Energy Liaison Program

TDEC OEP’s State Facility Utility Management (SFUM) team established the Energy Liaison Program (ELP) to equip General Government agencies and Higher Education institutions in Tennessee with the knowledge, resources, and tools they need to optimize energy use in the buildings they own and/or operate. The ELP specifically targets facility or energy managers, building operations & maintenance (O&M) personnel, sustainability professionals, and any other Tennessee government or public higher education employees who, based on their role, would benefit from assistance with managing and optimizing their energy usage. 

Resources

The following resources span from general energy management principles to a comprehensive list of energy saving measures.

Energy Information Administration (EIA): Tennessee State Energy Profile
Provides an overview of the State of Tennessee’s energy production and consumption by sector. This provides information about the sources of energy production statewide, and users can identify the type of source, capacity, and other data points of nearby energy generators.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Energy Efficiency Policies and Programs
Provides resources related to different types of energy efficiency policies and programs, including appliance standards, building codes, behavior change strategies, energy benchmarking, energy efficiency resource standards, financial incentives and programs, strategic energy management, and zoning and permitting.

U.S. DOE: National Laboratories
Provides a full list of DOE-funded national laboratories, which work with DOE to develop, demonstrate, and deploy energy-efficient technologies in U.S. buildings. Each national laboratory specializes in unique focus areas and research.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Energy Efficiency Page
Outlines the various actions you can take to reduce the environmental impact of your energy use – from using ENERGY STAR-certified products and appliances to insulating your home or office.

ENERGY STAR: Guidelines for Energy Management
Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, these guidelines for energy management can assist your organization in improving its energy and financial performance while distinguishing your organization as an environmental leader.

U.S. EPA: WaterSense at Work
Provides guidance to help establish an effective facility water management program and identify projects and practices that can reduce facility water use.

U.S. General Services Administration: Sustainable Facilities Tool - Facility Manager User Guide
Explains how Facility Managers can use the Sustainable Facilities Tool to assist with Building & Grounds Management, Space Management, and Procurement Management responsibilities.

ENERGY STAR: Operations and Maintenance Best Practices for Energy-Efficient Buildings
This page contains strategies to help you, the operations and maintenance (O&M)/energy manager and practitioner, to keep expensive building equipment operating efficiently. Learn more about why it is crucial to calibrate, schedule, and periodically check building equipment and systems.

Pacific Northwest National Lab: Energy Management Control System
This document discusses the functions and capabilities of a typical building/facility energy management and control system (EMCS). The overall intent is to provide a building operator, manager, or engineer with basic background information and recommended functions, capabilities, and best practices that will enable the control systems to be fully utilized or optimized, resulting in improved building occupant quality of life and more reliable, energy-efficient facilities.

U.S. DOE: Energy Systems Maintenance Best Practices Guide
This guide provides you, the operations and maintenance (O&M)/energy manager and practitioner, with useful information about O&M management, technologies, energy and water efficiency, and cost-reduction approaches.

U.S. EPA: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Offices and Other Large Buildings
Providing educational information and resources related to IAQ, including air cleaners/filters, types of air pollutants, air duct cleaning, and asthma prevention. The page also outlines best practices and strategies for protecting IAQ in offices and other large buildings.

International Energy Agency (IEA): The Potential of Behavioral Interventions for Optimizing Energy Use at Home
This article focuses on the potential for enhancing energy efficiency with policies and programs designed to educate consumers and encourage them to alter their daily habits – without resorting to large-scale structural improvements.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC): Stakeholder and Community Engagement
Tools, resources, partnerships, and funding opportunities to support stakeholders and the community in sustainability and resilience efforts.

U.S. DOE: Building Energy Codes Program
The U.S. DOE Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) tracks and analyzes data on the adoption, compliance, and implementation of the latest model energy codes. Learn more about existing building policies, codes, and standards, and see the latest updates on code adoption in each state.

U.S. DOE: Tennessee State Energy Codes
Check here for the most recent status of Tennessee’s building energy codes for state-owned/funded buildings, and to learn more about the state’s minimum requirements for energy-efficient building design.

U.S. DOE: Insulation Resources
This page describes why insulation is essential to weatherizing any building, and the different types of insulation materials used today.  

U.S. DOE: Windows and Building Envelope Facilities
This page details DOE national lab facility programs dedicated to developing window and building envelope technologies that can be deployed widely. 

U.S. DOE: Building Technologies Office (BTO): Appliance and Equipment Standards Program
Learn more about the minimum energy conservation standards that DOE’s BTO sets for more than 60 categories of appliances and equipment, helping U.S. buildings optimize their energy use. The operations and maintenance (O&M)/energy manager and practitioners can refer to this site to make informed decisions when selecting products to save energy and money.

U.S. DOE: Building Technologies Office (BTO): eeCompass Tool
This online resource has easy-to-use tools that allow consumers to research, evaluate, and compare covered products by brand and model, helping them make informed decisions when selecting products in order to save energy and money.

U.S. EPA: WaterSense Program – Products
Provides a list of EPA-approved water-saving products (e.g., faucets, toilets, etc.). Facility managers and operations and maintenance (O&M) personnel can refer to this list of products to make informed decisions about which equipment to purchase.

U.S. EPA: WaterSense Program – Tools
Tools and resources that facility managers can utilize to understand water use in their facility and apply best practices.

U.S. EPA: WaterSense Program – Types of Facilities
Details how different types of facilities can take different measures to improve water efficiency.

U.S. DOE: Heating and Cooling  
Learn more about space heating/cooling and water heating, why they comprise such a large portion of building energy expenses, and strategies for increasing their efficiency. 

U.S. DOE: Lighting Choices to Save You Money
Learn about the benefits associated with switching to more energy-efficient lighting options, as well as other lighting strategies and technologies that can maximize electricity savings. 

U.S. DOE: Lumens and the Lighting Facts Label  
When shopping for light bulbs, operations and maintenance (O&M)/energy managers and practitioners can consult this page to learn more about how to compare lumens to be sure they’re getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, they want – and learn how to read a Lighting Facts Label.

U.S. DOE: Renewable Energy
Provides descriptions and benefits of the following renewable energy sources: bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydrogen, hydropower, marine energy, solar energy, and wind energy.

U.S. DOE: Clean Energy
Contains an overview of clean energy sources, including solar, wind, water, geothermal, bioenergy, and nuclear. Facility managers who are considering installing solar panels on their building’s roof can consult this page to learn more about the benefits of renewable energy.

DSIRE: Tennessee’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs 
Details the financial incentives (loans, tax credits, rebates, grants, etc.) and regulatory policies related to renewable energy and energy efficiency that are available in Tennessee at a given point in time.

TDEC: Clean Energy Financing
Overview of programs financed by TDEC, including energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy power installations.

U.S. DOE: Funding & Financing
This highlights loans, grants, and other funding opportunities available through U.S. DOE.

U.S. DOE: Better Buildings Funding and Incentives Resource Hub
This hub compiles rebates, funding opportunities, and other incentives, including those available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

U.S. EPA: EPA Grants
This webpage details grant opportunities available through the EPA.

Associations

The following list is a selection of associations and institutions which are available to facility managers, energy managers, sustainability professionals, and other stakeholders.

Energy Management Association (EMA)
EMA is a connection point for energy managers and other energy professionals that has professional development opportunities such as operations and management seminars and an annual virtual Energy Management Professional (EMP) Seminar. Corporate membership is available for organizations with at least one EMP on staff.

Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA)
TenneSEIA is Tennessee’s arm of a national organization. They support the building of the solar industry in Tennessee, provide forums for sharing the newest knowledge in the industry, bring stakeholders together, and influence the legislation at state and federal levels surrounding the solar future.

Tennessee Association of Physical Plant Administrators (TNAPPA)
TNAPPA offers a variety of opportunities for continuous learning, connection, and networking, as well as informational resources for facilities professionals in public spaces. TNAPPA Membership is for any educational facilities professionals (including public and private schools, K-12 schools and districts, two and four-year community colleges, and technical universities). Membership is also open to facilities professionals employed by museums, parks, military installations, state, city, and county governments, and business partners that serve educational facilities.

Certifications and Credentials

The following are certifications that may be of interest to ELP participants.

Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certifications
AEE's Certification programs acknowledge professionals who have the necessary training, exam passage, experience, and application requirements within their respective disciplines. Each also has an “in-training” certification that shows the pursuit of accreditation.

Energy Efficiency Practitioner (EEP®)
EEP® is for professionals who are new or recent members of the energy management field. They are typically managers or technicians in building management spaces.

Work Experience and Education Requirements (must meet one of the following requirements):

- 2- or 4-year degree
- Current employment in an area that works with energy management, energy efficiency, or operations and maintenance
- At least 1 year of experience in the fields listed above
- Military Veteran

Certified Business Energy Professionals (BEP®)
BEPs® understand that decisions about energy affect the systems, employee output, and financial success of the entire organization. They are adept at planning and proposing changes, comparing projects that compete, and making objective decisions on priorities.


Certification Application and Examination Fees total $400, retest fees are $200, and certification renewal costs $300 every 3 years.

Work Experience and Education Requirements (must meet one of the following requirements):

- 4-year related degree AND at least 2 years of related experience
- Professional Engineer (PE) AND at least 2 years of related experience
- Registered Architect (RA) AND at least 2 years of related experience
- 4-year unrelated degree AND at least 3 years of related experience
- 2-year associate degree AND at least 5 years of related experience
- No relevant education AND at least 8 of related experience
- CEM®

Certified Energy Manager (CEM®)
CEMs® are the professionals that ensure energy efficiency is a top priority of a facility, building, or industrial plant. The CEM® can integrate electrical, mechanical, process, and building infrastructure while analyzing the most cost effective, energy-reducing solutions. CEMs® take the lead in developing and implementing energy management strategies. CEMs® are recognized as a vital asset for companies with conscientious energy strategies and sustainable operational practices, which gives them a competitive advantage.


Certification Application and Examination Fees total $500, retest fees are $250, and certification renewal costs $300 every 3 years.

Work Experience and Education Requirements (must meet one of the following requirements):

- 4-year degree in engineering AND at least 3 years of related experience
- Architecture or Professional Engineer (PE) AND at least 3 years of related experience
- Registered Architect (RA) AND at least 3 years of related experience
- 4-year degree in environmental science, earth science, physics, or technology AND at least 4 years of related experience
- 4-year degree in business (or similar) AND at least 4 years of related experience
- 2-year associate degree in energy management AND at least 6 years of related experience
- 2-year associate degree AND at least 8 years of related experience
- No related education AND at least 10 years of related experience

Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP®)
A CMVP® is an individual who manages or performs internationally-recognized methods of quantifying the energy usage impacts of energy management activities. They apply the fundamental concepts of performance and savings verification in a wide range of contexts, including energy savings performance contracts and utility/government incentive programs. A CMVP® can often help an organization confidently and cost effectively implement cost-saving activities through clear communication with project partners.


Certification Application and Examination Fees total $400 (if the exam is taken in conjunction with live training or if the exam is taken remotely), retest fees are $200, and certification renewal costs $300 every 3 years.

Work Experience and Education Requirements (must meet one of the following requirements):

- Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, architecture, business, law, finance, or a related field AND 3 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- Registered Professional Engineer (PE) AND 3 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- Registered Architect (RA) AND 3 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university AND 5 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- 2-year technical degree AND 5 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- No relevant education AND 10 years of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification
- Current Certified Energy Manager® (CEM®) or Certified Energy Auditor (CEA™) AND 1 year of verified experience in energy management projects involving measurement and verification

Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP®)
CLEPs® understand a building’s lighting requirements based on the occupancy and use of a given space, whether the application is illuminating a new building or retrofitting existing buildings to the most current lighting technologies. They measure, verify, and evaluate lighting efficiency projects, including the human factor implications, technologies, and financial incentives to compare savings against other energy efficiency projects and identify Return on Investment.


Certification Application and Examination Fees total $400, retest fees are $200, and certification renewal costs $300 every 3 years.

Work Experience and Education Requirements (must meet one of the following requirements):

- 4-year engineering/architectural degree OR Professional Engineer (PE) OR Registered Architect (RA) AND at least 3 years of related experience
- 4-year degree in business (or related field) AND at least 5 years of related experience
- 2-year associate degree AND at least 5 years of related experience
- No related education AND at least 10 years of relevant experience
- Current Certified Energy Manager® (CEM®) AND at least 3 years of related experience

Professional Energy Manager (PEM)
PEM training supplements the talent and knowledge of energy management business professionals through a certification process that involves in-depth knowledge of the emerging aspects of the energy field, including risk management, efficiency, market intelligence, customer care, and energy solutions.

LEED Accreditation
A credential through LEED signifies aptitude in sustainability in design, operations standards, and construction. There are two options for credentials within the scope of LEED. The LEED Green Associate is the primary credential that focuses on positively impacting the environment through green building practices. The LEED AP with Specialty is the highest credential level that shows expertise within a specific area of green building. Specialties of interest to ELP members include Building Design + Construction and Operations + Maintenance.

This Page Last Updated: February 1, 2024 at 10:42 AM