BPI Included in Draft 'HOME STAR Act of 2010' Legislation

Malta, NY, March 3, 2010- The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), a nationally recognized standards development and contractor credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work, is pleased to announce that its personnel certification and company accreditation credentials-along with many of its national technical standards-are cited in draft legislation for the 'Home Star Act of 2010.'

President Barack Obama promoted the proposed HOME STAR incentive program after touring an energy efficiency workforce development program at Savannah Technical College recently as part of his 'White House to Main Street' jobs tour.

In his remarks, the President outlined the job-creation benefits of HOME STAR, noting that with unemployment in the construction sector near 25%, along with substantial underutilized capacity in the manufacturing sector, the HOME STAR program has the potential to jumpstart economic recovery by boosting demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. HOME STAR is expected to create approximately 168,000 new jobs in local communities.

He also noted that this program will help an average middle-class family save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs while improving the comfort and value of their most important investment-their home. In addition, the program would help reduce the American economy's dependence on oil and support the development of a domestic energy efficiency services sector. View President Obama's speech on Jobs and Home Energy Efficiency.

"HOME STAR is a truly sustainable initiative, because it offers economic benefits, societal benefits and environmental benefits in one package," says David Hepinstall, Chairman of the BPI Board of Directors. "We are particularly pleased that the proposal includes safeguards for homeowner and taxpayer protection in the form of contractor certification, company accreditation and independent quality assurance protocols. We're looking forward to getting this program off the ground and being able to provide a highly skilled, qualified work force to help make it a success."

BPI is part of a coalition of more than 500 construction contractors, building products and mechanical manufacturers, retail sales businesses, environmental and energy efficiency groups and labor advocates from all 50 states who want to see the job creation and energy savings benefits of the federal HOME STAR legislation realized.

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About the Building Performance Institute
The Building Performance Institute, Inc., (BPI) is the nation's premier building performance credentialing, quality assurance, and national standards setting organization. BPI supports the development of a highly professional building performance industry through individual and organizational credentialing and a rigorous quality assurance program.
BPI offers the following:

certification of individuals in building analyst, heating, AC/heat pump, shell/envelope, and multi-family designations
accreditation of contractors committed to delivering quality, home performance improvements
quality assurance to verify conformance with BPI Standards and provide feedback for continuing improvement
affiliation of organizations that deliver BPI services in their market
open, transparent, consensus developed national technical standards based on sound building science

BPI, in cooperation with the building performance industry stakeholders, establishes a professional performance bar at a level appropriate to ensuring the consistent delivery of exceptional building performance services for those entrusting the BPI brand. The BPI national expansion is supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and various regional, state and local programs.

For more information about BPI, visit: www.bpi.org.