In September 2022, the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) 2017 legacy website will be taken down and no longer available to the public. The 2017 version of the SWS is available to download for those who will need to access the specifications after this date.
News & Updates
Read the latest news and updates about our Standard Work Specifications work.
Explore an exciting new tool for home energy professionals—the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Installer Job Aids and Single-Family Interactive 3D House. The 3D interactive house tool provides home energy professionals with an interactive learning environment and supports safe, durable, and effective home energy efficiency upgrades. Users can explore the 3D house from basement to attic and discover a variety of job aids (resources) to guide energy efficiency upgrades throughout the home.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NREL is seeking volunteers to serve on the Home Energy Professionals (HEP) Energy Auditor (EA)/Quality Control Inspector (QCI) Joint Scheme Committee. This opportunity is open to single-family home performance professionals who have the experience and vision to help revise and maintain a national certification for the current energy efficiency workforce. Members will be asked to serve a five-year term (2022–2026).
Any comments or inquiries that have a direct impact on life safety are considered through an expedited review process by the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) administrators to ensure any life safety issues are mitigated as soon as possible. Two life safety inquiries were received by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) during the field guide review process, which triggered the life safety process.
The Standard Work Specifications (SWS) Maintenance Charter and Procedures was updated in February 2020 in preparation for the 2020 SWS full update. The document outlines the SWS maintenance process and clarifies the roles, responsibilities, and selection process for the maintenance committees.
The SWS administrators conduct a periodic review of comments submitted to the SWS to identify comments that have a direct impact on life safety. These comments are considered through an expedited review process to ensure the life safety issue is mitigated as soon as possible. A life safety comment was identified during the most recent comment review period which triggered the life safety process.
The Standard Work Specifications (SWS) was updated to SWS Version 2017 (SWS v.2017) in September 2017. This was the first major update to the SWS and reflects all adjudication efforts since its launch in 2014. The next content update to the SWS is SWS v.2020. In the interim however, the SWS will continue adjudication of submitted comments annually via a published redline document.
Did you know that you can create a customized field guide for your state or agency, based on the Standard Work Specifications (SWS)? This feature was piloted by the Weatherization Assistance Network and is now available to the industry at large. The SWS Field Guide template allows users to create a step-by-step guide for implementing a vast array of weatherization measures and includes a list of necessary tools and materials, illustrated instructions, before/after photos, and additional notes.
Through industry best practices, the Energy Auditor (EA) and Quality Control Inspector (QCI) certifications have gone through an extensive revision process. It is recommended that certification schemes be updated every 5–7 years, and the current certifications schemes for these two professions were last developed/updated in 2011/12. Through reviewing the QCI and the EA Job Task Analyses ( JTA ) side by side, the certification scheme committee subject matter experts, assisted by professional psychometricians, determined that there was a great deal of overlap.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is currently seeking enthusiastic industry practitioners who are interested in discussing, evaluating, and voting on proposed changes/updates to the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) for single-family, multifamily, and manufactured housing energy upgrades. Individuals who are interested in serving on the SWS maintenance committees are invited to submit their credentials via an online application.
Recently, the Standard Work Specifications and the Home Energy Professional Certificates have undergone updates and changes. To stay updated on these changes, sign up for our newsletter for our project updates. Click on "Sign up for project updates" and enter your email address.
The SWS were recently updated to SWS Version 2017 (SWS v.2017). This is the first major update to the SWS and reflects all adjudication efforts since its launch in 2014. The next content update to the SWS is SWS v.2020. In the interim however, the SWS will continue adjudication of submitted comments received prior to April 13, using a redline document.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking volunteers to participate on the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals (HEP) Retrofit Installer (RIT) and Crew Leader (CL) Job Task Analysis (JTA) and Scheme Committee for the continuation of these certification programs. NREL is interested in single-family home performance professionals who have the experience and vision to help define and promote a national certification for the current workforce.