Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Definitions. For the purpose of this
Section, the following words, unless the context does not permit such meaning,
shall have the meanings indicated.
Department-the Louisiana Department of
Natural Resources.
Energy Rating-a site inventory and
descriptive record of features impacting the energy use of the building. This
includes, but is not limited to: all building component descriptions
(locations, areas, orientations, construction attributes and energy transfer
characteristics); all energy using equipment and appliance descriptions (use,
make, model, capacity, efficiency and fuel type), all energy features and
results of tests and computations.
Existing Residential Building-a
completed residential occupancy building, including residential occupancy
dwellings in mixed occupancy buildings for which a certificate of occupancy, or
equivalent approval for occupancy, has been issued.
New Residential Building-newly
constructed residential occupancy buildings, including new residential
occupancy dwellings of single or multifamily occupancy, permitted for
construction after the effective date of this rule.
B. General Provisions
1. Rules provided herein shall apply to new
and existing residential buildings including single-family and multifamily,
site built residential buildings except those specifically exempted
herein.
2. The energy rating for
new and existing residential buildings shall be determined using only software
approved by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources for the southern
climate. If a rating is performed on a proposed residential building, the
rating shall be clearly labeled as a "rating based on plans".
3. Beginning with the implementation date of
this rule, no person may provide a rating for residential buildings in
Louisiana unless such a person has been certified as provided by this rule. To
perform a rating for any residential building as required by this rule, the
person performing the rating must be certified by the Louisiana Department of
Natural Resources, or its designee.
4. Certification will be valid for one year
following the date of issuance. No rating activity shall be conducted after the
expiration of the term of certification. A duplicate certificate may be
obtained by written request to the department.
5. An application for annual certification
renewal shall be submitted on Form #ERHL-704, herein incorporated by reference,
with a renewal fee of up to the maximum allowable by the state. In addition to
the annual renewal fee, a certified home energy rater must, over a three-year
period, have completed 12 credit hours of continuing education in courses
accepted by the department for certification renewal. Acceptable courses shall,
in general, be those dealing with energy use in buildings, building science, or
building systems (including heating, ventilation and air conditioning),
building design or construction, codes or plan review, financing or selling
residential buildings, and courses on energy rating systems).
C. The following qualifications,
at a minimum, are required for certification as a home energy rater.
1. The individual shall submit an application
on the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Form #ERHL-704, and pay the
appropriate application fee of up to the maximum allowable by the state. The
form is available by writing to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources,
617 N. Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (the department).
2. Individuals applying for certification as
home energy raters shall attend a training program provided by the department,
or its designee and shall demonstrate achievement of a level of knowledge and
proficiency so as to successfully rate residences by passing department tests
specific to residences rated for certification. At the department's discretion,
individuals may also qualify for certification without attending the
department's training program by providing a certificate of certification as a
home energy rater from an accredited training provider approved by the
department and passing the department's challenge tests. Individuals applying
for certification as home energy raters in this manner must also demonstrate
achievement of a level of knowledge and proficiency so as to successfully
perform residential energy audits to rate new and existing residential
buildings as part of their certification process by performing a minimum of
seven home energy ratings, three of which must be performed under the
supervision of the department or its designee.
3. No certification shall be approved unless
the applicant demonstrates to the department that the following conditions are
met.
a. The applicant has filed an accurate
and complete application describing compliance with the relevant certification
requirements along with the application fee.
b. The applicant is capable of performing the
activities for which he/she is seeking certification
c. The applicant has not shown a lack of
ability or intention to comply with this rule.
d. The applicant has conducted all energy
rating and compliance related activities forthrightly and honestly.
4. Recertification is required at
least every three years from the rater's last date of certification. For
recertification, the applicant shall attend training on changes impacting the
rating system provided by the department or its designee, and demonstrate
achievement of a level of knowledge and proficiency so as to successfully rate
residential buildings by passing a department test applicable to the buildings
being rated. The fee for recertification shall be the annual certification
renewal fee. The home energy rater shall be required to satisfactorily perform
and complete one home energy rating, accompanied and evaluated by another
randomly chosen certified home energy rater, as a requirement for
recertification and to comply with the department's guidelines requirement for
periodic peer review and reevaluation of raters. Home energy raters shall also
be required to serve as a peer evaluator at least once within three years
before being recertified.
D. Reporting Requirements. Certified raters
shall submit all ratings to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (the
department) in electronic format, either via electronic mail (e-mail) or, at
the department's discretion with prior written approval from the department, in
some other electronic format.
E.
The home energy rating report provided to the client shall include the
following:
1. the certified rater's signature
typed or printed name and rater certification number;
2. the date that the rating was completed;
and
3. contact information for the
home energy rater including address, and phone number.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
36:354(A)(3) and
(E)(2).
