The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

This two hour course specifically reviews the preparation of a Statement of Energy Performance, which is a stand-alone document designed to communicate not only a building's energy performance, but also its physical characteristics, operating characteristics, and conformance to current indoor environmental standards. Once validated by a professional engineer (PE), the Statement of Energy Performance becomes an official document that can be used to apply for the ENERGY STAR label.

The role of the PE is essential to the credibility of the outcome. Professional Engineers provide unbiased engineering services and are legally bound to uphold standards of ethics. Because of this high level of professionalism, experience, and expertise, a PE is required to validate each Statement of Energy Performance for it to be considered "official", whether it is used to apply for the ENERGY STAR label or for any other purpose. Services performed by Professional Engineers in connection with the ENERGY STAR or Portfolio Manager shall in no way be construed to diminish or otherwise modify the responsibilities or liability of the original designer or operator of the building.

Since January 1999, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided the public the means to quickly and easily assess – or benchmark – the energy performance of commercial buildings relative to similar buildings in the United States. Accounting for the most significant drivers of energy intensity, such as weather and building characteristics, buildings whose performance are among the nation's top 25 percent equal to an energy performance score of 75 or greater on a 1 to 100 scale can qualify as an ENERGY STAR building.

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).