for them. They pay H&R Block (a Tier 1 analogy), or they pay national accounting firms or tax specialists (a Tier 2 analogy) to do what they can do themselves. The REAL question that needs to be asked, is "why do people use H&R Block when they can do it themselves?" There is only one reason anyone buys a service they think it adds value. And paying someone else to do your taxes is a value most are willing to pay. Looking at the Energy Audit side. Going online, finding the answers, organizing the materials, validating the accuracy, doing the physical inspection of their home, finding the solutions and implementing those solutions is something that a very small number of homeowners can and have done. The majority of people, however, lose interest after about 20 minutes of researching and put off their energy savings until a later date. In the alternative, if they agree to the services of a home energy auditor (Tier 1 or 2), they would get the value of the expertise of the auditor and they would get their energy savings started both significant values that most homeowners are willing to pay for. The Denby Programs will get 80% of the Tier 2 energy savings but with 20% of the effort. That lets the auditor pass those savings along to the customer in the way of lower rates and quicker service, without having to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Hope that clears up your confusion. Michael Denby CEO/Founder, Denby Energy, LLC Editor's note. For Denby Energy accreditation information go here Denby Energy accreditation information go here Home Energy Audit Training |
