I am a small contractor interested in helping my clients make their homes more efficient.
GBA Editor
| Posted in General Questions on
Are there any certification classes I can take to further my education? I would like to know more about government programs that offer tax assistance to homeowners. What tools and equipment might I need to perform an energy efficiency exam for my clients?
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Replies
Jason,
Many of the programs and incentives vary regionally. Alot of contractors get training and certifications from the Building Performance Institute, http://www.bpi.org/
You can also check if the Home Performance with Energy Star is active in your area:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_hpwes_partners
There's a good article in a recent issue of Journal of Light Construction that talks about this topic:
http://www.greenhomesamerica.com/docs/articles/JLCSeptember2009.pdf
Fine Homebuilding Magazine has had several recent articles as well:
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/pages/energy-efficient-homes.asp
For incentives, check http://www.dsireusa.org/ to see what incentives are available in your state.
There's a ton of information available, especially on this site, but those are good jumping off places for more program specific info.