Weatherization Energy Auditor

Envelope Professional/Shell Technician - BPI (Building Performance Institute)

Self-Paced Home Study - 60 hours/Books/DVD/Instructor-Supported

This course is specifically designed to help a person to prepare for the BPI Envelope Professional Written and Field Examinations.  If you are interested in working as a shell technician or installer for helping weatherize homes, use our materials to get the training to help prepare you for working as a shell technician and to prepare for the Envelope Professional Field Exams.  Learn how a house and its ducts are tested for leakiness.   Learn about energy in the home and where to look for reducing air infiltration and increasing insulation to reduce energy bills. This program also includes a valuable residential basic training package (8 DVD’s and a manual) to help you understand how the components in a house work and what they actually look like with over a thousand real life scenes from actual homes. Some additional field work/training is extremely helpful but not required before the BPI certification can be obtained.

The Residential Basic Training Includes

1. 8-Volume DVD Series

These DVDs address over a 1,000 home-related systems issues.  They contain real life scenes from out on site from across the nation. In fact, they also show how things can go wrong in homes to help avoid approving a weatherization job that has gone awry.  Circles and Arrows are used so you can see the precise item being discussed.  

Topics include:

·         Steam, Hot Water, and Oil Fired Systems

·         Exteriors

·         Structural

·         Electrical

·         Plumbing

·         HVAC

·         Basic Roofing

·         Advanced Roofing

2. Building Evaluation Training Manual (over 500 pages - pdf)

The manual gives detailed explanations of what things are called and how things work in a home – over 400 illustrations. 

The Residential Weatherization Training includes two textbooks

1. “Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings” by John T. Krigger and Chris Dorsi

 Topics covered in this book relating to an auditor’s work:

·         Principles of Energy

·         Energy and the Building Shell

·         Air Leakage

·         Insulation

·         Windows and Doors

·         Heating

·         Lighting and Appliances

·         Cooling

·         Water Heating

·         Health and Safety

2. “Building Shell Field Guide” by John T. Krigger and Chris Dorsi

 Topics covered in this book relating to an envelope professional/shell technician work from the field standpoint:

Diagnosing Shell and Duct Air Leakage

Air Sealing Homes

Installing Insulation

Mobile Homes

DVD

3. Duct Leakage Diagnostic and Repair

            Thermal vs. Pressure Boundaries

            Diagnostic Equipment

                        Blower Door

                        Smoke Generator

                        Digital Pressure Gauge

                        Pressure Pan

                        Duct Pressurization System

            Diagnostic Procedures

                        Dominant Duct leakage

                        Door Closure effects

                        Exhaust fan effects

                        Blower Door test

                                    CFM 50 Test

                                    Zone Pressure tests

                        Using chemical smoke

                        Pressure Pan Test

                        Dust Air tightness test

                                    Total Leakage

                                    Outside Leakage

                        Fog Machine

                        Static Pressure and Temperature tests

                        Types of Houses

            Basic Air Flow and Duct Leakage

4. Case Study I

            Steps to evaluating and weatherizing this home

5. Case Study II

            Steps to evaluating and weatherizing this home

6. Mobile Home Weatherization

            Air Sealing

            Water Heater

            Furnace efficiency

            Belly Insulation

            Roof Insulation

7. Air Sealing Houses Part I

            Testing and sealing Chronology

            Attics

                        Chimneys and Flues

                        Attic Louvers/Whole house fans

                        Large Attic leaks

                        Small Attic Air Leaks

                        Cape Cod style example

                        Flat Roofs

                        Moisture from attic bypasses

                        Air intrusion – soffit vents

8. Air Sealing Houses Part II

Walls

                        Major air leaks from outside

                        Large leaks from wall cavity to inside

                        Small leaks

                        Straight through leaks

                        Garage and attached sheds

            Basements

                        Large leaks

                        Small leaks

                        Interior leaks

            Crawl Spaces

            Windows

9. Thermal Bypass Book (pdf)

            Examples of Thermal bypasses with both real life scenes as well as thermographic interpretation.  This also shows some of the best ways to contain bypasses.

10. BPI Technical Standards for Certified Building Analyst (pdf)

11. Health and Safety Packet (pdf)

- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program regulations/policy and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for asbestos, lead, mold, and other health hazards;

-Material Safety Data Sheets

- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) standards:

- Ladder safety;

- Fall protection;

- Personal protective equipment;

- Respiratory protection;

- Motor vehicles;

- Power-operated hand tools;

- Fire prevention;

- Permit-required confined spaces;

- Other worker-related OSHA standards.

- Select, fit, and use the appropriate Personal Protection Equipment for a particular task;

- Safely use basic hand and power tools;

- Use a basic first aid kit to treat common job-site injuries; and

- Work Lead Safe

- Identify serious mold conditions

- Assess work area safety hazards

12. BPI “Quick Sheets” (pdf)

13. BPI Testing Requirements (pdf)

14. BPI Sample Tests (pdf)

15. BPI Guide to Performance Test – Envelope Professional (pdf)

16. Equipment Manuals

            Blower Door

            Duct Blaster

            DG-700 Manual

Support

1.  Exams that accompany the DVD’s, manuals and books.  Complete these exams as you go through the material.

2. E-mail instructor support

Instructor

Stanley C. Harbuck - Stan has been involved in residential and commercial construction and inspections for over 20 years. For 4 years he was licensed for Code Inspections. He also spent time as an evaluator researching housing-related issues. From time to time he is called upon to be an expert resource to the media. Stan has spent considerable time as a Building Maintenance Coordinator and Manager.  He is also an Approved OSHA Trainer in the Construction arena.

Teaching Background

Stan Harbuck has a background as a Part-Time Faculty/Lecturer at Daytime Classes at the University Level. He has also presented many seminars and has been teaching inspectors since 1993. Stan has 2 undergraduate degrees.

Associations Background

Stan has been a member of and a leader in various associations and committees in the energy, inspection, construction and design arenas.  He is a Certified Energy Manger through the Association of Energy Engineers. He has served as a member of several task force groups, workshops, or committees of several important national associations related to housing and inspections. Stan has also participated in several projects for the National Association of Home Builders and the National Fire Protection Association. These projects have involved evaluating quality control for new construction in-progress and quality control of some manufacturers who make construction supplies.