Minimum Qualifications for Energy Auditors - Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance

BOMA San Francisco Members:

We've been reporting on the progress of BOMA member involvement regarding the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance when relevant.   As such, we have received a number of inquiries regarding a list of qualified BOMA San Francisco Associate member firms that can benchmark a building and/or conduct an energy audit to meet the requirements of the new law.  Here is the current list of member companies that can perform this service:

• Able Engineering
• ABM
• Carbon Lighthouse
• Code Green
• Eco Cosm Inc.
• Enovity
• kW Engineering
• Retro Com
• SCI Energy

Thank you to the San Francisco Department of Energy for their good work on overseeing the compliance of the ordinance.  Note, the Department cannot recommend a benchmarking consultant or an energy auditor, but can confirm that the following consultants have submitted Annual Energy Benchmark Summaries on behalf of clients in San Francisco as of January 15, 2013.  Many have indicated they also provide energy audits. This is not a recommendation, nor intended to imply anything about the quality of their work.

Regarding energy audits, the industry has not adopted a standard certification or qualification for energy audit services. As a result, a wide range of qualifications for an energy auditor is recognized in the Existing Commercial Buildings ordinance, and you can find a summary on the SF Environment website or the PDF Overview . Two designations recognized by the ordinance that directly correspond to the energy audit requirement: a licensed professional engineer (PE) or a certified ASHRAE Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP). You may find a list of professionals with these qualifications via:

• ASHRAE Certified Building Energy Assessment Professionals
• EPA ENERGY STAR Directory of Licensed Design Professionals
• Note that a licensed professional engineer is qualified to provide energy audits, but an architectural license is not a qualification to provide energy audits under the ordinance. This directory includes both.
• PG&E provides a limited number of audits for their customers to support energy efficiency improvements (rather than for the purpose of compliance.) To learn more, contact your PG&E representative or PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743.