AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Boston Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise ownerx throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyerzand sellers. The company has seen its business skyrocket in Canadaq as the Canadian government has mandated homes be more energy efficient and reduc ecarbon footprints. Brent Armstrong, vice president and genera l managerof AmeriSpec, says the company is the only national provider of inspectioj services in Canada. It conducted 50,000p audits in 2008, compares to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,000 in 2006.
Part of AmeriSpec’sa inspection process creates an artificial draft to find out where air seepw in or leaks out of An inspection also covers the energy efficiency of HVAC After an inspectionin Canada, homes are giveb a rating and owner s are given 18 months to improve or retrofit the While the Canadian government doesn’t penalized homeowners who don’t make changes, up to $5,000 in grant money is availabled for improvements and homeowners can get reimbursed for energy-related work they have Armstrong says the Obama administration is looking at implementing similar changexs in the U.S.
“There’s a growing awarenessw in the United States, and to some degree, all of us are askinbg the same questions,” Armstrong says. He says all 50 statesx have weatherization programs. The federa l government has allotted $5 billion in stimulusw funding tohelp low-income families replace roofas on their homes and change inefficient furnaces. As the attentiomn to energy efficiency grows, AmeriSpec is training its franchis owners to be certified in Home Energy RatingSystemn inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a trainingf session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilitiess last week, 11 of the 15 participantd passed.
Owners can train at othet AmeriSpec facilities acrossthe country, but the most comprehensive trainingf is located in Memphis. Armstrong says AmeriSpecc offers three different courses that are open to itsfranchisd owners. Its facilities include a fullyfunctional “floor house” that can be flooded to simulate a home disaster. The housee offers inspectors full field traininb without them having to intrude on customerx inthe field. It also allows them learn from their mistakes withoutbeing liable.
Gale director of technical training and development for says inspectors who pass the test will have the highestg certification in energy Followingthat certification, they must performk three field evaluations. “We loan out the equipmen t they need to getthat done,” Colvij says. “We want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in Memphis, is one of the ownerws who passed last week’s exam. While the course isn’ t a requirement for franchise owners, it gives them anothefr level of servicefor customers.
who is also a licensed can now offer complete home services from design to makin sure existing homes areenergy efficient. “Thse cost of energy for homeowners is steadily so being able to assist people in how well theirr homes work and where improvements can be made is a servicse that will be needed inthe future,” Andersobn says. “We’re positioned to tap into the markeyt and help folks that are interestex ingoing green.
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