Healthy Indoors Magazine - USA Edition

Healthy Indoors 7 of three other BPI certifications: Building Analyst (BA), Energy Auditor (EA) or Quality Control Inspector (QCI). The HHE assesses the risk of key home-based health haz- ards including asthma triggers from dust, moisture and mold, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), lead-based paint, asbestos, radon, carbon monoxide leaks, as well as potential fire hazards, trip and fall hazards and pest management issues. "Making existing homes healthy and safe has become increasingly important to our company's business model. The needs are there. Now with the HHE, we have the right tools to address issues before they become major problems for residents." — Rob Minnick, CEO & President of Minnick's Inc. and BPI GoldStar Contractor "For 15 years, I was a retrofit insulation contractor with a focus on saving energy. Customer feedback was limited to reduced utility bills and improved comfort. When we incorporated comprehensive whole house measures into our retrofit projects, including ventilation and combustion safety, the feedback changed. We heard customers talk about changed environments. One customer said it was as though she was living in a different house - it was less stuffy, drier, and finally lacked a persistent mildew odor. The knowledge provided by the BPI HHE certification is an invaluable aid in addressing health and safety issues as part of a comprehensive whole house project." — Dick Kornbluth, BPI Board Chairman "The need for a nationally recognized Healthy Home Evaluator certification has never been greater. Through- out the country, GHHI sites work with local contractors to rehabilitate homes using a comprehensive model that combines health, safety and energy efficiency improve- ments. Funding sources from states, philanthropies and others are increasing for healthy home interventions, and with them, the demand for a high quality certifi- cation that verifies contractor expertise," said Ruth Ann Norton, President and CEO of GHHI. A 2014 NCHH nationwide survey showed increas- ing demand for healthy home assessments in the mar- E arlier this month, the Building Performance Institute (BPI) announced the nationwide launch of the Healthy Home Evaluator (HHE) certification. This certification will help the na- tion's home performance, weatherization, and healthy housing workforce conduct assess- ments in homes to determine conditions that may adversely affect occupant health and safety. "BPI has always focused on health and safety issues such as carbon monoxide and natural gas leaks," said BPI CEO Larry Zarker, "but, now with the HHE, we are includ- ing a deeper look at home issues that could negatively impact the health and safety of America's families." BPI developed the HHE certification in partnership with the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), a national nonprofit working with partners in over 30 cit- ies and counties to break the link between unhealthy housing and unhealthy children. Representatives from Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) of Kansas City, Missou- ri helped develop questions for the HHE exam, assisted with curriculum development, and developed a train- the-trainer initiative. An experienced team of subject matter experts in public health, building science, and healthy housing created the certification blueprint, job task analysis, and the bank of HHE test questions. Through a contract from the U.S. Department of Hous- ing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Lead Haz- ard Control and Healthy Homes, Healthy Housing Solu- tions, Inc., (Solutions), a subsidiary of National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), developed the curriculum for an HHE certification study course. Through this contract, Solu- tions also provided BPI with funding to promote the HHE. Peter Ashley, Director of the Policy and Standards Di- vision in the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control at HUD said, "We know that there are millions of homes in the U.S. with lead and other key health and safety hazards that need to be addressed. Development of the HHE certification is a tremendous opportunity for BPI-certified professionals to obtain the additional skills needed to expand our stock of healthy housing. In doing this, we will work together to create homes that are not only energy efficient, but safe and healthy as well." In April 2016, BPI initiated a pilot phase of the HHE certification. During the pilot, which concluded on Sep- tember 9th, 2016, 335 BPI Certified Professionals took the HHE exam. The HHE builds on a prerequisite of one

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