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Certified Energy Auditor (CEA®) Body of Knowledge Updated

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE®) will implement an updated Body of Knowledge (BoK) for the Certified Energy Auditor (CEA®) certification to reflect the essential knowledge and competencies for energy auditors globally. The CEA BoK will come into effect for the CEA examination administration in February 2021.

AEE maintains, updates, and validates its accredited exams by conducting a Job Task Analysis (JTA) every five years. A seventeen-member committee of professional energy auditing subject matter experts from around the world worked closely with the psychometric and testing services company, Authentic Testing Corporation, to conduct the evaluation. The committee identified the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills essential to the performance of a CEA. The recommendations of the committee were then validated by a survey sent to CEA certified professionals. The survey examined the current state of the energy industry, which includes the responsibilities, knowledge and skills required to fulfill those responsibilities.

The updated CEA BoK is organized into twelve (12) knowledge areas, rather than the current ten domestically and eight internationally. Each area will focus on essential knowledge that applies across practice settings globally. The BoK is consistent with industry best practices and accreditation standards. These main knowledge areas include:

  1. Developing an Energy Audit Strategy & Plan
  2. Energy Use Analysis
  3. Data Collection & Analysis
  4. Economic Analysis
  5. Lighting Systems
  6. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Systems
  7. Domestic Hot Water Systems
  8. Motors and Drives & Compressed Air Systems
  9. Building Envelope
  10. BAS, PAS, and EMCS
  11. Alternative Generation & Storage
  12. Transport

US ANSI BoK changes include: Utility Analysis, Renewable Opportunities name is now Energy Use Analysis and the Renewable Opportunities part of it moved to a new domain named Alternative Generation & Storage.  Data Collection & Economic Analysis are now separate domains.  Ventilation Systems merged with HVAC Systems. Water Conservation was integrated into Domestic Hot Water Systems.  Three domains were added: Building Automation Systems, Process Automation Systems, & Energy Management and Control Systems (BAS/PAS/EMCS); Alternative Generation & Storage; and Transport. Subtopics from multiple domains moved to these new domains as restatements or extensions of topics.

International and ENAC BoK changes include: Energy Audits & Instrumentation is spread out in the first three domains of Developing an Energy Audit Strategy & Plan, Energy Use Analysis, and Data Collection & Analysis.  Economic Analysis of Energy Conservation Measures; Financing Energy Projects; Performance Contracting; and Measurement and Verification is mainly covered in the Economic Analysis domain.  Energy Fundamentals & Energy Accounting Is covered under Energy Use Analysis. Building Systems, Lighting, HVAC, Chillers Domain was integrated to the Lighting Systems, Building Envelope, HVAC Systems and Building Automation Systems, Process Automation Systems, & Energy Management and Control Systems (BAS/PAS/EMCS) domains. Controls, Control Systems; Building Automation Systems; and Facility Electrical Systems is covered in the HVAC Systems and BAS/PAS/EMCS domains.  Motors and Drives is covered in the Motors and Drives & Compressed Air Systems domain.  Boilers, Steam Systems, Compressed Air Systems, and Industrial Processes are covered in HVAC Systems and Motors & Drives & Compressed Air SystemsOperations and Maintenance is integrated into all technical domains.

For questions, please contact Helen Johnson, Certification Development Director.

About AEE
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE®), founded in 1977, is a nonprofit professional society of over 18,000 members in more than 100 countries. The mission of AEE is “to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and foster action for Sustainable Development.” AEE offers a full array of informational outreach programs, including training, conferences, journals, books, and certification programs. AEE’s network of over 100 local chapters meets regularly to discuss regional issues.