The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has established the Career Resource Center (CRC), which is designed for federal employees who work within building energy and water management areas. The FEMP CRC provides relevant information and resources that foster career development for the federal workforce.
Individuals who better understand their job responsibilities and learn how to advance their careers are also better equipped to adhere to federally mandated requirements and goals.
In addition to being a space for individuals within the federal energy, buildings, and water sectors to work on their professional growth, this resource also addresses broader questions individuals may have. Below is a compiled list of questions and answers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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 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.
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.
Career Development Resources
Continuing Education
Continuing education and ongoing learning are integral components of career development, offering avenues to enhance job performance and maintain relevance within the field. This is especially pertinent in sectors such as federal energy, buildings, and water, where advancements and new research continually shape job requirements.
FEMP provides accredited trainings as a means to keep professionals in federal energy, buildings, and water informed and up-to-date with current industry insights. These trainings offer CEUs, necessary for earning and maintaining certifications or professional statuses.
Additionally, professionals in these sectors should be familiar with the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (FBPTA) of 2010. This legislation sets forth the responsibilities and expectations of the trainers and trainees involved in high-performance federal buildings, specifically in energy and water management. Notably, the FBPTA mandates annual updates and reassessment of core competencies, ensuring ongoing relevance.
Training developers can seek FBPTA alignment, guaranteeing that course content aligns with current curricula. The FBPTA training website has resources organized by curricula. FEMP collaborates with GSA to develop FBPTA-aligned trainings, with resources available on the Facilities Management Institute (FMI) resource page. For more information on the FBPTA of 2010, please visit the WBDG website.
Energy Exchange
FEMP's flagship training event brings together subject matter experts from a wide range of technical disciplines and provides opportunities for agencies to ensure their workforce understands leadership direction, priorities, goals, and strategies. Learn more about Energy Exchange.
Networking
Networking plays a crucial role in career advancement and knowledge expansion. FEMP recognizes this significance and provides unique networking opportunities aimed at fostering professional growth. Learn more about FEMP's Early Career Professionals Program.
Testimonials from the Early Career Professional Program
"This Early Career Professional Program (ECPP) was an excellent introduction into the larger environmental and sustainability focused governmental world. It was eye opening to see what different agencies focused on, and seeing the larger picture trickle down into our own specific agency. Networking was an added bonus, as well as learning some useful tools and practices to better serve my own workplace. I would highly recommend to others."
— ECPP Cohort 1, General Services Administration
"This is a great program for solidifying foundational knowledge in energy and water management, as well as some of the soft skills that support the work in these areas. Getting to hear and connect with people across federal government and beyond has also helped in my understanding of the challenges and efforts that we're all facing simultaneously."
— ECPP Cohort 1
"Through the ECPP, it was a great experience to meet the people behind some of the federal policies, programs, or initiatives I work toward or know about from my current position. Getting to hear their backgrounds and experiences, in addition to learning more about why these leaders feel this work is important and relevant from their perspectives was valuable and affirms why I also choose to work within this field."
— ECPP Cohort 1, Department of State
FEMP's Interagency Collaboration and Working Groups provide more networking resources.