Green Jobs in the Home Performance Industry:

The Industry’s Perspective on Workforce Development

Presented By: Brett Knox, GreenHomes America

Soheil Nakhshab, Greenwise Solutions

Ted Torre-Bueno, Empowered Energy Solutions

April 16, 2010

Who is Efficiency First?

National non-profit trade association

Almost 1,000 Home Performance Contractors across the US

Representing the Home Performance industry in public policy discussions

State and national levels

Promoting the benefits of efficiency retrofitting

Helping grow the Home Performance industry

Key player in Home Star

Home Issues that Point to Energy Waste

High Energy BillsDrafty Rooms

Hot/Cold Rooms Outside Noises

heard in the home

Moisture in Attic

or Basement

Condensation on

Windows

Unsafe Carbon

Monoxide Levels

Poor Air Quality

Excessive Dust

Old & Inefficient

Furnace

Old & Inefficient

A/C

Mold & Mildew

Causes of these Problems

How do we find these Problems?

The first step is a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit

Blower Door measures

the air infiltration rate of

a home

Infrared Camera to spot

thermal defects from

poor insulation and

airflow

Fiber optics to further

analyze hidden defectsCarbon monoxide and

gas leak detection

IR Cameras quickly spot the culprits…

Seal air leaks throughout the attic and home

Add insulation to attic and walls

Seal or replace leaky ducts

Install variable-speed Pool and Spa Pumps

Energy efficient lighting solutions, including motion detectors

Replace single-pane Windows (beware – paybacks can be long)

Most Homes Need Many ImprovementsCore Improvements to reduce electricity & gas loads

Comprehensive Air Sealing

BEFORE AFTER

Super Insulating Walls & Attics

BEFORE AFTER AFTER

Properly Sealed Ducts

BEFORE AFTER AFTER

“Right-sized”, high efficiency air conditioner

“Right-sized”, high efficiency furnace

Solar PV – actually achieve net-zero

On-demand and/or Solar Thermal

Geothermal

After you improve the Core, then you do More…

HomeEnergy Audit

(Test-in)

Home EnergyImprovements

HomeEnergy Audit

(Test-out)

Plus, the Improvements are Verified

3rd Party Verification(5% - 15%)

Typical Energy Makeover

Replacement Furnace (same size or larger)

Replacement A/C unit (same size or larger)

Right-sized, Ultra Efficiency Furnace

Right-sized, High Efficiency A/C unit

Rooms aren’t Hot in Summer, Cold in Winter

A Quieter Home with Less Dust

Guaranteed Lower Utility Bills

Better Indoor Air Quality

Lower Carbon Footprint

Higher Home Resale Value

A New Revolution for Home Improvements

Driving Demand for Home Performance

PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing

—California First/ AB 811

California Whole-House Retrofit Program

Sponsored by SDG&E, PG&E, SCE, So Cal Gas, & SMUD

Home Star

—Legislation currently being considered by Congress

—$6 Billion in incentives to homeowners for retrofits

—Expected to create 168,000 jobs

The Current Home Performance Industry: Company Sizes

Majority are Small Companies

—Founder + a few employees & subs

Some Mid-sized Companies (10-75 employees)

—More of a corporate structure

Only a few Larger (75+ employees)

—Construction

—HVAC

—Insulation

Home Performance Only

—Single contractor

Construction/Remodelers + Home Performance

—Established companies adding Home Performance as an additional division or service

Single Trade contractors that subcontract

—HVAC

—Windows

—Plumbers

The Current Home Performance Industry: Company Types

Insulation Installers Building Analysts

Quality Assurance Testers

Who does Home Performance Jobs?

Retrofit Technicians

Graphics courtesy of Rising Sun Energy Center & Greener Dawn

Promotional Jobs

Analysts/Auditors/Estimators

Business Development

Marketing & Customer Education

Inside & Outside sales staff

Home Performance Job Requirements

Good interpersonal skills

Previous sales experience a plus

Home components & construction knowledge

“Green” or sustainable life philosophy

Building Performance Field Jobs

Entry Level: Field Technician— Minimum Training Required — Crawl space & attic work— Mostly Draft Sealing, Duct Sealing & Insulation Technicians

Intermediate/ Advanced Level: Crew Lead— Additional Training Required— Experienced Field Technicians— Crew lead or construction manager (2-3 person crews)

Skilled labor— Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Window Replacement

Home PerformanceField Job Requirements

Drug Fee No criminal background (or at

least no theft or violence) Reliable Transportation,

Drivers License, Clean Driving Record

Physically fit: able to lift 75 pounds, fits through minimum crawl space dimensions

Not claustrophobic – able to maneuver in tight, dark spaces

Willing to get dirty, doesn’t mind heat

Not afraid of heights: Able to climb ladders easily and confidently

Able to work on knees for long periods of time

Good attention to detail Able to accurately and legibly

write and interpret reports Good customer service,

interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)

Problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Construction or trade background a plus

“Green” or sustainable life philosophy

Good Candidates for Home Performance Field Jobs

Construction workers

Drywall or flooring

Remodelers

HVAC technicians

Athletes

Veterans

Day laborers

Home Performance Office Jobs

Managerial/ Administrative (i.e., HR, IT, etc.) Data Entry, Report Writing & Proposal Development Customer Service Rebate Processing Financial Advising Purchasing/ Inventory Management Engineers Project Managers Construction Managers Trainers

Previous experience with:

—Construction-related industries

—Office administration

—Accounting: Quickbooks

—Engineers: Wrightsoft Suite

—Customer Service reps

—Warehouse Management

Good Candidates for Home Performance Office Jobs

Accreditation & Quality Control Jobs

Field certification/training (i.e., BPI, HERS, Build It Green, RESNet, CBPCA, etc.)

Third party verifiers & quality assurance inspectors (tied to incentive program requirements )

Third party verifiers & quality assurance inspectors (tied to certifications)

Written/field exam proctors

Home Performance Pay Scales

• Field Technicians (entry-level): $10 -$20/hr

• Crew Leads: $14 -20/ hr

• Building Analysts or Estimators: $15-22/hr

• Mechanical systems & skilled: $25/hr & up

• Sales jobs: generally flat fee plus commission

Standards & Certifications

• Most common: BPI (5 types), HERS & HERS II

• Will be required by many programs to qualify for financing or incentives

• Companies will need at least one certified contractor to perform or oversee each job

• Not yet generally required on hiring by employers, but good investment in future

• Independent 3rd party QC likely to rise – creates business opportunities for experienced contractors

Industry Concerns

• Today: How can we hire people if we don’t first increase customer demand?

• As demand grows: How quickly will we be able to scale and find qualified workforce?

• When economy rebounds: Will we be able to keep good employees in this industry when other construction jobs provide more pleasant working environments?

Recommendations for Workforce and

Training Organizations

Drive Demand First

We’ve “put the cart before the horse”

Most companies are more concerned about customer demand than worker supply

Few are having trouble finding qualified people right now

Pre-Screen Candidates

Candidates must meet minimum training and occupational requirements—Clean driving record (no DUI’s, moving violations,

etc.)

—US Employability (SSN, Green Card, etc.)

—Minimum reading/writing/math ability

—English fluency

—Interest in Home Performance

—Physical requirements

Conduct Training in the Field

Classroom learning is not sufficient

No house or project is the same – no substitute for experience

Most successful programs include fast-transition field work, internships, apprenticeships, or other “on-the-job” (OJT) training

Subsidies for taking on apprentices/ trainees are optimal

Emphasize Soft Skills

The home performance industry operates in people’s most intimate spaces: their homes.

It is essential that the workforce have good interpersonal skills, dress appropriately, be articulate, and respect people’s space at all times

Keenly aware of safety and comfort and willing to take responsibility for decisions

Teach Additional Relevant Skills Familiarity, experience and expertise with energy

efficiency modeling software

Specifics of local home performance incentive programs

Rebate processing & paperwork

Reading drawings

Following installation manuals

Understanding safety procedures

Follow Industry Standards

Teach to BPI, Home Performance w/ Energy Star, or other industry-accepted standards

Training is good, but following professional certification program standards offers consistency & quality assurance

BPI’s new “Field Technician” certification will be helpful for training consistency for entry level positions

Prepare workers for written and field tests

Develop Employer Relationships

Advisory council, etc. to advise on changing standards, what’s working/what’s not, etc.

Understand range of company sizes and how to work with each

Work with industry associations to reach multiple employers

Offer Benefits to Employers

Give employers marketing & name recognition

Use trainees to do customer outreach & homeowner education to build client base

Assist employers with business growth issues Screen candidates effectively and quickly

Cover training costs on the job

Provide financial incentives for mentoring interns or apprentices

Have snacks at meetings!

Track Participants After Training

Trainers should develop a systems of communications with trainees

Follow up with program participants to:

Know who has found work

Who is still looking for work

Those companies looking for additional staff

Starting wages, benefits, etc.

Identify effective mentors at companies, subsidize companies at higher rates if training effectively

Scenario 1: Training Within Industry Fast ramp up for entry level workers

Screen for physical & mental aptitude

Basic short course – safety, equipment, entry level work procedures

Subsidize employers for hands-on component

Track & follow up

Test frequently and certify ascending levels of experience & expertise

Scenario 2: Adapt existing training & education programs to teach home performance

framework and job-specific skills

Lab training, models training, and theory (more time in classroom than scenario 1)

And Targeted Training for Specific Job Function—Building Analyst or Auditor (BPI or HERS)

—Sales, Marketing & Homeowner Outreach

—Project/ Construction Business Management

—Field Supervisor

—Financial management (Rebate Processing, Loans)

—CAD design or engineering (ACCA Manual J,D,S,T, hydronics and piping layout)

—Inventory & Materials Management

Home Performance Training: Best Practices

ISLES in New Jersey

subsidizes 50% of trainee’s wages for 6 months

Rising Sun Energy Center—“Green Energy Training Services” (GETS)

—Building Performance Grade 1

—Designed for individuals with barriers to employment, displaced/transitioning construction workers, etc.

—Curriculum available for licensing

Conclusions

Once demand grows, how quickly the industry can grow depends on how much training is done in classrooms vs. OJT

Important to lay the groundwork now and get the infrastructure right

Target the support of Home Performance companies when designing training

Use established standards and partnerships between training providers & employers to support quick industry scaling

Home Performance Industry Survey

Efficiency First is working on a national study to define the workforce needs of the home performance industry. Please complete the Efficiency First Workforce Survey at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/efficiencyfirstworkforce

The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes and should be completed by April 26, 2010.

Green Jobs in the Home Performance Industry:

The Industry’s Perspective on Workforce Development

Prepared By:

Elizabeth Redman,

Efficiency Firstelizabeth@efficiencyfirst.org

www.efficiencyfirst.org