Who are Certified Energy Auditors?

  • Do you evaluate and analyze energy use in a facility, identify energy conservation opportunities, and make recommendations where consumption can be reduced or optimized?
  • Are you an energy auditor looking to validate your experience and knowledge?
  • Are you a consultant that specializes in energy efficiency upgrades to buildings and building systems?
  • Do you conduct audits and assessments in government buildings and are required to work to the US Department of Energy’s Guide to Energy Audits?
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What Does a CEA Do?

Energy Auditors undertake energy efficiency assessments of large buildings and industrial facilities. Their audits cover building systems, occupancy, operations, maintenance, and code compliance. An auditor aims to provide their client with detailed survey results, risk mitigation analysis, implementation plans, and a final investment-grade analysis. Many auditors work to predefined codes and standards, such as the ASHRAE Standard 211-2018 for Commercial Building Energy Audits.

Body of Knowledge

  • Developing an Energy Audit Strategy & Plan
  • Energy Use Analysis
  • Data Collection & Analysis
  • Economic Analysis
  • Lighting Systems
  • Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems
  • Domestic Hot Water Systems
  • Motors & Drives & Compressed Air Systems
  • Building Envelope
  • BAS, PAS, and EMCS
  • Alternative Generation & Storage
  • Transport

United States

ANAB
The Association of Energy Engineers CEM and CEA certification programs are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board based on the International Standard ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024. ANSI Standard 17024 is well-recognized within the industry as the highest standard in personnel certification accreditation.

U.S. Department of Energy
The CEA is the first recognized program under the Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines. The Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines were developed in collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the commercial energy performance industry to strengthen the growing energy efficiency market by certifying a highly skilled workforce.

ASHRAE Standard 211
AEE's CEM and CEA certifications meet the criteria of an energy auditor and are qualified to do work under the ASHRAE Standard 211-2018 for Commercial Building Energy Audits.

City of Atlanta, Georgia
CEA is one of the approved credentials to do work under the City of Atlanta’s Commercial Building Ordinance

Montgomery County, Maryland
CEA is an acceptable verification credentials in Montgomery County, Maryland's Benchmarking Program.

City of San Jose, California
The City of San José Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance requires an annual energy and water benchmarking report for buildings owned by the City of San Jose that are 15,000 sq ft or more, or privately owned residential and non-residential buildings that are 20,000 sq ft or more. AEE's Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP), and Certified Existing Building Commissioning Professional (EBCP) are qualified to perform this work under the ordinance.

Connecticut
CEA recognized by Connecticut Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) as an acceptable contractor qualification

New York
CEAs are recognized as qualifying team members standards for qualified auditors under the commercial building energy auditing and building commissioning legislation.  CEA is an approved credential for auditing under Local Law 87.

Texas
CEA is one of the acceptable credentials for required Independent Third Party Reviewer (ITPR) audits for Texas Pace Authority Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program

U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program On-Farm Energy Initiative Energy Audit Requires energy audits to be completed by NRCS-certified Technical Service Providers and one of the qualifications to be a CEM or CEA.

U.S. Department of Energy
AEE certifications are recommended in DOE's Guide to Energy Audits as Request for Qualifications (RFQ) requirement for consultants and firms that have expertise and experience in the field of energy efficiency upgrades to buildings and building equipment.

Canada

IESO The CEA is recognized as a qualifying certification in its incentive program for building system audits.

Eastern & Central Europe

Greece
CEA is one qualification an engineer must have in order to register at the Registry of Energy Engineers

Ireland
CEA recognized by the Irish government as meeting the industry qualification requirements of the Irish regulation SI426, to implement Article 8 (4-6) of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU).

Western Europe

United Kingdom 
The UK Environment Agency approved the Certified Energy Manager International (CEMI) and Certified Energy Auditor International (CEAI) certifications as meeting the requirements of the UK Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) to implement Article 8 (4-6) of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU).

ENAC
The Association of Energy Engineers CEM and CEA certification programs in Spain are accredited by Entidad Nacional de Acreditación (ENAC) based on the international standard UNE-IN/ISO/IEC 17024.  ENAC is the agency appointed by the government to operate in Spain as the only National Accreditation Body, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 765/2008 that regulates the functioning of accreditation in Europe.

Middle East

Lebanon

For an ESCO to be approved by ICU (Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria) in Lebanon, one or more of its full-time staff should hold the following certifications among them:

  • Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) and
  • Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) and
  • Performance Contracting and Funding Professional (PCF)

An ESCO will have its approval withdrawn or suspended if it doesn’t maintain the above per-qualification requirements.

Saudi Arabia 
CEM, CEA and CMVP certifications are now requirements for the licensing of energy efficiency companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the regulation of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC).

United Arab Emirates 
The RSB (Government of Dubai, RSB for Electricity & Water), Effective 2 September 2015, new applicants for Provisional Accreditation will require a CMVP in addition to either a CEM or CEA.

 

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Africa
The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) has granted Engineering Council of South Africa (ESCA) Continued Professional Development (CPD) credits for persons taking AEE's international CEM, CEA, CMVP, CWEP, and REP programs.

Kenya 
The Energy Regulatory Commission in Kenya, under The Energy Act of 2012, has recognized AEE’s Certified Energy Manager (CEM) under Schedule 5 (on page 10) as a requirement to obtaining an Energy Auditor License in Kenya.

Connect With CEA

Find a CEA in the Certified Professionals Directory, or see what they’re saying by visiting your local AEE Chapter or joining a LinkedIn group. Energy professionals continuously tell us that they stay ahead in the industry by getting involved in the community.

Already Certified?

Maintain Your Certification

An AEE certification can help define your status as an energy professional and help progress your career. Once complete, make sure you maintain your account and keep track of your certification requirements for renewal.