Accreditation of Energy Assessors
The Energy Performance Building Directive now makes it a legal requirement for the energy certification of buildings in domestic, commercial and some industrial sectors. Energy practitioners who are already involved in energy reporting or energy assessing buildings should be seeking registration as “Accredited Energy Assessors” through an approved accreditation body.
The Energy Institute (EI) is able to offer members a route to accreditation and registration through our partners ECMK. This is a significant opportunity for EI members to achieve accreditation through the APEL route which recognises prior experience and knowledge.
Anyone interested in becoming an accredited energy assessor for the issue of EPCs and DECs through the EI should see the information below. It is set out in two sections relating to England and Wales and to Scotland.
Accreditation of energy assessors for issuing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs) in England and Wales
The Energy Institute has partnered with ECMK to provide straightforward routes for our members to become accredited as Energy Assessors.
Two routes to accreditation are available for members to become Energy Assessors for New Builds, Commercial and Display Energy Certificates - either an APEL route (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) or a qualification route.
APEL route
To be accredited, applicants will need to demonstrate competency either by holding a qualification or on the basis that they are experienced practitioners – the APEL route.
The APEL route is a way for very experienced energy assessors to demonstrate that their skills, knowledge and understanding (gained through their experience) are fully up to the National Occupational Standards (NOS). This allows them to join an Accreditation scheme without the need to gain a qualification such as DipNDEA, DipOCEA etc.
Qualification route
ECMK are an ABBE-approved assessment centre for qualifications for Energy Assessors. Courses for Display Energy Certificates (DipDEC), Commercial properties (DipNDEA), and On Construction (DipOCEA) are now all available.
For further information on the qualification route and the various providers of the diplomas towards qualification see:
Accreditation for lodging Energy Certificates
ECMK also operates an Accreditation Scheme for Energy Assessors which will give accreditees:
• A licence to operate
• A means of lodging EPCs with the Central Register
• Technical survey support
• On-going training for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• The assurance of a quality control process.
Accreditation of energy assessors for issuing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in Scotland
In 2008 the Energy Institute signed a protocol with the Scottish Buildings Standards Agency to allow us to assess and accredit suitably qualified energy professionals to act as energy assessors in Scotland to issue EPCs under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Unlike in the rest of the UK, in Scotland there is no qualification route and the Scottish system relies on existing energy assessors who have professional membership of a relevant body to show their competence to undertake energy assessments with a view to issuing EPCs in Scotland. To meet the requirements of the protocol individuals who are accredited through the EI must:
- be members who have met the required professional criteria for membership;
- adhere to the EI rules of professional conduct;
- demonstrate knowledge of Scottish building standards regulations and procedures;
- demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in relevant calculation methodology.
In order to meet these requirements prospective applicants will need to be on the EI’s Register of Energy Consultants (which is accessible to those who are professional members of the EI (FEI, MEI or TMEI) and who have undergone a separate assessment of their expertise in energy efficiency). They will also be required to show evidence of having undergone relevant training in relevant calculation methodology (eg SBEM etc). In order to meet the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of Scottish building standards regulations and procedures, those individuals meeting all other requirements will be subject to a short interview (approximately 45 minutes) to test their knowledge of Scottish buildings legislation.
Those individuals meeting these three requirements will be awarded the status of Accredited Energy Assessor for Scotland.
Training in SBEM etc can be obtained from a number of providers and we are not able to make a recommendation about which you should choose.
Further details on professional membership can be found on our Membership pages. Please e-mail register@energyinst.org if you are an EI member and would like an application form to join the Register of Energy Consultants.
