Buildings Energy assessors
Quality assured?
The role of the energy assessor has become
attended a recent update course at CIBSE, where he
was appalled to hear of falling quotation prices due
crucial now that more and more buildings are to poor industry knowledge. He learned of one quote
gaining performance certificates. But there is
being made for a DEC in a hospital totalling just £150,
while another assessor charged £180 for an EPC to
concern that some of these professionals are be carried out on a 900 sq m office block, including
not up to the job, writes Carina Bailey
lodgement.
“It is simply not good enough to accept the generic
recommendations provided by the software,” Israel
W
hen domestic energy assessments insists. “The assessor must use his/her experience
were first required in the UK in 2007 and knowledge to adjust these into a meaningful
the emphasis was on churning out set of results. This requires that the assessor has the
certificates in order to comply with the prior knowledge and training to be able to produce the
law. Jacqueline Balian, managing director of CIBSE documents. How can companies advertise that they
Services, says the darkest period was in the first year, can train someone who has been made redundant (and
when profit was the sole driver of the profession: not necessarily with a building services background)
“A large number of individuals without experience to become an assessor [in four days]? I have been in
‘qualified’ as energy assessors and their entry into building services and energy for the past 42 years and
CIBSE
the market forced down fee levels as they marketed I’m still learning.”
Range of certificates as a commodity, competing for work solely
guidance on price.” Quality issues
and training The job of the energy assessor was created as a result In contrast, the CIBSE scheme genuinely has a
available of the European Performance of Buildings Directive reputation in the marketplace for providing quality,
(EPBD) – new legislation requiring properties to be and its assessors can offer so much more than just
TM47: Operational
Ratings and Display
graded on their green credentials. energy certificates, Balian says.
Energy Certificates from
In 2008 the EPBD was rolled out further, firstly to For instance, a package of both EPC and DEC
CIBSE provides guidance
commercial premises and later to the lettings sector. certificates can now be provided because CIBSE-
on the requirements for
DECs, and also provides
This brought about the need for non-domestic energy accredited LCEAs have the right qualifications. They
assessors with good
assessors with a wider remit than the domestic energy can advise firms on operational improvements, as well
practice guidance on
assessor. as enhancements to the building’s fabric and plant.
the whole process of
assessing a building
Since then quality has been rising, particularly with Another benefit is that many LCEAs now offer follow-
for the purposes of
the introduction of the CIBSE Low Carbon Energy up services, such as full surveys or improvement
producing a DEC.
Assessor (LCEA) register in 2008, which was programmes, and the loan funding to undertake the
TM47 is priced at £35
launched to coincide with the roll-out of work. And despite the flood of energy assessors
for CIBSE members and
EPBD that year. now qualifying through other schemes,
£70 for non-members.
For more information
But the poor level of service offered LCEAs still account for a sizeable amount
or to purchase this
to clients by some energy assessors of the marketplace.
publication, visit www.
with low skill levels is still one of LCEA registration is open only to those
cibse.org/publications or
call 020 8772 3618.
the biggest problems the industry who are experienced building services or
CIBSE provides training
faces. Balian believes this has to some energy specialists with at least two years’
for those wanting to
extent undermined the credibility of solid experience. In order to be admitted
join the Low Carbon
energy performance and display energy to the register, suitably competent
Consultants Register,
to become a Low
certificates (EPCs and DECs), although individuals have to take further training
Carbon Energy Assessor
she admits this has actually led to lighter in energy assessment law and in the use
to produce Energy
costs for businesses than originally of their chosen software.
Performance Certificates,
Display Energy
anticipated. “CIBSE LCEAs are widely
Performance Certificates
Gerald Israel, a Low Carbon recognised as the professionals
or to become accredited
Energy Assessor at CIBSE and highly competent, in a
air conditioning
inspectors.
Certification Ltd, agrees. He market becoming awash
with energy assessors who
CIBSE also has ongoing
CPD events for energy
have ‘qualified’ after two
assessors. For more
or three days’ training,”
information on training
insists Balian.
visit www.cibsetraining.
co.uk/energyassessor
However, there is still a
ripple of disquiet running
24 CIBSE Journal September 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEsep09 pp24-25 carbon_assessors.indd 24 21/8/09 14:17:46
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