Comments on: Time for a Reality Check on Our 8 Day HERS Rater Training

By: Colin Genge

Colin Genge — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 06:05:59 +0000

Glad to see you've found
Glad to see you've found extra uses for your plasterboard (hat).

Recycle, Reuse - well reuse anyway.

By: Kenneth Bailes

Kenneth Bailes — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:22:56 +0000

This question is for Allison.
This question is for Allison.

Does any of the training offered by EV give a student possible continuing ed credits at this time?

Thanks!

By: Corbett Lunsford

Corbett Lunsford — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:32:55 +0000

Isn't it weird that complete
Isn't it weird that complete honesty about low enrollment is so unusual? I'm so impressed that you came out and stated your numbers- be clear, people, that the big corporate training centers whose names I don't like to say would NEVER do that, even though they're constantly cold-calling, begging for students. We're all feeling it- you are not alone.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:09:42 +0000

wow! something to show you
wow! something to show you passed the test! what a concept. it has taken me 5 years to get a rater number from Resnet. part of this was due to, as I was told..that our class was prior to this number being created..don't know if I buy that or not. the other part was ineptitude of the man who gave the class. it would have been better just to study on your own & take the test, instructors are supposed to instruct, not confuse.

while we knew whether or not we passed, most didn't get anything that reflected this.

glad to see that you are publishing then numbers.

few raters in my area passed on their first try.

some took the test multiple times.

the test was hard for me. a lot of the questions had answers that you had to answer from a cold climate perspective. these climate specific answers were correct for cold climates, but incorrect for hot humid climates.

glad that you are giving another class.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:02:47 +0000

Kim S.:
Kim S.: Actually, RESNET does require knowledge of thermal bypasses and proper installation of building envelope components. It's not a huge part of the test, but it's definitely part of what all raters need to know. The problem is that in shorter classes, you just can't go into much detail on everything so stuff like that gets glossed over sometimes. I can teach anyone the fundamentals of building science in 10 or 15 minutes, but the devil's in the details, as they say. We try to teach not only the fundamentals and what students need to know to pass the test, but also a lot of the details that you mention as well. A new rater who can't answer a builder's questions isn't going to instill a lot of confidence. I like Armando's idea of apprenticeship, too, because even an 8 day class can't hit everything they need to know.

By: kim shanahan

kim shanahan — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:10:17 +0000

While RESNET does not require
While RESNET does not require new raters to be schooled in recognizing Thermal Bypass issues and proper installation of air barriers, I would hope your expanded class does cover these critically important topics. In Santa Fe, where we have had mandatory HERS ratings on new residential consturction since 2008 and mandatory HERS 70 since 2009, we also require mandatory Thermal Bypass and air barrier inspections. Our cadre of raters, all of whom are top-notch building science pros, know what to look for and enforce best practices. And because our builders continue to tighten their envelopes to get to the 70, we recently amended our Green Building Codes to make compliance to ASHRAE 62.2 a mandatory requirement as well. I'm guessing an astute instructor such as Allison Bailes covers these topics in great detail?

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:44:49 +0000

Armando:
Armando: Great points! You just reminded me of another article I wrote, A Home Energy Rater Class Is Just the Beginning , which I've now added to the list at the bottom of the article. Also, as a member of the RESNET Quality Assurance committee, I'm involved in helping to shape the HERS Standards to make the kind of oversight you're talking about happen. It's a slow, arduous process, but we're definitely improving.

By: Armando

Armando — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:28:37 +0000

Taking the class, however
Taking the class, however long, and passing a test is just a beginning. Providers should make those newbies work as apprentices for at least 6-12 months, then pass a more rigorous test before they are allowed to be independent contractors. Sort of mechanical tradesmen. There are too many “experts” in the field with little knowledge and experience.

The second and bigger issue is for BPI and Resnet to truly monitor the shady work many raters are doing in order to keep their accounts. I’ve seen it too often, and in the last month or so, I’ve heard from production builders admitting the issue, and from Raters, who have lost accounts to other Raters who pass bad jobs consistently.