Home Energy Advisor
Read our news update on the ABBE award in Home Energy Advice.
What is a Home Energy Advisor?
Home Energy Advisors (HEAs) give advice to householders beyond the scope of the advice contained within an EPC, and so beyond the current Domestic Energy Assessor qualification.
HEAs will visit homes to undertake an energy assessment for individual households. This will identify recommendations to help reduce costs and lower carbon emissions. The recommendations will go beyond physical measures relating to the building and include changes to occupant behaviour to promote home energy efficiency and reduce fuel bills.
The ambition is that the HEA will be a skilled advisor who can encourage and motivate householders to make both lifestyle changes and improvements to their properties.
Why are they needed?
At present there is no mandatory requirement for home energy advice to be delivered by persons qualified as HEAs, although current legislation does set minimum qualification requirements for energy advisers working within the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).
CERT and CESP are legal obligations on energy suppliers (and in the case of CESP, energy generators) to offer schemes which aim to reduce carbon emissions from domestic energy use. Ofgem, the energy regulator, oversees the energy suppliers’ delivery of CERT and CESP schemes. As of late 2009, energy advice has been an available measure in such schemes, and Ofgem issues guidance to suppliers on minimum standards for energy advice and energy advisors.
What is the market for Home Energy Advisors?
For the reasons outlined above, we are not yet certain how a market for independent home energy advice will develop.
However, there is a good argument that DEAs and HIs should be 'ready to go' should a government-backed opportunity arise. Also, they should be equipped to offer a range of services over and above the EPC - developing their careers as energy consultants.
You will need to to market your HEA service appropriately. You will not be able to work on government CERT- or CESP-funded projects until such times as a competence-based qualification is available.
How do I become a Home Energy Advisor?
ABBE, the Awarding Body for the Built Environment, has created an HEA qualification, known as the ABBE award in Home Energy Advice. The ABBE HEA qualification is divided into 3 units. There is no portfolio of advice, so to obtain the qualification candidates must simply pass an ABBE examination for each unit. DEAs are exempt from Unit 1, and HIs from Units 1 and 2.
How is the training structured?
Responding to demand from members, we have created an online training course for energy professionals wishing to work towards the ABBE HEA qualification.
If you are a DEA you will need to undertake the online training package, which covers the knowledge requirements for Unit 2 and Unit 3.
You will then need to register with ABBE and pass the examinations for each unit. Please call the NES assessment centre on 01908 442240 to book exams. Please note that purchasing the training units does not register you with ABBE or cover examination costs.
For those who want to upgrade to the portfolio-based qualification when it becomes available, an upgrade route will be provided.
If you do not intend to qualify as a HEA, you can simply buy this course as a CPD package to extend your current knowledge and understanding.