1002 Participants Roles and Responsibilities

1002.1 RESNET

Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) is responsible for the following:

1002.1.1 Accreditation of Contractor Education and Qualification (CEQ) Providers

1002.1.2 Quality Assurance Review of Accredited CEQ Providers

1002.1.3 Quality Assurance Review of Accredited Quality Assurance Providers

1002.1.4 Develop a National Energy Smart Contractors test. The competency categories covered on the 50 question multiple-choice test and the percentage of questions devoted to each category are as follows:
Air sealing (10%)
Client communication (6%)
Combustion safety (6%)
Ducts/distribution (10%)
Energy fundamentals (10%)
Ethics (6%)
Health/safety (6%)
Insulation (10%)
Lighting/appliances (4%)
Moisture management (10%)
Structure (6%)
Ventilation (6%)
Heating/AC (10%)

1002.2 Contractor Education and Qualification (CEQ) Provider

1002.2.1 The CEQ Provider must be an accredited RESNET Rating Provider or Home Energy Audit Provider in good standing.

1002.2.2 The CEQ Provider must have a staff member or representative with at least 10 years of residential construction or home improvement contractor experience.

1002.2.3 The CEQ Provider must provide its Energy Smart Contractor Registry to RESNET.

1002.2.4 The CEQ Provider is responsible for the Quality Assurance review of the Energy Smart Contractors.

1002.2.5 The CEQ Provider must have written policies and procedure for designating Energy Smart contractors in accordance with the following provisions:

1002.2.5.1 Energy Smart Contractor course: Develop and provide an initial eight (8) hour RESNET Accredited Qualified Energy Smart Contractor course that covers the following topics:

1002.2.5.2 The importance of Energy Smart Contractors

1002.2.5.3 The house as a system

1002.2.5.4 Building science basics/ building shell fundamentals

1002.2.5.5 Energy efficiency concepts

1002.2.5.6 Energy related consequences of inefficient construction design and application

1002.2.5.7 Introduction on how a Rater/Auditor utilizes air leakage testing, duct leakage testing, and IR technology during energy audits

1002.2.5.8 Understanding and completing scopes of work as defined in the RESNET combustion appliance testing and writing work scope contained in Chapter 8 of RESNET Standards

1002.2.5.9 Work order, sequences and priority of work, and respect for other contractors

1002.2.5.10 Introduction to RESNET Standards and RESNET Code of Ethics

1002.2.5.11 Quality Homes (QH) Standard

1002.2.6 Continuing Education

Provide at least four (4) hours of Continuing Education (CE) courses per year that are relevant to energy efficiency, home improvement contracting, standards updates, technology updates, new incentive programs, retrofit lessons learned and/or other topics deemed applicable and appropriate by the CEQ Provider.

1002.2.7 De-listing: De-list an Energy Smart Contractor that does not renew every three (3) years.

1002.2.8 Energy Smart Contractor Agreement: Enter into a written agreement with each Energy Smart Contractor, and send an un-executed copy of the agreement to RESNET. The agreement shall contain, at a minimum, the following:

1002.2.8.1 A written commitment by the Energy Smart Contractor to comply with the guidelines in the RESNET Energy Smart Contractor Pledge and Code of Ethics;

1002.2.8.2 A requirement for the Energy Smart Contractor to inform clients about the CEQ Provider’s complaint process;

1002.2.8.3 A requirement for the Energy Smart Contractor to provide the client with a disclosure statement for jobs not performed to industry standards;

1002.2.8.4 A requirement for the Energy Smart Contractor to inform the CEQ Provider within 60 days if Energy Smart Contractor’s representative leaves the company or is replaced.

1002.2.8.4.1 Complaint Resolution Officer: Have signed agreement with a dedicated Complaint Resolution Officer (CRO) to conduct Non-Compliance Resolution in accordance with Section 1006.5.4.The CEQ Provider shall have sixty (60) days to notify RESNET if the CRO leaves the CEQ Provider, or be subject to suspension of accreditation under provisions of Section 908 of the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Ratings Standard.

1002.2.8.4.2 Written Energy Smart Contractor discipline procedures, including:

1002.2.8.4.2.1 Probation and minimum requirements for duration and corrective action;

1002.2.8.4.2.2 Suspension of certification and minimum requirements for duration and corrective action that at least meet 1006.4.5 Termination of certification

1002.2.9 Energy Smart Contractor Registry: Maintain an Energy Smart Contractor Registry that contains Energy Smart Contractors’ representative’s name, company name, mailing address, voice phone number, fax number, and email address.

1002.2.10 Reciprocity with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA): RESNET shall recognize contractors trained and designated by ACCA to be Energy Smart Contractors.

1002.3 Complaint Resolution Officer (CRO)

1002.3.1 Shall manage and resolve consumer and Rater/Auditor complaints about Energy Smart Contractors and Energy Smart Contractor or Rater/Auditor complaints about the CEQ Provider.

1002.3.2 Shall submit complaints against the CEQ Provider to RESNET to the attention of the Executive Director.

1002.4 Energy Smart Contractor

1002.4.1 Energy Smart Contractors must be designated as such by a CEQ Provider in accordance with Section 1004.2.5 of this standard1.

1002.4.2 Energy Smart Contractors must be licensed in the state(s) in which they conduct business if that state requires a license.

1002.4.3 An Energy Smart Contractor company shall assign an employee as its representative. The Energy Smart Contractor’s representative shall:

1002.4.3.1 Take an initial accredited eight (8) hour Qualified Contractor Course from a RESNET accredited CEQ Provider;

1002.4.3.2 Pass the RESNET National Energy Smart Contractors test administered by a CEQ Provider;

1002.4.3.3 Enter into a written agreement with the CEQ Provider in which the Energy Smart Contractor agrees to comply with the program requirements contained in the RESNET Standards and RESNET Code of Ethics;

1002.4.3.4 Complete a minimum of four hours of Continuing Education annually delivered by the CEQ Provider;

1002.4.3.5 Renew with the CEQ Provider not less than every three years. Failure to do so will result in the Energy Smart Contractor being deleted from the CEQ’s Registry and from the RESNET Directory;

1002.4.3.6 Within 60 days of losing their previous representative, the Energy Smart Contractor must notify the CEQ Provider of their new representative.

1002.4.4 Only companies with the Energy Smart Contractor designation from an accredited CEQ Provider are eligible for posting and promotion on the RESNET Directory.

1002.4.5 A company with the Energy Smart Contractor designation must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in general liability insurance.

1002.4.6 Energy Smart Contractors will install the energy-saving measures from the final, homeowner approved work scope prepared by the Rater/Auditor.

1002.4.7 All Energy Smart Contractors shall have their clients signify that they understand a disclosure statement indicating that all work will or will not meet recognized industry standards.

1002.4.8 All Energy Smart Contractors shall have their clients signify on a disclosure statement that a whole-house audit is recommended.

1002.5 Energy Smart Home Performance Team (Energy Smart Team)

An Energy Smart Team is comprised of the following, as necessary:

1002.5.1 One Project Manager;

1002.5.2 A certified CHERS Rater/BPA;

1002.5.3 An HVAC contractor who is a recognized ACCA QA Program Participant2;

1002.5.4 A RESNET Energy Smart Contractor that specializes in Air Sealing and Insulation who employs at least one senior technician who is an ICAA Certified Insulation Installer or another RESNET recognized quality installation training program;

1002.5.5 Any number of other Energy Smart contractor companies working under the oversight of the Project Manager according to work scope requirements of a certified Rater and applicable RESNET Standards of Practice.

1002.5.6 A Final Verifier who is a 3rd party certified HERS Rater who has passed both the CAZ written and simulation exams.

1002.6 Energy Smart Project Manager

The ES Team will be led by an Energy Smart Project Manager. The following are the requirements for being the Project Manager:

1002.6.1 Shall be certified as either an Energy Smart Contractor or a Rater who has passed both the CAZ written and simulation exams.

1002.6.2 The Energy Smart Project Manager, if not the Rater, shall use a certified RESNET Rater for the diagnosis and preparation of energy retrofit recommendation.

1002.6.3 Is an employee of or contractor to the company with whom the homeowner is under contract for the completion of the Energy Smart Project.

1002.6.4 Must ensure that the initial rating or audit is performed on each Project in accordance with the QH Standard.

1002.6.5 Must ensure that preliminary and post-installation combustion safety testing and inspection of all combustion appliances are completed in accordance with the QH Standard.

1002.6.6 Must provide general oversight of all contractors performing work on the Energy Smart Project to ensure proper sequence and compliance with the work scope prepared by the Rater/Auditor, along with ensuring that industry best practices are followed for all work performed.

1002.6.7 Must deliver the initial rating or audit report along with documentation of all work performed to the Final Verifier.

1002.6.8 Must verify that each project has final verification and calculation of estimated projected energy savings conducted by a Final Verifier.

1002.6.9 Must provide all results and Energy Smart Project documentation to the client.

1002.6.10 Must maintain the initial rating or audit report, documentation of all energy-saving retrofits and installations, and the final verification report with all test-out and estimated energy savings results for each individual Energy Smart Project for a period of no less than three years. This documentation must be made available to the HEA, Rating, or CEQ Provider upon request.

1002.6.11 Ensure that all Energy Smart Team participants are eligible to serve on the team.

1002.6.11.1 Eligible HVAC contractors must be listed on the ACCA QA Contractor Registry.

1002.6.11.2 Energy Smart Contractors must be listed on the RESNET Registry.

1002.7 Rating QA Provider

1002.7.1 The Rating QA Provider will be responsible for performing Quality Assurance (QA) Review of the Rater Final Verification of an Energy Smart Project in accordance with Chapter 9 of these Standards.

1002.7.2 The Rating QA Provider must be RESNET-accredited and in good standing in accordance with RESNET Standards.

1002.7.3 The Rating QA Provider must be independent of the following:

1002.7.3.1 HERS Rater that evaluated the home and prepared the recommendations and work scope;

1002.7.3.2 The Energy Smart Contractors that installed the approved recommended measures.

1002.7.3.3 The independent Rater/Auditor that performed the Final Verification of the Energy Smart Project (the Final Verifier).

1002.7.3.4 Any financial compensation for any of the retrofits performed on the project.

1002.8 HERS Rater

The HERS Rater is responsible for following the QH Standard procedures to complete the following:

1002.8.1 Conducting the initial, comprehensive evaluation of a home.

1002.8.2 Presenting prioritized energy saving measures recommendations to the homeowner.

1002.8.3 Developing a work scope to be approved by the homeowner.

1002.9 Final Verifier

1002.9.1 The Final Verifier must be an independent certified RESNET HERS Rater that does not have a financial interest in any of retrofit work done for the Energy Smart Project, or that is not employed by a company who performs any part of the retrofit work.

1002.9.2 The Final Verifier is responsible for the following:

1002.9.2.1 Must perform applicable combustion appliance testing.

1002.9.2.2 Where there are vented combustion appliances that use indoor air to vent combustion gases, test Worst Case Depressurization in accordance with the QH Standard.

1002.9.2.3 Where any space contains combustion appliances, test for Carbon Monoxide in accordance with the QH Standard.

1002.9.3 Verification of installed measures. The Final Verifier will review the work scope and signed proposal, and confirm that the installed measures are consistent with selected measures and work scope in accordance with the QH Standard.

1002.9.4 Calculation of estimated project energy savings using a RESNET-approved software.

1002.9.5 Must report any non-conformance of an Energy Smart Project with respect to combustion safety testing, installed measures, or estimate of projected energy savings to the Energy Smart Contractors’ CEQ Provider’s Complaint Resolution Officer (CRO) and the Rating Provider’s Quality Assurance (QA) Designee.

1002.9.6 Must report non-conformance of HVAC QA Contractors to the QI Standard to ACCA.

1002.9.7 Must maintain Final Verification records, for a period of no less than three years, for every Energy Smart Project for which final verification was performed. These records include:

1002.9.7.1 Copy of the work scope and signed proposal,

1002.9.7.2 Name and contact information for the Rater/Auditor and Energy Smart Contractors,

1002.9.7.3 Completed final verification checklist,

1002.9.7.4 Energy simulation software file, and

1002.9.7.5 All test-out results.