DOB Enacts New Requirements for Energy Auditors, Retro-Commissioning Agents
By John Lashley
As of August 4, 2019, the Department of Buildings (DOB) is amending sections 107-07 and 102-03 of Subchapters C and B, respectively, of Chapter 1, Title 100, of the Rules of the City of New York. The changes include updated definitions, new standards for energy audits and retro-commissioning of existing buildings, standardized testing protocols, and instructions for reporting multiple buildings on a lot, multiple buildings on multiple tax lots that share systems, buildings on different blocks with shared base building systems, and multiple covered buildings under cooperative corporations.
Most of the changes take effect on January 1, 2020, but Section 3 becomes effective immediately. This section establishes approved agency qualifications for energy auditors and retro-commissioning agents.
Approved Agency Qualifications
Energy Audits. The new rule restricts submission of energy efficiency reports (EERs) to registered design professionals. The individual performing or supervising the audit may not be on the staff of the building under audit, and the auditor or person under the auditor’s direct supervision must have one of the following certifications:
- Certified Energy Manager or Certified Energy Auditor, certified by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
- High-Performance Building Design Professional, certified by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
- Building Energy Assessment Professional, certified by ASHRAE
- For audits of multifamily residential buildings. Multifamily Building Analyst, certified by the Building Performance Institute
Retro-commissioning. The agent conducting or supervising retro-commissioning may not be on the staff of the affected property. The retro-commissioning agent must be a registered design professional, a certified Refrigerating System Operating Engineer, or a licensed High-Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer. In addition, the agent or individual under his or her direct supervision must have one of the following certifications or accreditations:
- Certified Commissioning Professional, certified by the Building Commissioning Association
- Certified Building Commissioning Professional, certified by the AEE
- Existing Building Commissioning Professional, certified by the AEE
- Commissioning Process Management Professional, certified by ASHRAE
- Accredited Commissioning Process Authority Professional, approved by the University of Wisconsin
- Certified Commissioning Authority, certified by the Associated Air Balance Council Commissioning Group
- Building Commissioning Professional, certified by ASHRAE
- Commissioning Process Professional, certified by the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB)
- Technical Retro-Commissioning Professional, certified by NEBB
- Building Systems Commissioning Professional, certified by NEBB
Active Registrations. Energy auditors or retro-commissioning agents who are currently registered with DOB but are not registered design professionals may continue to submit EERs as approved agents until the registration expires or December 31, 2021, whichever comes first.
For questions about how these changes affect your projects, call Metropolis Group at 212.233.6344.