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I would suggest that for tax incentive purposes, a simpler energy
modeling program be used than the DOE 2.1-based programs which are
required for purposes like LEED compliance. This would allow for
single professionals like registered architects, LEED certified
professionals or PE's to quickly estimate compliance without need for
complicated modeling requiring inter-disciplinary input and the
associated expenses.<br><br>
Dave Bryan <br><br>
AmerINDIAN Architecture<br>
Suite 100, 475 Cleveland Avenue North<br>
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55104 USA<br><br>
651-644-1586 phone<br>
651-644-7172 fax<br><br>
dbryan@amerindian.com<br>
<a href="http://www.amerindian.com" eudora="autourl">
www.amerindian.com<br><br>
</a>At 07:00 PM 10/27/2005, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2>Dear Building
Energy Analysis Colleagues:<br>
<br>
I am writing to you on behalf of the commercial subcommittee of the Tax
Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP.) TIAP is a coalition of
public, private and NGO parties with a strong interest in effective
implementation of the energy efficiency tax incentives included in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005, also known as the “energy
bill”.)<br>
<br>
The commercial tax incentives require the use of “certified” computer
software that is run by “qualified individuals.” The Department of
Energy is in the process of making recommendations to the Treasury
Department on how these individuals should be certified. A good
fact sheet on the commercial building tax incentives can be found at
<a href="http://www.nema.org/">www.nema.org</a>.<br>
<br>
An excerpt from EPAct 2005 addressing this certification is shown
below.<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">`(6) CERTIFICATION-<br>
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall prescribe the manner and method for
the making of certifications under this section.<br>
`(B) PROCEDURES- The Secretary shall include as part of the certification
process procedures for inspection and testing by qualified individuals
described in subparagraph (C) to ensure compliance of buildings with
energy-savings plans and targets. Such procedures shall be comparable,
given the difference between commercial and residential buildings, to the
requirements in the Mortgage Industry National Accreditation Procedures
for Home Energy Rating Systems.<br>
`(C) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS- Individuals qualified to determine compliance
shall be only those individuals who are recognized by an organization
certified by the Secretary for such purposes.<br>
</font><font size=2> <br>
In recent discussions we found that DOE views this as an issue and is
looking for some creative ideas on certification of energy analysts for
the purposes of tax incentive rule compliance. The default outcome
may be to require a licensed design professional (i.e. PE, AIA) as a
qualified individual; however, many of the best modelers and analysts may
not be registered engineers or architects. Also, unlike the
residential sector, there is no commercial equivalent to RESNET. As
far as we know there is no certifying body for commercial building energy
analysts or modelers.<br>
<br>
TIAP is most interested in maximizing participation in the commercial tax
incentives program in order to achieve significant energy savings.
We would like to see a certification approach that allows the greatest
number of qualified energy modelers and energy analysts to carry out this
work. We are looking for workable solutions to certification that
do not exclude qualified modelers from this market.<br>
<br>
So, what advice can the community of modelers and energy analysts provide
on this topic? TIAP and the Alliance to Save Energy are looking for
input on the following questions:<br>
<ul>
<li>Are there any existing energy analysis certification programs that
can be used as a model?</font>
<li><font size=2>Is there any existing organization that could be
designated for certifying energy modelers?</font>
<li><font size=2>Are there any training courses in modeling and energy
analysis that should be required?</font>
<li><font size=2>What level of experience should be required for an
individual to be deemed capable for this work?</font>
<li><font size=2>How should this experience be documented? Are
satisfactory client references for modeling projects acceptable?</font>
<li><font size=2>Which of the following designations indicate that an
individual is qualified for energy modeling:</font>
<ul>
<li><font size=2>Licensed design professional (i.e. PE, AIA)?</font>
<li><font size=2>Certified Energy Manager (CEM) from the AEE?</font>
<li><font size=2>LEED-AP certification from the USGBC</font>
<li><font size=2>Other?</font>
<li><font size=2>No existing designation works for this purpose?</font>
</ul>
<li><font size=2>Is it practical to require no certification for energy
analysts and just have the licensed building designer sign off on the
analysis results?</font>
</ul><font size=2> <br>
TIAP would greatly appreciate your ideas and opinions as soon as
possible, but it would be great to have them by Monday. Please post
replies to the list. There are some meetings in Washington DC next
week where this issue will be discussed.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your consideration of these questions.<br>
<br>
Harry<br>
<br>
Ps---I apologize for any redundant cross postings. I’m sending this
out to all three of the energy modeling email lists.<br>
<br>
-----------------------<br>
Harry Misuriello<br>
Director of Buildings and Utility Programs<br>
Alliance to Save Energy<br>
1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 900<br>
Washington, DC 20036<br>
Tel: 202 530 2214<br>
Fax: 202 331 9588<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><br>
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