WASHINGTON — The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking information from organizations and/or coalitions of organizations that are using, or would like to use, the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals project.

As part of this request for information, NREL is specifically looking for organizations and/or coalitions pursuing one or more of the following:

Adoption of the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals: Standard Work Specifications for Single-Family Energy Upgrades, possibly as part of an energy-reduction program such as a rate payer-funded program or government (state or local) mandate; implementation of home energy professional-certified workers to conduct the upgrades, either internally or as contractors; and use of an accredited training program (or trainer) to train workers in preparation of being certified.

This notification comes in light of an announcement issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the March 2013 Weatherization Training & Technical Assistance e-note that stated: The need for training sessions for quality control inspectors is expected to rise sharply in the next year as a number of new requirements begin to go into effect.

In 2013, all grantees are to begin training and certifying inspectors in preparation for a requirement for quality control inspector-certified individuals in 2015. Grantees are also to begin developing inspection plans to ensure that all work performed by the weatherization assistance program (WAP) meets the minimum requirements for work quality laid out in the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) for Home Energy Upgrades.

In Program Year 2014, all work performed in the WAP will need to meet the standards for work quality outlined in the SWS and be inspected for compliance. Grantees will also need to submit a plan to DOE outlining their process for training and certifying individuals as quality control inspectors.

Beginning in Program Year 2015 all work must be inspected by a certified Quality Control Inspector. The deadline for information is May 31.

Publication date: 5/27/2013 

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