Industry-based Skills Standards for Building Operators—A Business Case
Abstract
Although there is growing evidence that a skilled workforce and
high performance building processes are fundamental to a profitable
corporate energy management strategy, current training frameworks
lack performance specifications that identify the knowledge, skills, and
abilities that operations and maintenance (O&M) personnel need to
implement energy management goals. This article examines industry-
defined skill standards for building operators (O&M personnel), recently
identified in a joint collaboration between the Northwest Energy Effi-
ciency Council, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Northwest Energy
Alliance, and City University of New York’s Building Performance Lab
supported by the Department of Energy. The Developing a Curriculum
(DACUM) method was used to identify job tasks processes. The skill
standards present the core skills required for building personnel to oper-
ate a high-performing facility in today’s commercial built environment,
focused on improving facility energy usage and maintaining efficient
systems. Validation of skill standards was achieved through a national
survey of industry professionals. The resulting framework may be used
by facility directors to assess the competencies of building operators,
identify skill gaps, select appropriate training options, and prepare job
descriptions. Building operators may use skill standards to assess career
paths within and between industries and gauge personal training needs.
The demand for skilled building operators and engineers is evident in
the recent Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010, requiring all
federal building personnel to be trained in energy efficient operations,
and there is demand for training in the marketplace due to the associ-
ated energy savings and positive impact on an organization’s bottom
line. Clearly defined core competencies and standards will ensure that
educational mechanisms deliver high-quality and professionally relevant
training for this workforce.
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