At RESNET, we take our responsibilities to the rating industry seriously and that means creating opportunities for business growth wherever possible. We all learned in 2008 how fragile the new homes market can be. The recession demonstrated that to be viable in the long term the HERS® industry had to be able to tap the existing homes market. With utility sponsors and the building performance community pushing harder for Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) testing, many HERS® Raters find themselves at a disadvantage because they were not CAZ certified. As a result, they are unable to compete with other home energy professionals who do hold this certification. One example of this is in New York where the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which required that all HERS® Raters also be certified as BPI Building Analysts because RESNET did not require HERS® Raters to be CAZ certified by RESNET , whereas BPI Building Analysts were. Now that all HERS® Raters are CAZ certified, NYSERDA no longer requires the additional BPI Building Analyst certification for HERS® Raters. RESNET is committed to ensuring that HERS® Raters have every advantage possible, through training and qualifications, to be able to benefit from increased business opportunities. Because of this commitment, RESNET decided to take a proactive stance in addressing this problem by requiring that HERS® raters too are CAZ certified, thus ensuring they remain competitive in the market. HERS® Raters must now comply with the new RESNET CAZ training and testing requirements. This means that all existing HERS® Raters and Rating Field Inspectors must pass both the written and simulation exams for CAZ by January 1, 2015.This leads to tangible benefits for certified RESNET HERS® Raters, such as: Since RESNET adopted the CAZ requirement NYSERDA dropped BPI requirement for HERS® Raters in New York. Where previously you had to be a certified BPI professional in order to conduct CAZ testing, you can now do so with your RESNET HERS® Rater certification. Expanded knowledge and expertise in home energy issues allows you to offer greater value and service to your clients. The CAZ certification means access to bigger markets with existing homes. Raters can sign up for the RESNET CAZ tests through an accredited Rater Training Provider. To find out more, contact RESNET’s Customer Service Representative Stephanie DeZee at stephanie@resnet.us Please note that RESNET and Interplay staff will be holiday schedules after Thanksgiving. This means that access to staff support on the tests will be limited during the holidays. It would be wise to complete the required CAZ testing and training before Thanksgiving.
