BPI Certified Professional

Overview

A Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certified Professional is an individual who has proven they have the knowledge and skills required to pass a set of rigorous written and hands-on exams for their area of expertise. A company listed on EnergySavvy as a BPI Certified Professional has at least one employee at the company who has passed a BPI certification exam.

Details

BPI Certification is one of the most valued indicators in the home energy efficiency industry, demonstrating that the employee understands whole home energy efficiency. There are several types of BPI Certifications that are relevant to making homes more energy efficient the right way:

Building Performance Analyst — This is the most common certification that you're likely to encounter within the BPI contractor network. This qualification is important for energy auditors and contractors doing general energy retrofit work. They examine how your home performs using house-as-a-system building science, and also look for important safety factors such as mold and carbon monoxide.
Envelope Professional — This specialization is for contractors that design and implement measures to improve your house's "envelope" (the roof, walls, and floors that separate the outside from the inside). These measures include insulation and air sealing.
Heating Professional — This certification is for contractors that specialize in installing furnace systems. If you're looking for a new furnace, it's very important to find a contractor with a BPI Heating Professional certification. They're trained to consider how your furnace will interact as a system with the duct work distribution, insulation and air sealing measures throughout your house — allowing your furnace to perform much more efficiently than if it were simply replaced. They also make sure your equipment is safe and not emitting dangerous carbon monoxide.
A/C or Heat Pump Professional — This certification is for contractors that specialize in installing air conditioners and heat pumps. If you're looking for a new A/C or heat pump, it's very important to find a contractor with a BPI A/C or Heat Pump Professional certification, because they're trained to think about your overall house and how those systems fit into it rather than just replacing your old equipment.

When you're working with a company that has BPI Certified Professionals — make sure that at least one of those employees is working on your project at all times. It's not enough to simply have one on staff. Learn more about BPI.

If you're a contractor that has a BPI Certification and you're not already part of the EnergySavvy network, join us.

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