Oh this is getting good… I am curious though, how much information they can actually get across in 8 hours, when a weatherization contractor requires 3 full days. I think BPI, and quite a few others will call this a simple feel good money grabbing scheme.

First I agree with most of your points but, an Energy Star Contractor is only dealing with “new construction.” As I recall, the third party verifiers they are required to use are only HERS raters. Also to my knowledge, HERS is only a rating program, they don’t have a certified contractor program.

LEED also follows the same lines as Energy Star. They also require a third party verifier, which used to be a HERS or BPI auditor – that has since changed or is in the process of changing as I recall. As for the politics, nobody holds a candle to these guys in this area.

I am not to sure on the generic test for certifications – I truly think the battle has been fought and won. Do we really want to have 50 different certification tests out there, like is happening in the green rating arena? Besides, Energy Star & LEED, most “green” programs & “state” programs recognize BPI &/or HERS raters and utilize them as consultants & / or verifiers.

In all fairness, HERS, EnergyStar, LEED, and any number of other state programs should also be allowed to participate. I mean, for crine out loud! How far down the rabbit hole do we have to go here before the number of credentials a company and employee has to carry to do the exact same job becomes untenable? Is there really any difference between a “Gold Star BPI Contractor” and a “HERS Building Performance Contractor”? I doubt it. But as written, the HERS Building Performance Contractor would not be able to work on a home seeking rebates under this bill. S/he’d have to pay thousands of dollars to repeat (essentially) the same training, under the BPI name, to work for those customers.

Making the certification and testing requirements generic, so that any certified testing program is qualifies for the rebates, is the only way to end the race for certification dollars. A race that adds costs that end up being passed on to the customer.