Comment #1Amendment: Proposed MINHERS Addendum 59, Modeling Skills in HERS Rater Capabilities and Recertification, Draft PDS-01Page Number: Draft PDS-01, MINHERS Addendum 59, Modeling Skills in HERS Rater Capabilities and RecertificationComment Intent: Not an ObjectionComment Type: GeneralComment: Where I do see the value in the additional training where modeling is concerned, I also see an additional burden on time and finances for smaller companies to comply with the requirement. Additional classroom training removes the ability for a person to work under billable hours. Competitive rates will be impacted to offset lost time and additional training fees or the company will have to absorb them as a loss in revenue with little return on investment. Perhaps a minimum number of units modeled per year can offset a need for additional training. Use is practice and if that practice is returning accurate results that person should not be punished with additional training that is unnecseeary except to line the pockets of training organizations. A mechanism would have to be implimented to count or keep track of newly modeled plans per rater or consider the possibility of a "test out" option that serves as the test model to avoid the need for an entire classroom session.
Where I do see the value in the additional training where modeling is concerned, I also see an additional burden on time and finances for smaller companies to comply with the requirement. Additional classroom training removes the ability for a person to work under billable hours. Competitive rates will be impacted to offset lost time and additional training fees or the company will have to absorb them as a loss in revenue with little return on investment.
Perhaps a minimum number of units modeled per year can offset a need for additional training. Use is practice and if that practice is returning accurate results that person should not be punished with additional training that is unnecseeary except to line the pockets of training organizations.
A mechanism would have to be implimented to count or keep track of newly modeled plans per rater or consider the possibility of a "test out" option that serves as the test model to avoid the need for an entire classroom session.
Comment #2Amendment: Proposed MINHERS Addendum 59, Modeling Skills in HERS Rater Capabilities and Recertification, Draft PDS-01Page Number: 1/2Comment Intent: Not an ObjectionComment Type: GeneralComment: This is just another burden, both financially and time, placed on companies trying to exist to help the residential building industry. Can you guarentee that the classes will be offered during the yearly professional development conference, or will these be time and cost above that? If the business is large with multiple people, this may not be as much a burden, but for a business my size...i.e. just me, its another requirement that I will have a hard time fulfilling unless its part of the RESNET Conference that I budget for both time and money to get my CEUs.
This is just another burden, both financially and time, placed on companies trying to exist to help the residential building industry. Can you guarentee that the classes will be offered during the yearly professional development conference, or will these be time and cost above that?
If the business is large with multiple people, this may not be as much a burden, but for a business my size...i.e. just me, its another requirement that I will have a hard time fulfilling unless its part of the RESNET Conference that I budget for both time and money to get my CEUs.
Comment #3Amendment: Proposed MINHERS Addendum 59, Modeling Skills in HERS Rater Capabilities and Recertification, Draft PDS-01Page Number: 2Paragraph / Figure / Table / Note: 207.1.3.3Comment Intent: ObjectionComment Type: GeneralComment: I have faith in RESNET to approve the alternative professional development hours. I do not believe that it should be mandated that Certified Home Energy Raters complete software modeling training for recertification. This should be under recertification for HERS Modelers. However, if this is going to be a requirement then it also needs to be a mandatory session during the RESNET annual conference. If a Certified Home Energy Raters is having issues with modeling this will be caught during the Rater’s 1% & 10% QA. At that time, the QAD should be addressing the issue and working with the Rater for additional training and oversight. Proposed Change: 207.1.3.3 Attend HERS Modeler Professional Development course(s) offered by a RESNET Accredited Training Provider. Each course shall be reviewed and approved by RESNET Accredited Software Provider(s) for which the course is being offered. The HERS Rater must complete professional development once in a three year period for each RESNET Accredited Software program with which they create HERS models. The hours completed as part of this requirement shall be included as part of the required 18 hours of professional development.
I have faith in RESNET to approve the alternative professional development hours. I do not believe that it should be mandated that Certified Home Energy Raters complete software modeling training for recertification. This should be under recertification for HERS Modelers. However, if this is going to be a requirement then it also needs to be a mandatory session during the RESNET annual conference. If a Certified Home Energy Raters is having issues with modeling this will be caught during the Rater’s 1% & 10% QA. At that time, the QAD should be addressing the issue and working with the Rater for additional training and oversight.
207.1.3.3 Attend HERS Modeler Professional Development course(s) offered by a RESNET Accredited Training Provider. Each course shall be reviewed and approved by RESNET Accredited Software Provider(s) for which the course is being offered. The HERS Rater must complete professional development once in a three year period for each RESNET Accredited Software program with which they create HERS models. The hours completed as part of this requirement shall be included as part of the required 18 hours of professional development.
Return to Proposed MINHERS Addendum 59, Modeling Skills in HERS Rater Capabilities and Recertification, Draft PDS-01