With the growing emphasis on energy-consumption reduction and cost savings, there is a recognized need for credible information to help in the assessment and modeling of building energy use.
A new certification program from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) will help fill that need, recognizing individuals’ ability to audit and analyze residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP) certification complements ASHRAE’s Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) program as well as its Building Energy Modeling Professional certification. Together, the programs provide a valuable toolkit to evaluate and reduce building energy use.
“We all know that ‘we can’t manage what we can’t measure,’” Tom Phoenix, chair of the committee that developed the BEAP certification, said. “Providing reliable energy analysis means we are holding ourselves more accountable for the energy our buildings use. The results of an analysis can tell us which systems are working efficiently and which systems provide opportunities for improvement.”
The BEAP certification validates individuals’ ability to determine project scope, collect data, analyze building performance, interpret results, evaluate alternatives, submit recommendations for energy-conservation measures, and assist with the implementation of these recommendations.
The program was developed in collaboration with representatives from ASHRAE’s bEQ program, the Illuminating Engineers Society, the National Institute of Building Sciences, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, and the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau.
The program launches Feb. 2 with a pencil and paper examination in conjunction with ASHRAE’s 2011 Winter Conference. Learn more at www.ashrae.org/beap.