Midwest Building Performance

BPI’s Building Science Principles


BPI’s Building Science Principles Certificate Class

Next class:  To be determined. Sign up for our training newsletter to be the first to know when the next class is announced!

Cost: $TBD per student. Includes classroom training, textbook, printed handouts, and the online exam code.

How to register: Call (309)645-2557 or email Office@MidwestBuildingPerformance.com

Be the first to know by signing up for our training newsletter below.

Why building science?  A knowledge of building science is critical to the understanding of how a home or building works as a system to provide comfort, energy efficiency, and durability.  Whether you are recommending upgrades for the home, doing installations, or simply evaluating different material choices, it is critical to understand how each component of the home impacts other components in sometimes surprising ways.  Elements such as insulation, building tightness, mechanical systems, and indoor air quality are all part of making the home or building a healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient environment for the occupants.  This knowledge can be applied to a wide variety of fields such as energy auditing, home inspection, appraisals, real estate and contracting.

Topics include:

  • Heat transfer
  • Insulation
  • Air leakage – detection and air sealing methods
  • Moisture and moisture control
  • Indoor air quality
  • Mechanical systems – heating, cooling, and water heating
  • Conservation strategies – including lighting and appliances

Attention BPI Students: To earn the BPI Building Analyst Technician certification, you must first earn the certificate by passing the Building Science Principles exam.

CEUs available:

  • BPI – Up to 13 CEUs!  7 are earned for taking the course and 6 can be earned for passing the exam.
  • USGBC/GBCI – 6 continuing education hours
  • Approved for 5 ASHI CE credits
  • InterNACHI approved

What others have said about the class:

  • “Todd is a very knowledgeable instructor;  his real-world experience is a great asset to the class.  He has total command of the subject matter.  I would seek out future courses where he is the trainer.”  — Jeff Wagner, Jansen Heating.
  • “I feel that I gained a perspective that I did not possess before, that will benefit my company and clients in the future.”  — Jim from Peoria Radon Mitigation, Inc.
  • “As a central Illinois builder who builds energy-efficient homes, this was a great experience.  I gained a better understanding of a house-as-a-system – instead of just a collection of individual components.  I will use this knowledge in future New Energy Homes.”  — Todd Meinhold.  H&D Quality Builders, Inc.

Instructor biography:  Todd Abercrombie works as an energy auditor and energy efficiency contractor and runs Midwest Building Performance based in Peoria, IL. He works with homeowners, business owners, and contractors to provide a variety of energy services including energy audits, duct pressure testing, and infrared inspections. 

He has been teaching the Building Science Principles course as a preparatory course for students moving into the energy efficiency and energy auditing fields.  He is a certified professional with the Building Performance Institute in Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, and Healthy Home Evaluator. He is a Certified Residential Thermographer and is credentialed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED Green Associate.  He is a BPI test proctor, a BPI test center, and has been an instructor as Illinois Central College.

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