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Every decade has its buzzword. in the 1990s it was ‘partnering’, as construction companies attempted to do what they were told by Latham and Egan and be nicer to each other. This decade, ‘sustainability’ beats all other contenders hands down.

As rival construction firms and developers struggle to outdo each other with their green credentials, clients are also demanding more environmentally friendly buildings.

It’s not just the industry either: the government has started to demand that buildings meet ever tougher Part L standards and has set housebuilders the goal of making their developments zero carbon by 2016. Such requirements, along with the growing concern over global warming and the rising cost of fuel and materials, suggest that sustainability is more than a passing trend – and as such it is actually opening a whole new career path for construction professionals, with younger entrants to the industry just as likely to be sustainability consultants as quantity surveyors.

The good news is that jumping on the sustainability bandwagon doesn’t have to mean starting all over again. The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is designed to push sustainability by requiring that all buildings have an energy performance certificate (EPC) – which has to be produced by an accredited energy assessor. For construction professionals, qualifying to produce such certificates may be an obvious extension to existing skills, providing a welcome career boost, while for employers it can prove a valuable addition an organisation’s portfolio of services.

One note of warning though: when it comes to energy assessors, one size doesn’t fit all. So before rushing off to sign up to a training course, it would be wise to consider which one suits you best…

On construction domestic energy assessors

Why are they needed?

To provide EPCs for new-build houses.

How do you become one?

The programme is similar to that for existing houses. The key difference is in the content, as there is a need to be able to extract information from plans and specifications and use SAP (rather than RdSAP as for existing houses) software.

What experience do you need?

No experience is needed, but Andrew Jackson, training and accreditation manager at Elmhurst Energy Systems, says the company takes people through the approved prior experimental learning route (see domestic, above right) and insists that they have at least two years’ experience in construction or energy management.

Should you do it?

If you work in the housebuilding sector it could be a good idea as since 6 April this year all new houses require EPCs. But your employer may be reluctant to invest in the current market.

Domestic energy assessors

Why are they needed?

Most people have heard of this type of energy assessor as the energy performance certificates they produce form part of the controversial Home Information Packs, which must be shown to prospective buyers when a house is put on the market.

How do you become one?

The amount of training needed to qualify as a domestic energy assessor tends to vary between two and five days, depending on previous experience. You will have to learn how to use RdSAP software to produce the certificates and on top of this, you must do some distance learning, take an exam and produce five energy performance certificates meeting different criteria.

‘Doing five EPCs from scratch is quite a lot of work,’ says Andrew Jackson, training and accreditation manager at Elmhurst Energy Systems. ‘You are allowed six months between registration and completing the course – the average time is probably around three months.’ You’ll also need to go through a criminal check to ensure there are no doubts as to your suitability to enter other people’s houses.

What experience do you need?

No experience in the construction or energy sectors is necessary, but Jackson says that his firm has found that the profile of people taking the course has changed. ‘Initially it was portrayed as: “This is a new industry, if you’re a taxi driver or hairdresser come in and we’ll train you.” But now we’re getting people who are already in the industry, such as estate agents, solicitors and surveyors.’

Those who already have experience can try the approved prior experiential learning (APEL) route, where industry experience is recognised in place of training, and the only requirement is the submission of five EPCs.

Should you do it?

Possibly not. It is not a job that requires previous construction experience and in the current market houses are not selling.

As Chris Broadbent, director of BRE Training, points out: ‘The market is flooded with domestic assessors who aren’t finding enough business.’

Commercial energy assessors

Why are they needed?

To produce EPCs for both new-build and existing commercial and industrial properties.

How do you become one?

Commercial energy assessment is more complex than domestic and this is reflected in the qualifications available. There are three levels – 3, 4 and 5. Level 3 qualifies you to assess simple existing buildings using simplified building energy model (SBEM) software, while level 4 also requires the use of SBEM, but in this case for new-build and more complex existing buildings with mechanical ventilation.

If you get a level 5 qualification you can also produce EPCs for the most complex new and existing buildings – requiring the use of dynamic simulation model software.

Penny Scutt, senior environmental surveyor at Wilbourn Associates, has almost qualified as a level 4 assessor through BRE.

‘I did a week’s course for the level 3 training, then a two-day top-up course for level 4,’ she explains. ‘I had an exam and I had a pile of books to read for it, so it was pretty intense. Then for the coursework I have to submit three EPCs based on a matrix that is put together to show you can deal with different building types. For level 4 that includes off-plan so that you can assess new-build.’

What experience do you need?

BRE’s Chris Broadbent warns that it is not a simple step up from domestic to commercial – partly because of the need to understand SBEM – and as a result it is generally considered that a background in construction or commercial building is necessary to undertake commercial energy assessment. ‘Quite a lot of building services engineers have been adding this to their portfolio of expertise because it’s very much their patch already, particularly on the new-build side,’ he says.

Should you do it?

If you have the background, yes. Scutt says that Wilbourn has had a lot of clients asking whether they can produce EPCs – and being able to say yes will help enhance such client relationships and bring in a new income stream.

For Scutt personally she sees it as a ‘progression of all the things I’ve done before – bringing them together in a different way’.

Display energy assessors

Why are they needed?

All public buildings of more than 1,000m2 require a display energy certificate (DEC) from 1 October. This is distinct from an EPC as it is not based on the properties of the building itself but rather its operational rating – in other words the amount of energy needed to run the building.

How do you become one?

To qualify as a display energy assessor you’ll probably need to go on a one- or two-day course (depending on your level of experience) and produce a number of sample DECs. Wilbourn’s Scutt says: ‘Undertaking the work for the display energy certificate is simpler than doing the EPC. The software is a lot less complicated and you need less information.’

What experience do you need?

Those training to produce DECs have often already qualified as commercial energy assessors and therefore have experience in commercial building or construction – and they are joined by facilities managers, local authority employees and building services engineers. Jacqueline Balian, managing director of CIBSE Services, says her organisation only approves people through the APEL route, and therefore prior experience is essential. ‘They have to show us they’ve been working in a closely related field for a substantial amount of time. For example, doing things like submissions under Part L or working as energy surveyors or facilities managers.’

Should you do it?

Again, if you have the right background this could be a good move. Balian says that the most important element of the DEC (and indeed, EPC) is the advisory report that accompanies the certificate, providing clients with recommendations as to how to cut energy use. ‘If you get the best possible advice on your building and act on it, that way you can get some genuine value out of the certificate,’ she says.