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

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Memphis-based AmeriSpec has 250 franchise owners throughoutthe U.S. and Canada who provide services to homebuyersand sellers. The companyu has seen its business skyrocket in Canada as the Canadianm government has mandated homes be more energty efficient and reduce carbon Brent Armstrong, vice presidenyt and general manager of AmeriSpec, says the companuy is the only national provider of inspection servicez in Canada. It conducted 50,00 audits in 2008, compared to 18,500 in 2007 and 14,0000 in 2006. Part of AmeriSpec’d inspection process creates an artificial draft to find out where air seeps in or leaks out of An inspection also covers the energyu efficiency ofHVAC systems.
After an inspection in Canada, homesz are given a rating and ownerx are given 18 monthsz to improve or retrofitrthe home. While the Canadian government doesn’t penalizes homeowners who don’t make up to $5,000 in grant money is available for improvements and homeownerz can get reimbursedfor energy-related work they have done. Armstronhg says the Obama administration is lookinh at implementing similar changes inthe U.S. “There’as a growing awareness in the United and tosome degree, all of us are askingh the same questions,” Armstrongb says. He says all 50 states have weatherizatioh programs.
The federal government has allotted $5 billiom in stimulus funding tohelp low-incomde families replace roofs on their homes and changer inefficient furnaces. As the attention to energy efficiency AmeriSpec is training its franchise owners to be certified in Home Energyg RatingSystem inspection. Inspectors are required to take an exam for HERS but the national pass rateis 20%. At a traininvg session at AmeriSpec’s Memphis facilities last 11 of the 15participantsz passed. Owners can train at other AmeriSpec facilitied acrossthe country, but the most comprehensive traininy is located in Armstrong says AmeriSpec offers three different courses that are open to its franchised owners.
Its facilities include a fullyfunctional “flood house” that can be floodedd to simulate a home disaster. The house offersa inspectors full field training without them havinhg to intrude on customers inthe field. It also allowss them learn from their mistakes withoutbeing liable. Gale director of technical training and developmen tfor AmeriSpec, says inspectors who pass the test will have the highesf certification in energy auditing. Followinhg that certification, they must perform three field evaluations. “We loan out the equipmeng they need to getthat done,” Colvinn says.
“We want to keep everything fresh for them out in the Steve Anderson, owner of two franchises in Memphis, is one of the owners who passed last week’s While the course isn’t a requirement for franchisr owners, it gives them another levekl of service for customers. Anderson, who is also a licenseds architect, can now offer complete home servicese from design to making sure existing homes areenergy “The cost of energy for homeowners is steadily rising, so being able to assist people in how well theird homes work and where improvements can be made is a servic e that will be needed in the Anderson says.
“We’re positioned to tap into the market and help folks that are interested ingoing