Answer: Random quality assurance and/or quality control (QA/QC) checks are part of GoGreen Home program participation. Projects are subject to QA/QC for up to a year following enrollment. Contractor support staff at EGIA will review for the following and will request any missing documents when a job is selected for QA/QC:
- 1. Eligibility of measures installed. Are they on the EEEMs List, and do they meet program efficiency standards? Do the measures selected from the EEEMs list accurately reflect what was actually installed?
- 2. Certification of Completion (COC). Reviewers will check to be sure it is accurately and completely filled out.
- 3. The Final Itemized Invoice. Was it filled out properly?
- 4. Permits. Was a permit required? Was the permit number provided on the COC? Was the permit closed and evidence of closure provided?
- 5. Was a Combustion Appliance Safety Test (CAS/CAZ) required per the program rules? If so, was evidence of a passed safety test submitted?
The program requires compliance with all local and state regulations, including permitting. Best practice is to wait until the initial permit is granted to begin work. Upon completion of the project, close the permit. When submitting final documents to the lender for payment, the COC should include the permit number. If the COC does not include the permit number, the Contractor Support Team will contact you for it during the QA/QC process. The Support Team will also request evidence of permit closure.
Combustion safety tests verify that atmospherically vented combustion appliances are working properly and not venting dangerous gases, such as carbon monoxide, into the living space. There are two common standard combustion appliance safety tests:
- 1. CAZ/CAS Tests / Gas Appliance Test
- 2. Natural Gas Appliance Test (NGAT)
Note: Home Energy Rating System (HERS) testing does NOT count as a safety test!
The following two project conditions trigger the requirement to conduct a combustion safety test:
- 1. The project includes either whole building air sealing AND/OR duct sealing EEEMs, and
- 2. An atmospherically vented combustion appliance is present within the sealed building envelope
A safety test must be performed by someone who meets one of the following qualifications:
- 1. Certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Find a list of BPI certified contractors in your area or become BPI certified yourself.
- 2. Certified and proficient in accepted standards for combustion safety and ventilation testing, such as NGAT.
- 3. Approved to participate in an IOU, REN, or CCA whole house retrofit program.
Lastly, all communications regarding a job that is selected for QA/QC will come from EGIA as the new Contractor Support Team for the GoGreen program. If you have questions about the QA/QC process or have general questions about the program, please contact us at gogreen@egia.org or 888-987-3443.