In Challenging and Uncertain Times, Turn to the ‘Authorities in Building Performance’

ACG

The AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) is a non-profit association created in 2004 and dedicated to the advancement of independent third-party commissioning professionals. It shares the AABC part of its name with the Associated Air Balance Council, which created ACG in recognition of the need for an organization to promote the profession of building commissioning and provide a certification that ensures its independence, quality and expertise.

ACG strives to promote a better understanding of the commissioning process by educating, training and certifying qualified individuals as Certified Commissioning Authorities (CxAs) and Certified Commissioning Technicians (CxTs).

“There is a reason why ACG’s CxA certification comprises the largest body of certified independent commissioning professionals in the world,” notes ACG Immediate Past President Steven “Rusty” Ross, P.E., CxA, EMP, director of Commissioning Services at SSRCx. “The CxA is the premier commissioning credential and it’s recognized by organizations at all levels of government and the private sector. Further, ACG offers training programs and support that make CxA certification sought by top commissioning practitioners.”

ACG’s CxA certification has achieved ANSI accreditation and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines. This ensures that the CxA is considered an approved commissioning credential for all federally funded projects. The combination of ANSI accreditation and Better Buildings recognition means any state or local jurisdiction, code organization, or others seeking to ensure that they are using an industry-accepted, third- party-validated, ISO 17024-compliant commissioning certification can confidently specify ACG’s CxA.

ACG offers training and education opportunities to its membership and the public, primarily through its annual CxEnergy Conference and Expo (which it co-presents with AABC and EMA). The event features a 32-presentation technical program, along with a robust pre-conference agenda that features a variety of commissioning, TAB, and energy-management seminars and workshops. (Check out the virtual training from CxEnergy available on YouTube.)

The ACG Commissioning Guideline for Building Owners, Design Professionals and Commissioning Service Providers is the principle resource for preparation to take the four-hour closed-book CxA exam. It covers candidates’ knowledge of a variety of topics, ranging from planning commissioning activities to conducting a site assessment to publishing measurement and performance results.

“I sought the ACG CxA credential because it comes with the standing, support and continuous training opportunities I need to advance my commissioning career,” says ACG President Troy Byers, P.E., CxA, LEED AP, partner with Commissioning Consultants LLP.“As the Cx profession grows in complexity and application, I’m confident that ACG will keep abreast with the times.”

EMA

The Energy Management Association (EMA), like its founding organization ACG, was created in response to industry trends and the need for a new type of credential and organization to support them.

The EMA Energy Management Program applies energy-management skills and knowledge to the commissioning methodology. The commissioning-based process follows a data-driven approach, provides all-inclusive service, and leverages the knowledge and skills of the Energy Management Professional (EMP) to improve energy efficiency while optimizing performance.

“It’s undeniable that the modern energy manager needs to possess skills that are typically associated with commissioning: a process focus—investigative, problem solving; knowledge of building management systems and control sequences; and functional testing and monitoring to verify integrated systems’ performance,” says EMA President Robert Knoedler, P.E., CxA, EMP, vice president of Hanson Professional Services Inc. “The synergy between commissioning and energy management is tremendous and we are building that into the EMP certification program at every opportunity.”