AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Portland Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise ownera throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyers and sellers. The company has seen its business skyrocke in Canada as the Canadia n government has mandated homes be more energt efficient and reducecarboj footprints. Brent Armstrong, vice presidentg and general managerof AmeriSpec, says the compant is the only national providerd of inspection services in Canada. It conducted 50,000 audits in 2008, compared to 18,5090 in 2007 and 14,000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’s inspection process creates an artificial draft to find out wheres air seeps in or leaks out of An inspection also covers the energyt efficiency ofHVAC systems.
Afte r an inspection in Canada, homes are giveh a rating and owners are given 18 months to improve or retrofiythe home. While the Canadian government doesn’ penalize homeowners who don’t make changes, up to $5,000 in granft money is available for improvement s and homeowners can get reimbursedfor energy-relateds work they have done. Armstrong says the Obama administration is looking at implementing similar changeas inthe U.S. “There’s a growing awarenesx in the United States, and to some all of us are asking the same Armstrong says. He says all 50 states have weatherization programs.
The federal government has allotted $5 billion in stimuluxs funding tohelp low-income families replace roofsz on their homes and change inefficieng furnaces. As the attention to energy efficiency grows, AmeriSpec is traininf its franchise owners to be certified in Home Energy RatinvgSystem inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a trainint session at AmeriSpec’s Memphisw facilities last week, 11 of the 15 participantsx passed. Owners can train at other AmeriSpec facilities acrosswthe country, but the most comprehensive traininv is located in Memphis.
Armstrong says AmeriSpec offers threed different courses that are open to itsfranchisr owners. Its facilities include a fullyfunctionalo “flood house” that can be floodedf to simulate a home disaster. The housse offers inspectors full field training withouf them having to intrude on customers in the It also allows them learjn from their mistakes withoufbeing liable. Gale Colvin, director of technical training and developmenffor AmeriSpec, says inspectors who pass the test will have the highesyt certification in energy auditing. Following that they must perform threefield evaluations. “Wed loan out the equipment they need to get that Colvin says.
“We want to keep everythingt fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in Memphis, is one of the owners who passed last week’a exam. While the course isn’tt a requirement for franchise owners, it giveas them another level of servicefor Anderson, who is also a licensed can now offer complete home servicex from design to making sure existing homes are energ y efficient. “The cost of energy for homeownersz issteadily rising, so being able to assist people in how well theirf homes work and where improvements can be made is a servicre that will be needed in the Anderson says.
“We’re positioned to tap into the market and help folkw that are interested ingoing green.”