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

Erik Kolderup ekolderup at archenergy.com
Fri Oct 28 17:39:37 PDT 2005


I am not aware of any existing certification systems that would be useful in
the near term on the nonresidential side (though I'm eager to hear if others
think differently). My vote:

 

1. Develop detailed guidelines for modeling protocols.

2. Require certification of calculations by a licensed professional (they
can always hire an expert who is not licensed to do the work for them). 

3. Establish a review/spot check process. 

 

Erik Kolderup

Architectural Energy Corporation 

 

 

  _____  

From: bldg-sim at gard.com [mailto:bldg-sim at gard.com] On Behalf Of Misuriello,
Harry
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:01 PM
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?

 

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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