Building Operator Certification: Improving Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Through Operator Training and Certification

摘要

Building Operator Certification (BOC) is acompetency-based certification for building operatorsdesigned to improve the energy efficiency ofcommercial buildings. Operators earn certification byattending training sessions and completing projectassignments in their facilities. The certificationprovides a credential for their professionaldevelopment while also offering employers a way toidentify skilled operators. Developed as a markettransformation venture with funding from theNorthwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, evaluationresearch has shown BOC participants are savingmoney and energy in their facilities, and awarenessamong major employers is growing. BOC is nowexpanding to serve other regions of the countryincluding the Northeast, California and Wisconsin. Itis being offered as a turnkey program to interestedorganizations and utilities and can be operationalizedwithin a year to serve customers quickly. It alsoserves as a platform for other energy efficiencyinitiatives such as building commissioning,EnergyStar benchmarking, and resource conservationmanager. This paper will discuss the developmentand implementation of the Building OperatorCertification, market response to BOC in theNorthwest and Northeast, and energy saving andcustomer service benefits.