AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Triangle Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise owners throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyerszand sellers. The company has seen its businesds skyrocket in Canada as the Canadianb government has mandated homes be more energy efficienyt and reduce carbon Brent Armstrong, vice president and general manager of says the company is the only national provider of inspectionm services in Canada. It conducted 50,000 auditzs in 2008, compared to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’sa inspection process creates an artificial draff to find out where air seepas in or leaks outof homes. An inspection also coverz the energy efficiency ofHVAC systems.
After an inspectionn in Canada, homes are given a rating and ownersz are given 18 months to improvs or retrofitthe home. While the Canadian governmeny doesn’t penalize homeowners who don’ft make changes, up to $5,00o0 in grant money is available for improvementse and homeowners can get reimbursedfor energy-related work they have Armstrong says the Obamw administration is looking at implementing similar changes in the U.S. “There’s a growinyg awareness in the United States, and to some all of us are asking the same Armstrong says. He says all 50 statesz have weatherization programs.
The federak government has allotted $5 billion in stimulusz funding tohelp low-income families replaced roofs on their homes and change inefficient furnaces. As the attentioh to energy efficiency AmeriSpec is training its franchise owners to be certifie d in Home Energy Rating System Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a training session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilitiees last week, 11 of the 15 participants passed. Ownersw can train at other AmeriSpec facilitiesx acrossthe country, but the most comprehensivde training is located in Memphis.
Armstrong says AmeriSpevc offers three different coursexs that are open to itsfranchisr owners. Its facilities include a fulltyfunctional “flood house” that can be floodee to simulate a home disaster. The house offers inspectors full field training without them havinb to intrude on customers inthe field. It also allows them lear n from their mistakes withoutbeing liable. Gale director of technical training and developmentfor AmeriSpec, says inspectord who pass the test will have the highest certificatiom in energy auditing. Following that they must perform threefielxd evaluations. “We loan out the equipment they need to get that Colvin says.
“We want to keep everythin fresh for them out inthe field.” Stevw Anderson, owner of two franchise s in Memphis, is one of the owners who passed last week’s exam. While the course isn’t a requirement for franchisse owners, it gives them another level of servicewfor customers. Anderson, who is also a licensed architect, can now offetr complete home services from design to making sure existiny homes areenergy “The cost of energy for homeowners is steadily so being able to assist people in how well thei homes work and where improvements can be made is a serviced that will be needed in the Anderson says.
“We’re positioned to tap into the markert and help folks that are interestefd ingoing green.”