FEMP offers updated training on guiding principles for high-performance and sustainable buildings

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) presents an updated series of training courses focused on the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High-Performance and Sustainable Buildings. Since 2006, federal agencies have worked to implement the five guiding principles and meet key compliance deadlines for December 15, 2015. This five-course online training provides a comprehensive overview of the individual guiding principles and offers up-to-date best practices for measuring and reporting onsite-level progress.

The series will include the following courses:

• Guiding Principle I: Employ Integrated Assessment, Operation, and Management Principles
• Guiding Principle II: Optimize Energy Performance
• Guiding Principle III: Protect and Conserve Water
• Guiding Principle IV: Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality
• Guiding Principle V: Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

By completing the five course series, series participants will be able to:

· Prepare for sustainable operations and maintenance practices in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, materials and waste management, and environmentally preferable building materials.

· Plan to baseline and benchmark facilities and establish implementation plans and metrics to comply with the guiding principles and recognize ways to document decision points and opportunities to implement sustainable strategies.

· Establish solid environmental management systems, measurement and verification systems including commissioning, integrated team strategies, occupant outreach, education, and satisfaction surveys.

· Document meeting the guiding principle requirements through conformance with the recommended evidence of compliance.

The instructor for this series is Sarah Jensen, FEMP's technical lead for sustainable buildings. Jensen assists agencies with identifying and implementing sustainable building strategies and co-chairs the Interagency Sustainability Working Group with the General Services Administration. She most recently served as deputy director and environmental counsel for the Green the Capitol Office for the U.S. House of Representatives.

After completing a course evaluation and multiple-choice assessment, participants will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible for continuing education units.

FEMP's eTraining courses are designed for federal energy and facility managers but are open to all individuals though the FEMP Training Search. They are hosted in partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences' Whole Building Design Guide.

Access the eTraining courses at https://www4.eere.energy.gov/femp/training/?keyword=&series[0]=92. Requires Google Chrome, Firefox 4.0+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, or Safari and the Adobe Flash 9+ plugin.