The Building Performance Institute (BPI) was established with a commitment “to be the global leader in developing a highly professional building performance industry.” They have come up with their own certification process by which to qualify quality building contractors.
It’s fairly apparent that BPI is attempting to compete with the USGBC’s LEED program with perhaps something smaller and simpler. Like the LEED v.3 program, BPI has several different certifications available for builders to train and test for in the categories of small homes or multifamily buildings.
The advantage to this program is that it is geared entirely toward responsible residential building with nothing commercial in the mix. One of the clear disadvantages is that there doesn’t appear to be many certified professionals in their database. Perhaps because the program is too small, too local to the NY/New England area, or because the USGBC covers so many professionals in the building industry and is so well known that contractors just don’t see the need for this particular certification, too.
Another clear disadvantage is that in order for a building professional to pursue accreditation with BPI, there is a $1,500 initiation fee, which is astoundingly higher than the application fee for the USGBC’s LEED program. It’s unlikely that many builders will want to pay this high fee for a lesser-known credential.
BPI does have several courses a building professional can take to heighten their awareness of energy efficiency, eco-friendly materials and methods, and other quality factors of home construction.
When hiring a professional with BPI certification, it’s likely that you’ll find a very specialized individual who is well-trained, well-educated, and quite knowledgeable -- IF you can find one.
BPI was established in 1993 and has grown since, but it’s clearly not as big and well-known at the LEED program. While LEED certainly has their own set of issues with credentialing, until the BPI certification process gains the popularity and respect of the mainstream building industry, it isn’t likely that it will have much clout with homeowners.