Career Resource Center for Federal Energy Managers

Federal Energy Management Program

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides key services that help agencies meet their energy- and water-reduction requirement goals. These services include issuing legislative and executive guidance, facilitating technology integration, leveraging funding sources, providing technical assistance, tracking agency accountability, and developing accredited training.  

Council on Environmental Quality

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within the Executive Office of the President coordinates the federal government’s efforts to improve, preserve, and protect America’s public health and environment. Through interagency working groups, CEQ works to advance the president’s agenda on the environment, natural resources, and energy.

General Services Administration

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is a government agency that provides centralized procurement for the federal government, offering products, services, and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public. GSA is developing a robust and resilient capacity to manage climate change risks and secure federal real property and supply chain investments.

Federal agencies are impacted by legislative direction and administration priorities that are constantly evolving. It's critical for members of the federal energy and water management community to understand what the key legislative drivers are and how they impact the mission and work of each agency. A few key drivers and recent executive orders are listed below.

Federal Building Performance Standard(December 2022): This standard mandates federal agencies to reduce energy usage and transition to electrified equipment and appliances to achieve zero scope 1 emissions in 30% of federally owned building space by square footage by 2030.

E.O. 14028 "Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity"(May 2021) builds on previous executive orders on cybersecurity (e.g., E.O. 13636, E.O. 13800, and E.O. 13870) and directs the federal government to modernize and implement stronger cybersecurity standards, including moving to secure cloud services and zero-trust architecture. Additionally, E.O. 14028 seeks to improve software cybersecurity via a "labeling" program and creating a more standardized "playbook" for cyber vulnerability incident responses. Learn more about NIST actions under E.O. 14028, CISA actions, and GSA's summary and guidance for contractors.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2023 has several provisions within Subtitle B – Energy and Environment on environmental security (section 311), energy resilience testbeds (section 322), alternative fuel vehicles (section 317), energy awareness programs (section 319), and sustainable aviation fuel (324). Cybersecurity direction is included in Title XV (sections 1503 through 1560). Read the Senate summary of the bill (page 12 discusses cybersecurity and page 15 has a very high-level summary of energy, environmental, and health security). Note that the NDAA of 2022 also had provisions on climate resilience planning, climate risk assessments, and the cybersecurity posture. Specifically, sections 311, 313, 322, 332, 333, and 335 address climate and resilience while sections 1502, 1509, and 1511 address cybersecurity topics. Read the Senate summary of the bill (page 12 starts the section on Environmental and Health Security, and page 9 starts the cybersecurity sections).

The Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022) provides billions of dollars in grant and loan programs and other investments for clean energy and climate action. The White House has released an Inflation Reduction Act Playbook that outlines many of the major provisions for the bill. Key programs and investments from this bill for the federal energy and water management community include: zero-emission vehicles for the USPS, funding for labeling and purchasing of low-carbon construction materials for buildings and highways (DOT and GSA), authorizing the use of Defense Production Act funding for heat pump manufacturing (DOE), funding to convert GSA buildings into high-performance green buildings, support for emerging technologies (via GSA), and sustainability and readiness investments at DHS.  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law/Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 (November 2021) provides an investment in electric vehicle charging station networks, upgrading power infrastructure to facilitate the expansion of renewable and clean energy, investments for increased cybersecurity and resilience to natural disasters, making R&D investments to develop, demonstrate, and deploy clean energy technologies (including batteries, clean hydrogen, carbon capture, and advanced nuclear), provides funding to FEMP's AFFECT grants to help federal agency infrastructure project development, and other considerations. Read the White House summary.

The Energy Act of 2020 (Dec 2020) has several federal energy and water management-specific provisions. Read the Senate section-by-section summary of the bill (the first two pages are specific to efficiency). 

Energy managers—also known as energy modelers or energy engineers—design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency at all stages of a building's life, including the design/build, remodeling, and operation stages. The federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer, with more than 350,000 energy utilizing buildings and 600,000 vehicles. Federal energy and water managers have their work cut out for them!

"The term 'energy manager,' with respect to a facility, means the individual who is responsible for ensuring compliance with this subsection by facility; and reducing energy use at the facility. The term 'energy manager' may include: a contractor of a facility; a part-time employee of a facility; and an individual who is responsible for multiple facilities. "

— (42 U.S.C. 8253(f)(1)(B))

"'Trained energy manager' means a person who has demonstrated proficiency, or who has completed a course of study in the areas of fundamentals of building energy systems, building energy codes and applicable professional standards, energy accounting and analysis, life-cycle cost methodology, fuel supply and pricing, and instrumentation for energy surveys and audits."

— (42 U.S.C. 8262(3)) 

Like many careers, energy and water managers need a broad swath of skills and knowledge to be successful. For guidance on career paths and skills needed to pursue those paths, the Facilities Engineer Associate career map resource provides valuable direction.

For additional information on required skills, please refer to the Sustainable Facilities Tool training page.

Continuing education units (CEUs) are a vital measure in ongoing education programs, helping professionals maintain their licenses. Continuing education and professional development are required in many fields and to earn and maintain certain certificates or professional statuses. CEUs measure participation in education programs and are recognized by the certification bodies to keep certifications current and maintain professional status.