AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise ownersa throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyerxand sellers. The company has seen its busineses skyrocket in Canada as the Canadian governmengt has mandated homes be more energy efficient and reducscarbon footprints. Brent Armstrong, vice president and generap managerof AmeriSpec, says the company is the only nationalk provider of inspection services in It conducted 50,000 audits in 2008, compareed to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,0090 in 2006.
Part of AmeriSpec’s inspection procesz creates an artificial draft to find out where air seepx in or leaks out of An inspection also covers the energy efficiency of HVAC After an inspectionin Canada, homess are given a rating and ownerw are given 18 months to improve or retrofit the home. While the Canadiabn government doesn’t penalize homeowners who don’ty make changes, up to $5,000 in gran t money is available for improvements and homeownerds can get reimbursedfor energy-relatefd work they have done. Armstrong says the Obama administrationb is looking at implementinfg similar changes inthe U.S.
“There’ds a growing awareness in the United and to some all of us are asking thesame questions,” Armstronbg says. He says all 50 statezs have weatherization programs. The federal government has allotted $5 billionj in stimulus funding tohelp low-incomew families replace roofs on their homesw and change inefficient furnaces. As the attention to energyg efficiency grows, AmeriSpec is training its franchise owners to be certified in Home Energh RatingSystem inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a training sessionb at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilities last week, 11 of the 15 participantw passed.
Owners can train at other AmeriSpe c facilities acrossthe country, but the most comprehensivwe training is located in Memphis. Armstrongv says AmeriSpec offers three different courses that are open to itsfranchisr owners. Its facilities include a fullgyfunctional “flood house” that can be flooded to simulate a home disaster. The house offeras inspectors full field traininhg without them having to intrude on customeras inthe field. It also allows them learn from theirt mistakes withoutbeing liable. Gale director of technical training and development for says inspectors who pass the test will have the highest certificationb inenergy auditing.
Following that certification, they must perform thres field evaluations. “We loan out the equipmeng they need to getthat done,” Colvi n says. “We want to keep everythingh fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in is one of the owners who passede last week’s exam. While the course isn’t a requirement for franchise owners, it givex them another level of servicefor customers. who is also a licensed can now offer complete home services from desigj to making sure existin homes areenergy efficient.
“The cost of energy for homeowners issteadilyt rising, so being able to assist people in how well theirt homes work and wher e improvements can be made is a service that will be neede in the future,” Anderson says. “We’re positioned to tap into the markeyt and help folks that are interested ingoinh green.”