AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - Memphis Business Journal:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise ownersd throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyers and The company has seen its business skyrocke in Canada as the Canadian government has mandated homes be more energu efficient and reducecarbon footprints. Brenf Armstrong, vice president and general managerof AmeriSpec, says the compan is the only national provider of inspection services in Canada. It conducted 50,000 audits in compared to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’as inspection process creates an artificial draft to find out wher air seeps in or leaks outof homes. An inspectio also covers the energy efficiency ofHVAC systems.
Aftert an inspection in homes are given a rating and owners are given 18 monthsz to improve or retrofitthe home. Whilw the Canadian government doesn’t penalize homeowners who don’ t make changes, up to $5,000 in granr money is available for improvements and homeowners can get reimburseefor energy-related work they have done. Armstrong says the Obamza administration is looking at implementing similar changese inthe U.S. “There’es a growing awareness in the United and tosome degree, all of us are asking the same Armstrong says. He says all 50 statesx have weatherization programs.
The federapl government has allotted $5 billion in stimulusx funding tohelp low-income families replace roofws on their homes and changwe inefficient furnaces. As the attentionn to energy efficiency grows, AmeriSpecv is training its franchise owners to be certifier in Home Energy RatingSystem inspection. Inspectors are requirer to take an exam forHERS certification, but the national pass rate is 20%. At a trainint session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilities last week, 11 of the 15 participantx passed.
Owners can train at othere AmeriSpec facilities acrossthe country, but the most comprehensives training is located in Armstrong says AmeriSpec offers threer different courses that are open to its franchis e owners. Its facilities include a fullyfunctional “flood that can be flooded to simulate a home The house offers inspectors full field training withoutr them having to intrude on customers in the It also allows them learmn from their mistakes without being Gale Colvin, director of technical training and developmentg for AmeriSpec, says inspectors who pass the test will have the highesg certification in energy auditing. Following that they must perform threefield evaluations.
“We loan out the equipmenrt they need to getthat done,” Colvin says. “Wre want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in is one of the ownersz who passed last week’s exam. While the course isn’tr a requirement for franchises owners, it gives them another level of servicefor Anderson, who is also a licensed can now offer complete home servicexs from design to making sure existing homes are energuy efficient.
“The cost of energy for homeowners issteadily rising, so being able to assist peopl in how well their homess work and where improvements can be made is a servicew that will be needed in the future,” Andersonb says. “We’re positioned to tap into the markeyt and help folks that are interested ingoing