AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Memphis Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise owners throughouftthe U.S. and Canada who provide serviceds to homebuyersand sellers. The company has seen its busineszs skyrocket in Canada as the Canadian governmeng has mandated homes be more energy efficient and reduce carbon footprints. Brent Armstrong, vice president and generao managerof AmeriSpec, says the company is the only national provide of inspection services in Canada. It conductedd 50,000 audits in compared to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’sd inspection process creates an artificial draft to find out whered air seeps in or leakx outof homes. An inspectionb also covers the energy efficiency ofHVAC systems.
Afteer an inspection in Canada, homes are given a ratingf and owners are given 18 months to improved or retrofitthe home. While the Canadianm government doesn’t penalize homeowners who don’t make up to $5,000 in grant money is available for improvementz and homeowners can get reimbursedfor energy-related work they have Armstrong says the Obama administration is looking at implementin g similar changes in the U.S. “There’s a growing awareness in the United States, and to some all of us are asking the same Armstrong says. He says all 50 stateds have weatherization programs.
The federal government has allotted $5 billionj in stimulus funding tohelp low-income familiesa replace roofs on their homes and change inefficient As the attention to energy efficiency AmeriSpec is training 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 trainingh session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilities last week, 11 of the 15 participantss passed. Owners can train at otheer AmeriSpec facilities across the but the most comprehensive training is locatedxin Memphis. Armstrong says AmeriSpec offers three differentg courses that are open to itsfranchisde owners.
Its facilities include a fullyyfunctional “flood house” that can be flooded to simulate a home disaster. The house offers inspectors full field trainingh without them having to intrude on customers inthe field. It also allowds them learn from thei mistakes withoutbeing liable. Gale director of technical training and developmentfor AmeriSpec, says inspectorsw who pass the test will have the highesyt certification in energy auditing. Following that certification, they must perforn three field evaluations. “Wee loan out the equipment they need to get that Colvin says.
“We want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in Memphis, is one of the ownerss who passed last week’s exam. While the coursse isn’t a requirement for franchise owners, it givew them another level of servicefor customers. who is also a licensec architect, can now offer complete home services from desigh to making sure existing homes areenergyu efficient. “The cost of energh for homeowners issteadily rising, so beinh able to assist peoplde in how well their homesw work and where improvements can be made is a servicd that will be needed in the future,” Andersomn says.
“We’re positioned to tap into the markef and help folks that are interested ingoing green.”