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November 2008 Newsletter Table of Contents
Extended Area Rater Pilot Project
Beginning in January 2009, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) will extend the service area of its Single-Family Program into twenty-five counties in order to address the increased interest in a regional green building program outside of the Austin Energy service area. This new area includes counties in Climate Zones 2.2 and 3.1 east of the Moist/Dry Line and west of the Brazos river, excluding the rating area for Build Green San Antonio (see map). This includes the following counties: Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Bosque, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal, Coryell, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadelupe, Hays, Kendall, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Milam, Travis, Washington, Williamson, Wilson, and portions (west of the Brazos River) of Falls and McLennan counties.
Responsibilities and Qualifications of Extended Area Raters
In order to provide these rating services, AEGB will train and certify independent individuals (Extended Area Raters) to administer the program. These raters will provide builder support, inspections, and compliance review of program credits. The raters will submit documentation packets to AEGB for review and certification determination for projects located in the expanded area. In order to apply for acceptance into the training program, individuals must meet certain minimum qualifications and successfully complete the required training. The minimum qualifications for application into the training program are as follows:
- Certification as a Home Energy Rater or equivalent experience (documentation required).
- Two years field or direct-exposure experience with single-family home building with a local home energy inspection and testing company, green builder, design/build, or sustainability-oriented architectural or residential design firm.
- Access to and competence in use of electronic communication and computer software (cell phone, email, Microsoft Office documents, including Excel spreadsheets, and Manual J reading software).
- Ability to perform or supervise performance of home efficiency testing (blower door, duct pressurization, airflow verification, static pressure, gas combustion backdraft safety, etc.) as well as the ability to interpret and report the results of such tests.
- General knowledge of green building terminology, products, practices, and design criteria and access to external resources and databases sufficient to provide the support needed for the AEGB rating program.
- Ability to provide the services required to administer the AEGB Rating and related testing, including the ability to meet with prospective builders, architects, and homeowners, provide monetary proposals at a reasonable cost, collect and manage funds for rating and testing fees, and perform visual inspections, document and verify claims and installations, and meet all the requirements for the preparation of submission packages for project certification.
- Bonded and insured for General Liability limits of $1,000,000.00 and Professional Liability limits of $500,000.00.
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