The Department of Energy has released Energy Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines that are aimed at strengthening and streamlining commercial building workforce training and certification programs for workers in energy auditing, building commissioning, building operations, and energy management.
The DOE, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), and a group of energy and building industry professionals developed the standards under the guise of the Commercial Workforce Credentialing Council.
“By creating nationally recognized standards for competency-based certification programs, these guidelines can ensure that workers have the skills they need to do their jobs effectively, while helping cut the pollution and energy costs that come from the country's commercial building sector,” the DOE says.
The guidelines “offer credentialing bodies a framework that will help their certification programs meet the needs and standards identified by the experts in the industry,” the DOE says. This type of quality assurance is especially important in jurisdictions that require energy audits or retro-commissioning of buildings.
Related Stories
| May 22, 2014
Federal disaster policy should focus on mitigation, insurance group says
Federal disaster policy should shift its focus toward mitigation in order to reduce future disaster costs, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies says.
| May 22, 2014
Study quantifies cost premiums for net zero buildings
The 73-page report breaks down the incremental cost premiums for transforming three LEED Platinum-designed buildings into net-zero energy, net-zero water, and living Buildings.
| May 22, 2014
Senate kills bipartisan energy efficiency bill over Keystone pipeline amendment
The legislation focused on energy efficiency standards such as water heaters with smart meters and cheaper heating and cooling systems for office buildings.
| May 19, 2014
Construction skilled-worker shortage causing rise in claims
The improved economy has boosted construction starts, but a shortage of experienced trade workers has led to more on-the-job injuries and construction defects.
| May 15, 2014
AISC Prequalified Seismic Moment Connection standard update now available
The AISC standard Prequalified Moment Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames for Seismic Applications (ANSI/AISC 358-10) has been updated with a second supplement, ANSI/AISC 358s2-14.
| May 15, 2014
ConsensusDocs releases new agreements for contractors who hire consultants
ConsensusDocs has released the new ConsensusDocs 746 Constructor & Geotechnical Consultant Agreement and the 747 Constructor & Consultant Agreement.
| May 8, 2014
Report: Top storm-resilient cities have high adaptive capacity
The most resilient cities in the world, including five in the U.S., have attributes that would enable them to recover better than others from devastating natural disasters.
| May 8, 2014
LED lighting helps cities receive Energy Star designation
Thanks largely to an ambitious program to boost the use of LED lighting in its buildings, Los Angeles is the top ranked U.S. city on the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual list of U.S. cities that are doing the most to improve energy efficiency.
| May 8, 2014
Door knob code revisions generating controversy
The City of Vancouver’s ban on doorknobs in all new buildings, which went into effect last month, has drawn a strong reaction from the public and heated debate across Canada as other jurisdictions consider the measure.
| May 8, 2014
Structural concrete code revisions open for public comments
The American Concrete Institute’s completely reorganized ACI 318-14, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary,” is open for public review for a 45-day period.