BPI HEP Energy Auditor case studies
BPI HEP Energy Auditor · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The BPI Energy Auditor credential is one of the certifications listed by the Building Performance Institute, a non-profit that describes its mission as advancing the home performance industry through nationally recognized standards and credentials intended to ensure homes are comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, and energy efficient. BPI presents itself as "the symbol of excellence for home performance professionals" and organizes its offerings into certificates, certifications, standards, test centers, proctors, and GoldStar contractors. The BPI HEP Energy Auditor case studies are 5 cases and about 2,949 words.
1The 1925 Brick Duplex With a Cold Second Floor
A two-story brick duplex built in 1925 has balloon framing with no fire blocking between floors. The second-floor bedrooms stay 6-8°F colder than the first floor all winter even after the owners replaced the furnace and sealed the visible attic floor with fiberglass batts.
728 words, about 4 min2The Combustion Appliance That Fails Under Worst-Case
A single-story ranch has a natural-draft gas furnace and a natural-draft gas water heater sharing a masonry chimney in an interior utility closet. The closet has a louvered door and a return-air grille in the adjacent hallway.
567 words, about 3 min3Choosing the Model for a House With a Big Addition
A 1,500 sq ft 1968 ranch had a 900 sq ft great-room addition built in 2010 with 2x6 walls, R-21 cavity insulation, and low-e double-pane windows. The original house has 2x4 walls with R-11 and single-pane windows.
577 words, about 3 min4Writing the Scope When the Client Wants Everything
A homeowner with a 2,200 sq ft 1979 colonial has a $25,000 budget and a wish list: new roof, new windows, new furnace and AC, attic insulation, and "whatever else you recommend." The audit found: attic R-11 with major bypasses, 3,800 CFM50, a 78% AFUE furnace from 1998, a 10 SEER AC, single-pane windows on the north and west, and a roof with 3-5 years of life left. The client says the roof must be replaced this year because of a leak, and wants the auditor to write the scope so the contractor "does it all at once." The auditor knows the budget cannot cover the full list.
568 words, about 3 min5The Client Who Wants a Number, Not a Lecture
The client also mentions they may sell the house in two years. The auditor's model has a ±20% uncertainty band, and the client has already been told by a contractor that "insulation pays for itself in three years.".
509 words, about 3 min