Certifications

BPI Certified Professional

The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is the nation's leading building science accreditation organization. The "house as a system" philosophy - which looks at a building's various components (building envelope, attic, basement, combustion equipment, ventilation sources) and the interrelationship between them to maximize a home's performance. This approach leads to greater energy efficiency, but perhaps more importantly to buildings that simply work better. A home that has been analyzed and upgraded from a whole-house standpoint is more durable, healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. For more information about BPI's standards, take a look at their Technical Standards for Building Analysts (PDF).

The Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes— without driving up the cost of construction. Classwork leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers, from the organization leading the charge to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.

Lead paint poisoning affects over one million children today. Adverse health effects include learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and speech delays. If not done in a lead-safe manner, renovations and repair activities that disturb lead-based paint can expose children, as well as adults, to harmful levels of lead dust.

EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe work practices aimed at preventing lead poisoning in children. Firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified, individual renovators must be trained by an EPA-accredited training provider, and the firms and renovators must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.