| In a landmark survey by Cahners Residential | | | | efficiency.Improving the performance of existing |
| Group in 2004, ninety-one percent of homebuyers | | | | homesContractors nationwide are being trained |
| said that energy-efficient features in a home | | | | and accredited in building performance, the |
| were extremely or very important to them. The | | | | systematic approach to improving the indoor |
| demand for old and new homes that use less | | | | environment by applying improvements to the |
| energy continues to grow from a niche market | | | | whole house, not just a part of it. These |
| into an emerging segment of the mainstream | | | | contractors use performance diagnostics to |
| residential building and remodeling industry.Now | | | | evaluate the condition of a home and verify the |
| traditional contractors and builders can apply | | | | impact of improvements. Blower door tests for |
| scientific techniques to create more energy | | | | building shell leakage, combustion safety tests, |
| efficient homes that provide greater comfort, | | | | duct leakage diagnostics, and infrared thermal |
| durability, health and safety. Best of all, they can | | | | imaging are examples of diagnostic tests provided |
| do it in a practical and affordable way using | | | | by building performance contractors to help |
| building performance technologies and techniques. | | | | ensure the health, safety, comfort, and durability |
| This means looking at how all the components of | | | | of a home before and after improvements. Once |
| the house work together including the thermal | | | | the initial assessment is complete, the contractor |
| shell, heating and cooling equipment, ventilation, | | | | will recommend how to remedy any problems |
| windows and doors, and appliances.For those | | | | they found, and can complete the recommended |
| contractors who have already embraced the | | | | work for the homeowner. The end result for |
| building science philosophy, there's always more to | | | | customers is lower energy bills and improved |
| learn. The industry is constantly evolving with | | | | comfort and safety.Building performance |
| more technologies and best practices shared | | | | techniques benefit contractors as well by |
| among building science professionals. Thanks to | | | | differentiating themselves in the marketplace. |
| ACI's national and regional conferences and an | | | | Contractors who use these comprehensive |
| expanding range of training and education | | | | testing and installation techniques to treat the |
| initiatives, contractors and builders across the | | | | house as a system can distinguish their businesses |
| country are being trained to employ a | | | | from traditional contractors by providing their |
| "whole-house" systems approach to new | | | | customers better, more informed solutions to |
| construction and home improvement. That means | | | | common house problems, including high energy |
| more customers are getting a better overall | | | | costs, uneven temperatures from room to room, |
| home environment when builders and contractors | | | | moisture and air quality issues, as well as |
| incorporate comprehensive measures to address | | | | maintenance and durability. |
| comfort, health and safety, durability, and energy | | | | |