Professional Building Energy Management Training

Building Energy Sustainability Technician (BEST) Certification by the Association of Energy Engineers

CleanEdison's BEST Preparatory Course

CleanEdison has teamed up with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the preeminent certification body for energy professionals, to introduce the Building Energy Sustainability Technician (BEST) Certification. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for entry-level professionals looking to enter the commercial energy auditing and building energy management fields.

There are over five million commercial buildings in the United States, and they account for roughly 20% of all the energy used by the U.S. economy. There is great potential for experienced and knowledgeable energy professionals to audit, retrofit, and manage these commercial buildings in order to save energy and significantly decrease operational costs. However, until now, there has been a dearth of reputable, nationally-recognized standards for entry-level professionals. The AEE's BEST course and certification program is aimed at filling this void by distinguishing talented and experienced building energy professionals, improving the practice of building efficiency and sustainability, and encouraging continuing education and career development.

This 4-day Commercial Energy course covers essential building energy efficiency concepts such as Financial Considerations for Equipment Purchases, Building Utilities, Energy Audits and Instrumentation, Lighting, Energy Savings, HVAC Systems, Heating & Refrigeration Systems, and Controls and Compressed Air Systems. The material is geared towards those with prior experience in commercial energy auditing or building energy management. CleanEdison is the only training provider to offer training to the BEST Standard on a countrywide, open enrollment basis.

Gaining the BEST Designation

To be awarded the BEST designation, candidates must successfully finish CleanEdison's BEST course, receive a passing grade of over 70% on the BEST Certification Exam, and fulfill the prerequisites (listed in the tab below) as designated by the AEE. The Exam is given on the afternoon of the fourth day of the course, and is based on concepts and experiences basic to building energy efficiency and conducting a commercial energy audit. The exam is open book.

Exams are sent directly to the AEE, and grading is done by the Director of the BEST Program. Examinations are identified by number rather than by the candidate's name to ensure confidentiality and objectivity. The director will keep examination scores on file for a period of three year, and applicants who might not initially be eligible (based on experience or education) can request that their application be resubmitted to the BEST board during that three-year period, if their education or experience level changes.