AmeriSpec home energy audits soar - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise ownersz throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyers and The company has seen its business skyrocke t in Canada as the Canadian government has mandatedc homes be more energy efficient and reducecarbon footprints. Breng Armstrong, vice president and general managereof AmeriSpec, says the company is the only national providefr of inspection services in Canada. It conductedr 50,000 audits in 2008, compared to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,0000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’s inspectiom process creates an artificial draft to find out wherwe air seeps in or leaks outof homes.
An inspectionh also covers the energy efficiency of HVAC After an inspectionin Canada, homew are given a rating and owners are give 18 months to improve or retrofit the While the Canadian governmenty doesn’t penalize homeowners who don’t make changes, up to $5,00o in grant money is available for improvements and homeowners can get reimbursed for energy-related work they have Armstrong says the Obama administration is lookinyg at implementing similar changex in the U.S. “There’s a growing awareness in the Unitedd States, and to some degree, all of us are askingt the same questions,” Armstrong says. He says all 50 statesz have weatherization programs.
The federap government has allotted $5 billiojn in stimulus funding tohelp low-income familiexs replace roofs on their homeds and change inefficient furnaces. As the attentionn to energy efficiency grows, AmeriSpec is training its franchise owners to be certified in Home Energy RatinbgSystem inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a training sessiobn at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilities last week, 11 of the 15 participants passed. Owners can train at othed AmeriSpec facilities acrossthe country, but the most comprehensive traininf is located in Memphis.
Armstrong says AmeriSpecx offers three different courses that are open to itsfranchisse owners. Its facilities include a fullyfunctionalp “flood house” that can be flooded to simulate a home The house offers inspectors full field traininvg without them having to intrude on customersd in the field. It also allows them learhn from their mistakes withoutbeinvg liable. Gale Colvin, director of technical traininvg and developmentfor AmeriSpec, says inspectorx who pass the test will have the highest certification in energy Following that certification, they must performn three field evaluations.
“We loan out the equipmenf they need to getthat done,” Colvin “We want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchisesw in Memphis, is one of the ownera who passed last week’s While the course isn’t a requirement for franchise owners, it gives them another levelk of service for customers. Anderson, who is also a licensed can now offer complete home services from design to makingh sure existing homes areenergy efficient.
“The cost of energy for homeowners issteadilu rising, so being able to assisf people in how well their homes work and where improvementz can be made is a servicr that will be needed in the Anderson says. “We’re positioned to tap into the markert and help folks that are interested ingoing green.”