BPI Continues to Experience Rapid Growth
Expected to increase training affiliate network by 300% before the end of 2009
August 18, 2009
Malta, NY - The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), a nationally recognized standards development and contractor credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work, is reporting exponential growth so far in 2009.
BPI and its growing national network of training affiliate organizations offer turnkey training, professional certification for individuals, company accreditation and quality assurance protocols for the home performance contracting industry. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, BPI's programs are key components of several state-level weatherization assistance programs, as well as the national Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.
BPI affiliate training has shown rapid growth for the organization this year. Administered across the country, the network of training affiliate organizations has grown by more than 35% so far in 2009, from 70 to 95. Another 21 organizations are ready to sign affiliate agreements, and an additional 87 organizations are in the process of becoming training affiliates. If all are successfully integrated into the network, BPI expects to have 203 affiliates by the end of 2009, an increase of almost 300% over 12 months.
"Training and certification are key steps in building a strong, highly-skilled and professionalized home performance workforce," said David Hepinstall, Chairman of the BPI Board of Directors. "The increasing interest in providing training to prepare individuals for BPI certification is most encouraging, and perhaps the best part is that a lot of that interest is coming from regions that did not have this kind of program running before."
The number of individuals who have achieved professional certification credentials from BPI has also grown, from 2,737 to 4,666, a 70% increase between December 31, 2008 and August 1, 2009. The number of accredited contracting companies has also expanded from 220 to 304, an increase of almost 40% so far this year.
Market Drivers Accelerate Expansion
External events are helping to drive BPI's current rate of expansion. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed into law in February of this year, allocated $8 billion for weatherization and residential energy efficiency retrofits. This funding windfall has created a need to bring on more qualified, expert contractors to perform house-as-a-system assessments, diagnostics and improvements across the country.
Meanwhile, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June, proposes incentives for reducing energy consumption, limits on U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a trading system for GHG emission permits. Section 202: Building Retrofit Program of the ACESA establishes a Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program.
Finally, in late July, McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting behemoth, released Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy. This detailed report identified a lack of trained and skilled contractors as a major barrier to unlocking the energy efficiency potential of the residential sector, and called for a 30- to 40-fold increase in the number of qualified contractors by 2020.
BPI was identified in the McKinsey report as a potential solution to the workforce shortage barrier.
"Between the funding allocated to weatherization and energy efficiency improvements under the ARRA, and the impending efficiency mandates proposed in the ACESA, home performance contractors are in greater demand than ever before," said Hepinstall. "BPI is working hard to help fill the workforce gap and bring improved comfort, health, safety, durability and energy efficiency to America's existing housing stock."
