Public Feedback on Certification Requirements for Software, Modelers, and Model Reviewers
Presented by the IBPSA-USA Certification Committee
IBPSA-USA commissioned a report on the feasibility of forming a national certifying body to establish and oversee the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) framework for code and beyond-code programs that use building energy modeling to help improve consistency, market acceptance and penetration of compliance modeling. That report developed a BEM Certification Body Initiative Roadmap that proposed strategies for establishing certifications for BEM tools, modelers and reviewers. Working groups were convened for each of the three certification areas to flesh out the recommendations of the report and develop seed documents that a body could utilize in the formation of a certification program.
The IBPSA-USA Certification Committee has now begun the task of implementing the seed documents into a certification program. This session will introduce the certification program including the purpose of such a program, why IBPSA-USA is a proper body to maintain such a program, and provide a high-level description of the three different certifications and how they work together. Then feedback from the audience will be solicited to provide the public’s opinion on topics including:
Are such certification programs needed?
Is IBPSA-USA the appropriate body to develop such programs?
What areas are missing from the certification plans?
Are the certification plans too onerous?
Dimitri Contoyannis, PE, LEED AP, CEM
Dimitri is the president of Model Efficiency, a consulting company specializing in energy modeling, BEM education, and using BEM analysis for research and development of energy codes. He has served on the IBPSA-USA board of directors for 6 years, is a member of the IBPSA-USA Education Committee, and is the chair of IBPSA-USA’s Certification Committee. He is the lead developer of BEMcyclopedia.
Maria Karpman, CEM, BEMP, LEED AP
Maria has over 20 years of experience in building science, energy modeling, and energy code. She is a voting member of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1, 140 and 229P committees. Maria led development of the Simulation Guidelines for the EPA Energy Star™ Multifamily High-Rise Program and multiple large-scale modeling-based incentive programs, and defined modeling requirements for the performance-based paths of compliance with the New York and Massachusetts stretch codes. She served as the lead investigator on research studies in support of energy code development, comparing mainstream building energy rating and labeling protocols, and assessing gaps in BEM software testing in respect to compliance modeling. Maria developed curriculum for and has conducted numerous training courses on the energy code and energy modeling for new and existing buildings. She holds advanced degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science and is the principal of Karpman Consulting.
Tim McDowell
Timothy P McDowell is vice president at Salas O'Brien where he leads the TRNSYS development team and is a member of the energy modeling group. He is a member of the IBPSA-USA Board of Directors and currently serves as the Treasurer. He also participates on the IBPSA-USA Certification, Building Data Exchange, Conferences, and Finance and Development committees.
Allen Mei, PE, CEM, BEMP, LEED AP, BD+C
Allen is the Simulation Team Technical Leader at Cyclone Energy Group, a multidisciplinary energy engineering consulting firm based in Chicago. In this role, he oversees Cyclone's initiatives in building simulations and analytics, including energy modeling, energy code consulting, daylight analysis, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Under his leadership, the team has successfully handled hundreds of energy code submissions to Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) across the nation. Allen holds a Bachelor of Engineering in HVAC and a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering. He is a Licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer in the State of California and is certified as a Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) by ASHRAE, a Certified Energy Manager (C.E.M.) by AEE, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a Certified Commercial Energy Plans Examiner by ICC. He is an active member of ASHRAE, IBPSA, AEE, and USGBC. Currently, Allen serves on the Board of Directors at the International Building Performance Simulation Association–USA.
