Core competencies:

• Basic Competencies
• Safe Work Practices
• Understand building science principles
• Air Sealing
  • Select proper materials
  • Know minimum ventilation rates
  • Use blower door
  • Seal leaks in attics, floors, etc.
  • Properly apply caulk & foam
  • Weatherstrip doors, windows, etc.
  • Repair broken glass
  • Repair plaster & sheetrock
  • Install or modify mechanical ventilation
• Duct Sealing
  • Seal ducts
  • Repair/modify ducts per work order
• Insulation
  • Know insulation materials
  • Know hazards of knob-&-tube wiring
  • Know local attic ventilation codes
  • Install blown & batt insulation
  • Access & dense-pack sidewalls
  • Install water heater blankets
  • Insulate ducts & pipes
  • Operate & maintain blowing machine
• Base-Load Measures
  • Convert incand. lamps to CFLs, maintain light level
  • Install low-flow showerheads/aerators
• Project Management
  • Manage a crew of Installers
  • Ensure Safe Work Practices are used
  • Understand a work order
  • Know building codes, esp. energy & H&S codes
  • Order materials to avoid delays
  • Maintain QC of wx work & ensure it meets pgm stds
  • Warehouse materials as necessary
• Training
  • Know adult learning concepts
  • Know benefits of cross training
  • Provide ongoing training
• Diagnostic Testing
  • Blower door/zone pressure diagnostics
    • Know air & heat movement principles
    • Know typical air leakage problems
    • Compute minimum ventilation rates
    • Take blower door readings & interpret results
    • Know air barrier & its proper alignment
    • Know primary & intermediate zones
    • Conduct zone pressure diagnostics
    • Locate air barrier & determine its effectiveness
  • Duct testing
    • Know problems w/ different kinds of leakage
    • Conduct pressure pan, duct blaster, or Delta Q
    • Determine dominant duck leakage
    • Measure & resolve room pressure imbalances
• Combustion Appliance Safety
  • Know CO action levels
  • Know code requirements of:
    • Vent sizing, materials, clearances, installation
    • Safety shut-off devices
    • Gas line sizing
    • Combustion air
  • Know causes & remedies of common vent problems
  • Measure CO in ambient air
  • Measure CO in vented & unvented appliances
  • Measure CO of gas & propane stoves & ranges
  • Clean & adjust ovens/ranges to remedy high CO
  • Understand as-measured & air-free CO readings
  • Detect gas, propane, and fuel oil leaks
  • Conduct worst-case draft test of CAZ
  • Measure steady-state efficiency of vented units
• Inspection and Measurement
  • Know factors that affect heat loss in buildings
  • Know critcal junction points
  • Know R-values of different insulation materials
  • Know different insulation mtrls & installation techniques
  • Know air-sealing techniques & appropriate materials
  • Know causes & remedies of moisture problems
  • Know causes & remedies of IAQ problems
  • Know residential mechanical ventilation systems
  • Know min ventilation rates per appropriate ASHRAE 62
  • Know electric base-load usage
  • Measure building dimensions & compute areas
  • Compute volume of conditioned space
  • Define thermal envelope of a building
  • Assess existing insulation & its R-value
• Business Management
  • Maintain required licenses
  • Possess adequate insurance
  • Employ U.S. citizens or properly documented aliens
  • Bid, negotiate, & sign contracts as necessary