AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Boston Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchisew owners throughoutthe U.S. and Canad who provide services to homebuyerdand sellers. The companty has seen its businessw skyrocket in Canada as the Canadian governmentg has mandated homes be more energy efficieny and reducecarbon footprints. Brent Armstrong, vice presideny and general managerof AmeriSpec, says the compan is the only national provider of inspection 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 draft to find out wherse air seeps in or leaks out of An inspection also covers the energy efficiency of HVAC After an inspectionin Canada, homes are given a rating and owners are given 18 monthd to improve or retrofit the While the Canadian government doesn’t penalizs homeowners who don’t make changes, up to $5,000 in grang money is available for improvements and homeowners can get reimbursedr for energy-related work they have done. Armstrong says the Obama administrationn is looking at implementinv similar changes inthe U.S.
“There’se a growing awareness in the United States, and to some all of us are asking the same Armstrong says. He says all 50 statesw have weatherization programs. The federal governmenrt has allotted $5 billioh in stimulus funding tohelp low-income families replace roofs on thei r homes and change inefficient furnaces. As the attentiobn to energy efficiency grows, AmeriSpec is traininh its franchise owners to be certified in Home Energy Rating System inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%.
At a traininyg session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilitiees last week, 11 of the 15 participants Owners can train at other AmeriSpe facilities acrossthe country, but the most comprehensive trainingg is located in Memphis. Armstrong says AmeriSpec offers threee different courses that are open to its franchise Its facilities include a fullfunctional “flood house” that can be floodedx to simulate a home disaster. The house offeres inspectors full field traininv without them having to intrude on customeras inthe field. It also allows them learn from their mistakews withoutbeing liable.
Gale Colvin, directo r of technical training and development for says inspectors who pass the test will have the highest certificatiobn inenergy auditing. Following that they must perform threefield evaluations. “We loan out the equipment they need to getthat done,” Colvin says. “We want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in is one of the owners who passed last week’d exam. While the course isn’t a requirement for franchise owners, it givezs them another level of servicefor customers.
Anderson, who is also a licensec architect, can now offer complet home services from design to making sure existingv homes areenergy efficient. “The cost of energy for homeowners issteadilhy rising, so being able to assistg people in how well their homes work and wherer improvements can be made is a service that will be neede in the future,” Andersom says. “We’re positioned to tap into the market and help folkzs that are interested ingoinb green.
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