[bldg-sim] Action Alert! How should "qualified energy analysts" be certified for the new Federal commercial tax incentives?

[Tianzhen Hong]

Based on AEC's VisualDOE training experience, I believe a certification
process based on an extensive three to five days training on energy
modeling for EIT, PE etc would make more sense than an exam. Background
knowledge of engineering and architecture, familiar with modeling tools,
and a dedicated quality control process are crucial in getting
meaningful results from energy modeling.
 
Tianzhen

-----Original Message-----
From: bldg-sim at gard.com [mailto:bldg-sim at gard.com] On Behalf Of Renee J.
Azerbegi
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 8:18 AM
To: bldg-sim at gard.com
Subject: [bldg-sim] Action Alert! How should "qualified energy analysts"
be certified for the new Federal commercial tax incentives?



My two cents
..

 

It would be easiest to stick with the typical protocol for the building
design industry
.. where engineers and architects need a licensed
engineer or architect to stamp the drawings and specs, so should it be
with energy modeling. Who actually does the design in engineering and
architectural firms is often not the licensed engineer or architect. But
that licensed person does do a thorough review of the drawings and
specifications, just as a licensed mechanical, electrical, or
architectural engineer or licensed architect might review an energy
model and report.

 

Other than requiring that, the Certified Energy Manager exam given by
the Association of Energy Engineers is a good alternative. It is a
comprehensive 3 to 6 hour test, I can‘t remember, on energy efficiencies
issues and requires a good understanding of energy usage in buildings.

 

The LEED test would not be good to require as it is not comprehensive
enough and goes into very little detail on energy issues.

 

Why create something new when there are already existing procedures in
the building design industry?

 

Renee

 

 

Renée Azerbegi, CEM, LEED-AP

 

President, Colorado Renewable Energy Society - cres-energy.org

 

ambient energy, inc. - solar & sustainable design solutions

renee at ambient-e.com   ambient-e.com

4392 ulysses way,  golden, colorado  80403

tel: 303-278-1532   cell: 303-885-2695   fax: 303-278-8533

 

 


  _____  


From: bldg-sim at gard.com [mailto:bldg-sim at gard.com] On Behalf Of Vern
Smith
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 8:16 AM
To: bldg-sim at gard.com
Cc: bldg-sim at gard.com
Subject: [bldg-sim] Action Alert! How should "qualified energy analysts"
be certified for the new Federal commercial tax incentives?

 

Our modeling group discussed this on Friday.  We agree that many of the
most experienced modelers are not registered professionals.  Most
projects, via building codes, require the oversight of a registered
professional any way. We don't think defaulting to a registered
professional will give assurance that the model is a reasonable
representation of a project, unless that person actually created the
model.  There are simply too many details in a typical energy model that
may be overlooked if the registered individual did not create it.  So,
if a certification process is going to be required, it should be at the
individual level.  If DOE doesn't create a process to certify modelers,
such as a training workshop plus exam plus standard practices, then
perhaps a professional organization would take the lead.  ASHRAE, IBPSA,
AIA, or AEE might be candidates.

Regards,
Vern Smith

Misuriello, Harry wrote:



Dear Building Energy Analysis Colleagues:

 

I am writing to you on behalf of the commercial subcommittee of the Tax
Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP.)  TIAP is a coalition of public,
private and NGO parties with a strong interest in effective
implementation of the energy efficiency tax incentives included in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005, also known as the “energy bill”.)

 

The commercial tax incentives require the use of “certified” computer
software that is run by “qualified individuals.”  The Department of
Energy is in the process of making recommendations to the Treasury
Department on how these individuals should be certified.  A good fact
sheet on the commercial building tax incentives can be found at
www.nema.org <http://www.nema.org/> .

 

An excerpt from EPAct 2005 addressing this certification is shown below.

 

`(6) CERTIFICATION-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall prescribe the manner and method for
the making of certifications under this section.

`(B) PROCEDURES- The Secretary shall include as part of the
certification process procedures for inspection and testing by qualified
individuals described in subparagraph (C) to ensure compliance of
buildings with energy-savings plans and targets. Such procedures shall
be comparable, given the difference between commercial and residential
buildings, to the requirements in the Mortgage Industry National
Accreditation Procedures for Home Energy Rating Systems.

`(C) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS- Individuals qualified to determine
compliance shall be only those individuals who are recognized by an
organization certified by the Secretary for such purposes.

 

In recent discussions we found that DOE views this as an issue and is
looking for some creative ideas on certification of energy analysts for
the purposes of tax incentive rule compliance.  The default outcome may
be to require a licensed design professional (i.e. PE, AIA) as a
qualified individual; however, many of the best modelers and analysts
may not be registered engineers or architects.  Also, unlike the
residential sector, there is no commercial equivalent to RESNET.  As far
as we know there is no certifying body for commercial building energy
analysts or modelers.

 

TIAP is most interested in maximizing participation in the commercial
tax incentives program in order to achieve significant energy savings.
We would like to see a certification approach that allows the greatest
number of qualified energy modelers and energy analysts to carry out
this work.  We are looking for workable solutions to certification that
do not exclude qualified modelers from this market.

 

So, what advice can the community of modelers and energy analysts
provide on this topic?  TIAP and the Alliance to Save Energy are looking
for input on the following questions:

 

*	Are there any existing energy analysis certification programs
that can be used as a model? 

*	Is there any existing organization that could be designated for
certifying energy modelers? 

*	Are there any training courses in modeling and energy analysis
that should be required? 

*	What level of experience should be required for an individual to
be deemed capable for this work? 

*	How should this experience be documented?  Are satisfactory
client references for modeling projects acceptable? 

*	Which of the following designations indicate that an individual
is qualified for energy modeling: 


*	Licensed design professional (i.e. PE, AIA)? 

*	Certified Energy Manager (CEM) from the AEE? 

*	LEED-AP certification from the USGBC 

*	Other? 

*	No existing designation works for this purpose? 

*	Is it practical to require no certification for energy analysts
and just have the licensed building designer sign off on the analysis
results? 

 

TIAP would greatly appreciate your ideas and opinions as soon as
possible, but it would be great to have them by Monday.  Please post
replies to the list.  There are some meetings in Washington DC next week
where this issue will be discussed.

 

Thank you for your consideration of these questions.

 

Harry

 

Ps---I apologize for any redundant cross postings.  I’m sending this out
to all three of the energy modeling email lists.

 

-----------------------

Harry Misuriello

Director of Buildings and Utility Programs

Alliance to Save Energy

1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 900

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: 202 530 2214

Fax: 202 331 9588

 

 
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-- 
Vernon A. Smith, P.E.
Architectural Energy Corporation
2540 Frontier Ave., Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80301-2400 USA
Direct: 303-459-7424
Main: 303-444-4149 x424
vsmith at archenergy.com
http://www.archenergy.com
 
 
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