How to become an energy auditor?

Energy efficiency is essential to protect the environment and our health. For this reason, since June 2013 in Spain, any building for sale or rent must have an energy performance certificate. The purpose of this certificate is to report on the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of the property. The European Union has also launched the crossCert project to unify the technical guidelines for the next generation of energy certificates. Requirements such as this, and the overall awareness of our need to be more conscious of the environment means that the profile of energy certifiers will be increasingly in demand.

What is an energy auditor?

An energy auditor is a trained and skilled technician who is qualified to carry out the energy certification of buildings, whether they are homes, offices or commercial premises that are offered for sale or rent. The energy certificate issued by the certifier or audtor is displayed in promotions or advertisements for the property to inform potential buyers or tenants of the energy costs and the environmental impact of the construction.

What does an energy auditor do?

The role of an energy certifier or auditor may vary depending on the company they work for or type of building they are assessing. However, in general terms, these are the sort of tasks they carry out: 

• Analysis of the building: To carry out the energy certification of buildings, it is necessary to collect a series of data on the property. During his visit, the energy certifier will collect administrative information, such as the details of the owner of the property and information about the building. He will also collect technical data such as the year of construction of the building and the building regulations applicable at that time, the type of building, the living area, ventilation, hot water consumption, the thermal envelope, thermal bridges and the characteristics of the heating, cooling and domestic hot water production installations.
• Preparation of the energy certificate: After visiting the property, the energy certifier will draw up the energy certificate using the official programmes designed for this purpose. However, their functions also include proposing measures to improve the energy efficiency of the property, such as changing windows or insulating roofs. It will also have to calculate the costs and economic profitability of the modifications it proposes.
• Registration of the energy certificate: Each autonomous community has a body where energy certificates are registered. By law, the registration of the energy certificate is the obligation of the owner of the property, but in most of the autonomous communities in Spain the energy certifier is in charge of this procedure.

How do I get certified as an energy auditor?

To be an energy auditor, you must hold one of the academic and professional qualifications required for the drafting of projects, management or building works. Failing this, and in exceptional cases, the person must be able to prove that he or she has the necessary professional qualifications to sign energy efficiency certificates.

In any case, you must be a member of a professional association to issue energy certificates. The registration body for energy certificates of the Autonomous Community ensures that these professionals have the appropriate academic qualifications and are registered with their respective professional association. In fact, to carry out and register the energy certificate, the professional association number is required.

The professionals who can carry out the energy certification of buildings are architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and technical engineers. Therefore, if you are interested in becoming an energy certifier, you can take our Master in Construction Management or our Master in Architecture in Madrid.