Wednesday, April 3rd 2013

SEI is pleased to post occasional job openings from member companies, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Send job descriptions to Will Williams.

BPI Auditor /Energy Efficiency Auditor

Desired Skills & Experience

BPI Building Analyst Professional certification

BPI Auditor

BPI Auditor, Crew Leaders & Technicians Employment qualifications for Hire Must have BPI Building Analyst Professional certification Carpentry and Framing experience a big plus 2. Has experience in weatherization testing and installation of the following. Combustion safety testing CAZ depressurization testing Blower door gross air leakage testing Zonal pressure testing Pressure pan testing Heating equipment assessment DHW heater assessment Central and room air conditioning equipment assessment Moisture condition assessment Proper documentation Assessment of existing insulation General safety practices, including use of PPE Air sealing practices, including foaming, installation of foam board, damming, weather-stripping Duct sealing and insulation practices Thermal/pressure boundary assessment Proper damming of heat producing devices Identification of wiring types Proper use of baffles and soffit chutes 3. OSHA cert a plus.

No felonies in the last 10 years Must pass drug screen Must have a valid drivers license High School diploma or equivilent

Thursday, March 28th 2013

PECO recently received approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to continue offering PECO Smart Ideas energy efficiency programs in compliance with Phase II of Act 129. Information about existing and new programs can be found on PECO’s website:

Residential Programs:

Current programs continuing after June 1, 2013

• PECO Smart Home Rebates – This program will provide rebates for the purchase of eligible, energy efficient refrigerators, air conditioners, hot water heaters, HVAC equipment and pool pumps.
• PECO Smart Appliance Recycling – This program picks up and recycles older, working refrigerators and freezers and will provide a rebate to eligible customers.
• PECO Smart Lighting Discounts – This program will continue to provide in-store discounts on your purchases of eligible CFL and LED bulbs. A complete list of eligible products and list of retailers will be provided this June.
• PECO Low Income Energy Efficiency (LEEP) – This program educates and assists income eligible residential customers on reducing energy usage by installing CFL bulbs, refrigerators and HVAC equipment as appropriate.

New programs being added after June 1, 2013

• PECO Smart House Call – This new program provides a walk through energy assessment to all PECO electric residential customers. In addition, all PECO residential electric heat customers are eligible for a comprehensive energy audit including blower door test and available rebates for weatherization measures such as attic insulation and duct sealing. The program also includes direct install measures such as CFL bulbs and advanced power strips for all audits and assessments as appropriate.
• PECO Smart Usage Profile – This new targeted residential program delivers customized home energy usage reports only to residential customers using more than 14,000 kiloWatt-hours (kWh) annually. Customers are automatically included in the program based on usage. Available only to qualifying customers.
• PECO Smart Energy Saver – This new targeted residential program educates students grades 5-7 about energy efficiency with curriculum and “take-home” energy savings kits.
• PECO Smart Builder Rebates – This new program targets builders of new or completely renovated single-family, electric heated homes and offers incentives to builders and developers to incorporate energy efficiency into their designs.

Commercial Programs

More information is available on PECO.com

Friday, February 15th 2013

SEI is pleased to post occasional job openings from member companies, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Send job descriptions to Will Williams.

BPI Certified Professional
Employment type: Full-time
Keating Environmental Management, Inc.

Keating Environmental Management, Inc. (KEM), located in Exton, PA is a certified woman-owned business enterprise (WBE). Our company is a full-service environmental, energy, sustainability and procurement solutions firm that has been in business for more than twenty years. KEM offers integrated solutions for complex environmental consulting, remedial action, energy and “green” building projects in a cost-effective and professional manner. Visit www.keatingenvironmental.com to learn more about KEM.
Keating Environmental has long-term career opportunities for professionals who are focused on the delivery of high quality and high value services. Candidates must hold a current and valid BPI Analyst certificate with Building Envelope certification a plus. The candidate will have demonstrable experience in performing energy audits. Experience conducting blower door and duct tightness tests will be considered a plus. Candidates with additional areas of knowledge and experience such as commercial and industrial energy audits, measurement and verification, energy modeling, LEED accreditation, etc. will receive greater consideration. As the position requires a high degree of interaction with residential customers, being dressed in appropriate attire and appearance, a pleasant disposition and patience are important attributes of a candidate.

Responsibilities will encompass, but are not limited to, conducting residential walk-through energy assessments in accordance with BPI standards. The walk-throughs require the collection of detailed information (e.g. utility data, equipment and building data, operational characteristics); identifying energy savings opportunities, educating the customer and motivating them to participate in rebate programs where appropriate; install of direct measures and producing reports for homeowners using program audit software.

Additional responsibilities will include scheduling, tracking, cost control, marketing, development of proposals, project management and related technical services. This position is only for an experienced professional who can demonstrate and document their past experience and success. The successful candidate will:

• Have current and valid BPI Analyst certificate; Building Envelope certification a plus;
• Have conducted numerous energy audits in accordance with BPI standards with experience conducting blower door tests and duct tightness testing a plus;
• Be a self-starter and have high standards of quality;
• Work both independently and in a team environment;
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Possess a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and reliable transportation;
• Be proficient in reading maps/the use of GPS technology and the operation of computers/tablets/smartphone;
• Possess a smartphone;
• Be comfortable to work, alone, within residential environments throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and other locations as needed;
• Be able to meet the mental, visual and hearing demands of working in an environment with multiple, simultaneous stimuli such as residents, pets, pests, phones, computers and televisions. Must be able to hear equipment auditory sounds and be able to visualize computer screens and digital displays;
• Be physically capable of lifting 50+ lbs repeatedly, climb ladders and stairs, work within limited clearance spaces and be on their feet for long periods (see below for additional physical/working requirements);
• Be able to install direct measures, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), aerators, showerheads, “smart” power strips, weather stripping, and other simple measures as may be required, including the use of basic hand/power tools;
• Possess or be able to obtain criminal, child abuse and FBI background checks, drug screening and other forms of screening/testing as required to work on behalf of clients in residential/educational settings.
• Be financial responsible through the judicious use of materials and supplies, prevention of damage, misuse or loss of equipment and through accurate documentation of approved expenses.

KEM offers employees competitive compensation and benefit packages including company paid medical, dental and life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and 401(k) with company contributions.

If interested, please send resume, cover letter, which addresses the above items and salary requirements and references to humanresources@kempartners.com, referencing “BPI Professional” in the subject.

Tuesday, August 21st 2012 

Pennsylvania’s Act 129, mandating generation and peak load reductions from the state’s major utilities, has just completed phase one and undergone a thorough examination by the Public Utility Commission. After evaluating the benefits and rate-payers costs of phase one, the PUC has suggested that the program continue largely unaltered.

For those of us in the southeast, PECO easily met it’s phase one goals and (barring any unforeseen events) will be required to reduce generation an additional 2.9% compared to (2008) levels by June 2016.

Act 129 has saved Pennsylvania rate-payers almost $300 million since the program began in 2009.

What does all this mean for consumers?

Residents and businesses will continue to pay for energy reduction programs factored into their electric bills for the next four years. They’ll also be able to take advantage of things like rebates for energy efficient lighting and appliances and, the commission hopes, get help with more capital-intensive retrofits that reduce energy demand.

The utilities have to file their phase two plans for commission approval by Nov. 1. The PUC will decide on them by Feb. 28.

Read more in the Pittsburg Business Times

Monday, July 16th 2012

“The PUC will decide whether to continue on the path to a more sustainable, affordable energy future, or whether to slow down and start drifting back to a higher-cost resource mix.”
-Liz Robinson, Energy Coordinating Agency

The Pennsylvania Public Utility commission is currently weighing adjustments to Act 129, the 2008 legislation that mandated reduced peak and overall generation from Pennsylvania’s utilities. This goals outlined by this efficiency-based approach we’re easily met by all but one PA utility. Now the PUC must decide whether to continue the program by increasing the mandate or discontinue the successful program.

Between 2008 and 2013, when current mandates expire, the program will save PA rate-payers $278 million and create up to green 1,500 jobs. Furthermore, efficiency is cost-effective; saving a kWh costs a utility 1/3 that of creating a kWh through new generation.

Read Liz Robinson’s opinion piece in the Philadelphia Enquirer here…