FAQs
Contractors
Home Performance (HPwES) uses a whole-house approach to make any size or style of home more energy efficient, lowering usage by at least 20% or more. Each HPwES participating contractor is certified through the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national resource for building science technology that sets standards for assessing and improving home energy efficiency. BPI-certified contractors use advanced diagnostic equipment to test the home and identify energy efficiency improvements. Several organizations in our area provide BPI Training. Please refer to the program overview developed for contractors as an additional resource.
The contractor tests and evaluates the home (including but not limited to the heating and cooling equipment, insulation levels, infiltration, appliances, and lighting) using advanced diagnostic equipment and building science principles to determine which areas of the home can benefit from energy efficiency and health and safety-related improvements.
Specifically, the contractor tests for air leakage using a blower door, duct leakage testing, conducts a series of combustion-related tests, and will look for opportunities to improve the home’s insulation, heating and cooling system, windows, appliances, and lighting. The contractor will then explain to the homeowner what improvements can be made, as well as the costs. The energy audit and the presentation of recommendations to the homeowner is a comprehensive process that separates the Home Performance contractor from other home improvement contractors — and drives sales!
Home, improvements often include sealing gaps, cracks, and other leaks that let outside air into the home; adding insulation, sealing, repairing and insulating air ducts that run through attics or crawlspaces; and repairing or replacing old or poorly functioning heating and cooling systems and appliances. Installing ENERGY STAR qualified lighting in the home is also a highly cost-effective and a recommended improvement.
Contractors perform critical combustion safety-related tests before and after performing energy improvements to the home. Inspecting and testing combustion appliances — such as heating equipment, ovens, and water heaters for proper performance and carbon monoxide emissions — helps ensure safe and efficient operation and prevent dangerous combustion gases from being introduced into the home.
This program will help you expand your service offerings to customers. It’s a great way to build your business as the market for energy efficiency services continues to grow! A BPI-certified contractor is a recognized home energy and comfort expert. What’s more, you can develop new opportunities for your business by using building science technology to solve problems and provide your customers with a more comfortable, safe, and durable home — while reducing their energy consumption. You may also apply to become an approved financing partner in order to offer home energy loans to your customers.
We will promote the program on the website and provide a list of approved contractors. Only these contractors may participate in the Home Performance Program. In addition, we may promote the program through an advertising campaign and outreach at public events to help build awareness. A program overview is available for you to print and distribute to your customers, as well as this What to Expect brochure.
Submit the Home Performance participation agreement. If you have specific questions, please contact a Program Account Manager at 888-316-8033. In order to be approved to offer financing, you must submit an application to AFC First.
A contractor must have a full-time employee who is certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a Building Analyst Professional. The training consists of in-class lectures and discussions as well as on-site testing. There are several organizations which offer training classes, as listed on BPI's Training Affiliate Search Tool, and the typical cost ranges from $1,000-$1,500; certification fees are usually $500-$600. Upon completion, attendees will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of building science and the whole-house, performance-based approach to energy efficiency.
- Identify and understand building performance problems including ice dams, mold, mildew, and indoor air quality issues.
- Analyze building and duct air leakage using blower door and infrared technology.
- Conduct tests that are very important to homeowner health and safety and learn how to install energy efficiency measures.
Yes, you will need to complete a new participation agreement for the Home Performance Program.
Yes they can, as long as they first have an energy audit done by a participating HPwES contractor. Effective January 1, 2011 an energy audit is now required in order to receive a heating and cooling equipment rebate. For HVAC firms that have participated in the Heating and Cooling Rebate Program in 2010 and are new to the Home Performance Program, you may either become a certified BPI firm by attending training, or choose to partner with a firm already approved to provide energy audits. By partnering with a firm that can provide the energy audit, your company will be listed on the Home Performance participating contractor list.
The rebate reservation system provides a way to accurately manage expectations regarding available rebate funding for projects. Read more on the rebate reservation page and the FAQs.
Once you have been approved as a participating contractor, you may apply to AFC First to become approved to offer home energy loans to your customers. You will be listed on the as a "Financing Partner" on the Find a Contractor page to help customers easily identify those contractors who offer financing.
No, due to federal funding requirements, rebate assignment to contractors cannot be allowed on applications.
Yes, homes built prior to 1963 are required to submit a National Historical Preservation Act form. Instructions can be found on the front of the form.
HPwES currently does not offer rebates on the installation of renewable energy measures nor rebates based upon the energy savings achieved from installing a renewable energy measure. Please note that Geothermal Heat Pumps are classified as a renewable energy measure and are likewise not eligible for rebates. Qualified measures that are eligible for rebates are listed on the incentive table or can be downloaded here. Homeowners may be eligible for renewable energy rebates through the state's Delaware's Green Energy Fund.
Home Performance participants may be eligible to receive financing for a renewable installation(s) as long as the applicant is financing the installation of at least one Home Performance qualifying measure with a minimum cost of $500. If seeking financing for a renewable installation(s), the project must meet all eligibility requirements of Delaware's Green Energy Fund Program.
The rebate reservation system will begin on September 1, 2011. Existing jobs in the pipeline will fall into one of the following two categories:
- Completed Jobs: You must complete and submit all required application documents for each project as you normally would by September 10, 2011, or;
- Jobs in Progress: Audits must have been completed by August 31, 2011 to be eligible for a rebate reservation. You just request a rebate reservation by September 10, 2011 which includes:
- An online rebate application;
- A Beacon audit report;
- A signed contract with a detailed scope of work; and
- A signed Energize Delaware Terms and Conditions form.
Yes, projects in the above categories are eligible for the current level of rebates.
To make a reservation, you must submit all the required documentation for completed jobs or jobs in progress by September 10, 2011. You and your customer can expect to receive a rebate confirmation email with two weeks after you have submitted your completed reservation request.
The rebate reservation system is being implemented to provide a way to accurately manage expectations regarding available rebate funding for projects.
You will have 90 days from the date of your rebate reservation confirmation to complete work and submit all final documentation.
After September 10, 2011, the program and rebate funding obligations will be reviewed to determine next steps. Future programming decisions will be communicated to the contractors as soon as possible. Any applications submitted for a rebate reservation after September 10, 2011 will be subject to new program guidelines.
The Home Performance program is currently being reviewed and we are awaiting information about future rebate levels. Decisions affecting the program are expected to be made and announced later month.
At this time it is uncertain whether there will be rebates for any audits conducted on homes after August 31, 2011.
If improvement measures are removed from the work scope the applicant can proceed with the understanding that their final rebate value will likely be less. Additional measures added to the work scope after approval will not be eligible for an increased rebate at this time.
Participants who have already reserved EECBG funding through their tow for completed or in-progress projects are still eligible to receive their EECBG program rebates. In order to receive the EECBG rebate and the HPwES rebate at the current level, contractors are required to submit a rebate reservation request with complete documentation, as outlined above, by September 10, 2011.
No, due to federal funding requirements, rebate assignment to contractors cannot be allowed on applications approved for a rebate reservation.
The rebate reservation confirmation email to homeowners will include the project ID number. Contractors or customers can call 877-624-4448 (option 1) to ask about the status of their rebate or other questions.
Homeowners will continue to receive their rebate checks approximately 6-8 weeks after all final documentation has been received and approved.
No, not at this time.
