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STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

The Standards of Practice (Standards) provide the minimum standards of performance for a written report on a residential (home) efficiency check up 'consultation' conducted by a Home Efficiency Consultant who has successfully completed the Green and Save Eco Academy Home Efficiency Consulting course.

1. PURPOSE, RANGE AND TERMS
1.2 The Standards define and clarify the purpose, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and certain terms relating to a home efficiency check up.
1.3 The Standards describe those items, components, and systems included in the scope of a home efficiency check up and are applicable only to a residential application.
1.3 The home efficiency check up will consist of a “walk through” of the home with the home owner, if available, and written notations of conditions of concern recorded by the home efficiency consultant on an official Green and Save Eco Academy check list(s). All notations will then be discussed with the home owner and recommendations for corrective action will be suggested. The home owner will receive a written or electronic report of the efficiency check up.
1.4 The Standards apply to a visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of the included items, components, and systems to determine if, at the time of the home consultation, they are performing at optimal efficiency level and within recommended healthful environmental qualities.
1.5 The purpose of the home efficiency consultation is to identify visible defects and/or conditions that, in the judgment of the home efficiency consultant, adversely affect the function and/or integrity of the items, components, and systems in regards to optimal energy performance and a healthful home environment.
1.6 A home efficiency check up performed under the Standards are basically visual and rely upon the opinion, judgment, and experience of the home efficiency consultant, and is not intended to be technically exhaustive.
1.7 A home efficiency check up shall be performed in a time period sufficient to allow compliance with the provisions of the Standards.
1.8 A home efficiency check up performed under the Standards shall not be construed as a compliance inspection of any code, governmental regulation, or manufacturer’s installation instructions or procedures. In the event a law, statute, or ordinance prohibits a procedure recommended in the Standards, the home efficiency consultant is relieved of the obligation to adhere to the prohibited part of the Standards.
1.9 A home efficiency check up performed under the Standards are not an expressed or implied warranty or a guarantee of the adequacy, performance, or useful life of any item, component, or system in, on or about the property.
1.10 Detached building(s) and detached garage(s) located on the property will be inspected under these Standards only if specifically requested by the owner and agreed to by the home efficiency consultant.
1. 11 Included in a premium home efficiency consultation is the determination of the indoor air quality or sickness of any building including, but not limited to, the presence or absence of all manner of biological activity, such as molds, insects, birds, pets, mammals, and other flora and fauna, and their consequent physical damage, toxicity, odors, waste products, and noxiousness.
1.12 The Green and Save Eco Academy recommends that its home efficiency consultant graduates perform inspections in accordance with these Standards, the Code of Ethics, and applicable law(s).

2. GENERAL LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
2.1 A home efficiency check up performed under the Standards exclude any item(s) concealed or not readily accessible to the home efficiency consultant. The home efficiency consultant is not required to move furniture, personal, or stored items; lift floor coverings; move attached wall, ceiling coverings, or panels; or perform any test(s) or procedures(s) which could damage or destroy the item(s) being evaluated.
2.2 The following may be excluded and are not limited to: appliances, recreational facilities, alarms, intercoms, speaker systems, radio controlled devices, security devices and lawn irrigation systems.
2.3 Use of special instruments or testing devices, such as blower doors, thermal imaging cameras, amp meters, pressure gauges, moisture meters, gas detectors and similar equipment is not required at the standard level.
2.4 The home efficiency check ups report is not required to include information from any source concerning previous property, geological, environmental or hazardous waste conditions, manufacturer recalls or conformance of proper manufacturer’s installation of any component or system, or information contained in Consumer Protection Bulletin.
2.5 The home efficiency check up is not required to include information from any source concerning past or present violations of codes, ordinances, or regulations.
2.7 The home efficiency check up and report are opinions only, based upon visual observation of existing conditions of the property at the time of the home efficiency consultation.
THE REPORT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, OR TO BE CONSTRUED AS, A GUARANTEE, WARRANTY, OR ANY FORM OF INSURANCE. The home efficiency consultant will not be responsible for any repairs or replacements with regard to the property or the contents thereof.
2.8 The home efficiency consultant may recommend to the property owner applicable vendors who can perform repairs, installations, etc. that the owner would not or could not perform their selves.
2.9 The home efficiency consultant is not required to enter any premises that visibly show a physical threat to the safety of the home efficiency consultant or others nor inspect any area or component that poses a danger to the home efficiency consultant or others.

3. HOME EFFICIENCY CONSULTATION CATEGORIES AND COMPONENTS
3.1 The following general categories and components will be included in the Home Efficiency Consultation report. Remedial measures will be recommended to the home owner when deemed appropriate by the home efficiency consultant for these categories and sub categories:

HVAC (Heating, Cooling, and Ventilating):

Insulation:

Appliances:

Air Quality:

Natural Light:

Electrical Consumption:

Water Consumption & Quality:

Interior Materials and Options:

Exterior Materials and Options:

Passive and Active Solar Options:

3.3 The Home Efficiency Consultation process will also include estimated costs for recommended remedial action and immediate and projected return on investment cost savings for the home owner if recommendations are acted upon.