What is the Building Performance Institute?
The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the building trades.  BPI sets the standards and administers certifications for technicians and accreditations for companies.  Remodelers, builders, insulation contractors, and heating and cooling contractors are only a few of the trades that can benefit from building performance certification.

What is Building Performance?
Building performance is a systematic approach to improving the indoor environment by applying improvements to the whole house, not just a part of it.  It incorporates comfort, health and safety, durability and energy efficiency into a comprehensive package.

How does that work?
Buildings are systems of interacting parts.  Building performance contractors use a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate each improvement to a particular system of your home for its potential to affect other systems.  A weakness in one system can have a ripple effect, thus compromising performance in systems throughout the house.  For instance, an insulation contractor may recommend ventilation improvements in conjunction with insulation to make sure the house does not become “too tight” and to preserve the indoor air quality.  A heating contractor may recommend additional insulation before installing a high efficiency heating system to ensure comfort and savings.  Both contractors will ensure the safety of all combustion appliances in the home.

Why not just call an insulation contractor for insulation and a heating contractor for my heating system?
You can.  Many building performance contractors specialize in one field or another just like traditional contractors.  The difference is that a BPI Accredited contractor is trained to understand the whole house and can help guide you in your home improvement decisions to maximize your energy savings and ensure your comfort and safety.

How is that done?
Performance diagnostics assist the building performance contractor in evaluating the condition of your home and verifying the impact of improvements.  Blower door tests for building shell leakage, combustion safety tests, duct leakage diagnostics, and infrared thermal imaging are examples of diagnostic tests completed by building performance contractors to help ensure the health, safety, comfort, and durability of your home before and after improvements.

Does that mean I will have to pay more?
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors have been trained in the most current building science diagnostics using state of the art equipment.  Contractors may charge an additional fee for this service because of the extra time it adds to the job.  On the other hand, a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor will be able to help you determine the most cost-effective home improvements by performing a cost-benefit analysis, showing cost of improvements and return on investment in lower energy costs.  In addition, the performance diagnostics completed by the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor will help you determine when improvements will not save you money.  Armed with this knowledge, you may end up saving money in the long run.

How can a building performance contractor protect my safety?
Building performance contractors are trained to perform complete health and safety inspections before proceeding with installations.  This includes inspection for moisture problems, mold and mildew, and other potential indoor air pollutants.  It also includes a comprehensive safety diagnostic of all combustion appliances in the home.  They will check to ensure that your furnace, water heater, oven and other appliances are venting properly and removing dangerous combustion gases from the house.  Carbon monoxide will be measured at each appliance to ensure levels in the home do not exceed the maximum exposure levels established by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You will be informed immediately of any problems that are found.

If problems are found, how do I get them fixed?
Your Home Performance with ENERGY STAR will recommend improvements to remedy any problems that are found.  If the required installation is outside of your contractor’s specialization, he may recommend a sub-contractor to complete the work.  Or, you can contact BPI for a list of Accredited contractors in your area who specialize in this type of work.

How do I know if I need a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR?
Any time you are considering home improvements such as insulation, windows, heating, hot water or cooling system repairs or upgrades, a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor can help make sure you are getting the most for your money and offer the added protection of safety diagnostics.  In addition, if you suffer from any of the following problems, a building performance contractor will be able to help you diagnose the problem and develop a work scope for improvements and repairs:

• High energy bills
• Drafty areas of your house
• Rooms that do not heat
• Rooms that overheat
• “Ghosting” or unexplained black stripes on walls, ceilings, or floors
• Mold and mildew problems
• Moisture in attics and basements
• Condensation on windows
• Backdrafting combustion appliances
• Ice dams
• Poor air circulation or air quality