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
Codes and Standards | Aug 7, 2019
Illinois law makes all single-occupancy restrooms gender-neutral
All must comply by January 1.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2019
New technology, aligning training with local trends among keys to workforce development
Construction industry must also invest in training, recruiting high school students.
Codes and Standards | Aug 1, 2019
Planners, city official rethink parking requirements on new projects
Reducing number of parking spots frees up land for ‘more purposeful’ uses.
Codes and Standards | Jul 31, 2019
USGBC-LA chooses first ‘Net Zero Accelerator’ technologies
Wide range of solutions address numerous environmental challenges.
Codes and Standards | Jul 30, 2019
Solar brokerage will provide financing for small/medium businesses
First to fund solar for smaller-scale commercial operations.
Codes and Standards | Jul 29, 2019
ASCE group unveils structural safety database
Confidential reporting on structural failures, near misses, and other incidents.
Codes and Standards | Jul 26, 2019
Floating landscape infrastructure wins top ASCE innovation prize
Climate resiliency a key theme of entrants.
Codes and Standards | Jul 24, 2019
New York making slow progress on resiliency seven years after Hurricane Sandy
Property owners face many challenges; coastal defense project plans are complex and need more time to plan.
Codes and Standards | Jul 23, 2019
Berkeley, Calif. passes nation’s first ordinance to make new buildings all-electric
No gas hook-ups will be allowed in new houses, apartments, and commercial buildings.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2019
San Francisco office building is city’s first structure certified by BREEAM USA for existing buildings
The Landmark @ One Market is one of San Francisco’s most architecturally distinctive buildings.