Corporate Training By Zack Academy - BPI Building Analyst: Phase 1 - Classroom Training

Important: This training is the first phase in a two-phase process. You will need to sign up for the second phase separately.

Note that this class is presented in an online learning format. Please read below:

EnergyLogic Academy online trainings provide learning experiences that are more interactive and better tailored to the needs of individual students than is possible in traditional classrooms. Our students find the opportunities to "learn by doing," to learn at their own pace, and to develop lively discussions with other students as their teacher creates an environment that is both engaging and useful. EnergyLogic uses Moodle for its learning management system. Moodle is an Internet-based course management system that is used for delivery of courses online and runs as an interactive website with features and activities designed to promote learning and collaboration in an asynchronous environment. An asynchronous environment, which means "not at the same time," allows the learner to complete EnergyLogic courses on his/her own time and schedule. A student in this environment typically learns without live interaction with the instructor. Students communicate with each other and the instructor through discussions (known as forums), chat rooms, and email. A dynamic and supportive community will develop as we work through the course material.

Phase 1: Online Classroom Training

This course is designed to prepare students to earn the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst certification, giving them the capability to conduct energy audits on existing homes. This course will expose students to the breadth and depth of building science and its many applications to the everyday world of energy auditors. The course will cover the standard classroom materials, including building science, energy flow, thermal shell, mechanical systems, diagnostic testing, health, safety, and durability of homes. Students who successfully pass this course will need to join EnergyLogic, or a qualified training affiliate, to complete field training.

The online classroom portion of the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst course is comprised of 20 modules (sections), each of which will take a minimum of 2 hours to complete, with some taking over 4 hours. With 5 modules per week, you should expect to spend between 10 to 20 hours each week in the class. Modules must be completed in a chronological order and on the same day you open them, however you can complete the modules at any point during the day. This allows for a limited self-paced environment to meet the obligations of the course. Still, it is important to budget your time properly to complete this course successfully.

Required/Recommended Texts:

• Required: Residential Energy (5th edition) - John Krigger & Chris Dorsi (2009), Saturn Resource Management
• Recommended: Energy Auditor Field Guide - John Krigger & Chris Dorsi (2009), Saturn Resource Management

Online Classroom Learning Objectives:

• To build understanding of BPI Building Analyst Standards, industry structure, and work scope development
• To build a toolkit to understanding building science and energy in the home
• To build knowledge of the thermal enclosure system of the home 
• To build a foundational knowledge of the mechanical systems in the home
• To introduce diagnostic testing processes and equipment
• To emphasize health, safety, and durability of residential energy improvements 

Grading Policy:

Your overall score is the culmination of your scores for each module, which are a combination of scores for each section. A total course score of 80% or greater is expected to receive a passing grade. Between 80% and 89% is acceptable, but indicates there were modules in the course where you need to do some more work. Please remember that modules close according to the schedule. Students scoring lower than 80% on a module are expected to return to that module and improve the score before it closes. A score of 90% or greater shows a good understanding of the material. 

Each module has a total point value of 100 points:

• Learning Resources: 25 Points
• This course will be delivered entirely online through Moodle, our Learning Management System. The LMS will report your activity based on the percentage of slides viewed. You are required to view all learning resources to receive credit for this section. Please make sure to complete 100% of the learning resources to receive credit, which includes listening to the last slide. Some slides are interactive with hyperlinks, mouse-over graphics, and pop quizzes – so you should plan to be fully engaged with these learning resources. Multi-tasking is strongly discouraged when going through these resources.
• Activity: 25 Points
• Each module will have an activity section. Typical activities include web research, reviewing case studies, inspecting your residence, among others. There will be clear instructions on each module outlining what needs to be done to complete the activity. Your activity will be scored according to the following: complete (25 points), satisfactory (20 points), or partially complete (5 points).
• Social: 25 Points
• A cornerstone of successful online learning is establishing the social component that exists with live training. We do this by adding a forum to each module where students discuss the topic covered. You will receive the total 25 points by doing both of the following: create a new discussion in the module forum (15 points) or respond to a colleague's post (10 Points).
• Evaluation: 25 Points
• Each module will have a quiz associated with the topic. Each quiz needs to be passed with an 80% or higher grade. Quizzes can be taken as many times as needed.

EnergyLogic will provide you with a progress report each Wednesday. This will give you your score for the modules that you have completed up to that point.

Please Note: This course does not include the written and field exams that are required in order to earn BPI Building Analyst certification. Instead, both exams are administered during the field training (Phase 2). The cost for both exams is included in the total price for both courses (Phase 1 + Phase 2).

BPI Building Analyst Certification Process:

1. Complete the online classroom training
2. Complete the field training
3. Pass both the written exam and field exam

Syllabus

Online Training Topic Outline:

Week 1

• Module 1 – Welcome (Monday)
• Module 2 – Thermodynamics (Tuesday)
• Module 3 – Air Flow (Wednesday) 
• Module 4 – Moisture (Thursday)
• Module 5 – Systems Thinking (Friday)

Week 2

• Module 6 – Analyzing Consumption (Monday) 
• Module 7 – Lighting & Appliances (Tuesday) 
• Module 8 – Framing (Wednesday)
• Module 9 – Insulation 101 (Thursday)
• Module 10 – Windows, Doors, & Skylights (Friday) 

Week 3

• Module 11 – Air & Vapor Barriers (Monday)
• Module 12 – Heating (Tuesday)
• Module 13 – Cooling (Wednesday) 
• Module 14 – Water Heating (Thursday)
• Module 15 – Blower Door (Friday) 

Week 4

• Module 16 – Duct Blaster (Monday)
• Module 17 – Thermography (Tuesday)
• Module 18 – Pressure Diagnostics (Wednesday) 
• Module 19 – Combustion Safety, Standards (Thursday)
• Module 20 – Simulated BPI BA Exam (Friday)