Wyoming Energy Council Holds Building Analyst Testing 

CHEYENNE - Wyoming Energy Council (WEC) will hold Wyoming's first Building Performance Institute (BPI) examinations in Cheyenne, June 17-18. Professionals from several Rocky Mountain states will test their technical and field competence trying to become BPI certified Building Analysts.  

 Teach the whole-house approach.

BPI sets the standard for teaching how houses work as a system.  A nationwide network of BPI affiliate organizations teaches contractors to assess the way heating, cooling, insulation, and other things in a home work together so they can develop a plan to create whole-house, year-round comfort for homeowners.  If the recommended improvements developed from these assessments are installed, substantial energy savings are also frequently recognized.  

Consensus-based national standards set the bar, and certified technicians who have completed BPI's written and in-field practical examinations know they can identify the problems and their root causes to home comfort and energy issues -- and fix them right.  

In Wyoming, BPI Building Analyst training and certification is delivered through Wyoming Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (WHP) sponsored by Wyoming Energy Council. Experienced heating and air conditioning contractors, remodelers, insulators, and even new home builders are signing up for training to obtain certification and improve their bottom line.  

Tiger Adolf, Executive Director of WEC said "We had more than 2,000 Web site hits in one day last week.  People are looking for certified contractors to provide whole-house solutions to their comfort and energy problems. The consumers know what they are looking for and we are trying to create the supply that will satisfy that demand."

AC Mechanical of Laramie provides heating and air conditioning services throughout Wyoming, and was one of the first companies to have technical professionals complete WHP training.  Mike Zofcin, master Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning contractor, manages the home performance division for AC Mechanical. 

"We created a home performance division to make more profit, generate new business, and also to continue to be a leader in energy efficiency on existing houses," Zofcin said. "If you don't [learn building science], the industry will pass you up. You have to be proactive and get in on the energy savings for your customers. Energy prices aren't going down and the natural resources aren't coming back."

 Get involved.

A Wyoming Home Performance information meeting will be held for interested contractors at the Gillette Library on July 7.  Two free sessions from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. are offered to area contractors.  RSVP is requested online at www.wyominghomeperformance.com or call (307) 742-9924.  

Applications for the next WHP training will be available on line after July 7, 2008.  Attendance at the information meeting is recommended, but not required, to apply for participation in the next training course.  Contractors must meet program qualification requirements, and the course will be limited to 20 people.  

The Wyoming Energy Council is the Environmental Protection Agency/Department of Energy partner bringing Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® to Wyoming with support from the Wyoming Business Council’s State Energy Program.  For more information contact the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Coordinator at whpes@wyoec.org or 307-742-9924 or go to: www.wyominghomeperformance.com;  www.wyoec.org; www.hpwes.org; www.bpi.org; www.energystar.gov .

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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Tiger Adolf

Executive Director

Wyoming Energy Council

Office:  307.742.0313

Email: tadolf@wyoec.org

Tom Fuller

Manager, State Energy Programs

Wyoming Business Council

Office:  307.777.2804

Email: tom.fuller@wybusiness.org