This page outlines the various resources the Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) utilizes and recommends to assessment professionals.
Standards
Almost all building assessments adhere to one standard or another, whether they are energy audits performed to an ASHRAE standard, or physical needs assessments performed to meet the habitability requirements of federal agencies such as HUD. Being able to read and understand standards for building assessments will help in delivering meaningful assessments that will reduce energy use, reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor environmental quality, or otherwise achieve the goals of your particular assessment.
Example standards include:
Energy
ASHRAE Standard 211-2018, Standard for Commercial Building Energy Audits, as well as the ASHRAE publication Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits, details the procedures for the various energy audit levels (Level 1 – Walk-Through Survey; Level 2 – Energy Survey and Analysis; Level 3 – Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modifications; Targeted Audits).
Physical Needs Assessments
- HUD’s National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate Inspection (NSPIRE)
- New York State’s Affordable Multifamily Integrated Physical Needs Assessment
Books
Helpful reference books include:
- Energy Audits and Improvements for Commercial Buildings (Wiley, 2016) by Ian M. Shapiro
- Handbook of Energy Audits (Ninth Edition) by Albert Thumann, Terry Niehus, and William J. Younger
- Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits (Second Edition), ASHRAE publication
Software
Energy audit software:
- Right-Energy® by WrightSoft
- TREAT Energy Audit Software by PSD
- Energy Audit by Elite Software
- eQuest
Cost-Estimating
Our Building Training and Assessment Center provides free cost-estimation services upon request; estimates include fees associated with carbon purification and PM monitor installation.
Other resources include:
- RSMeans Cost Estimating Handbooks
- Online distributors such as Grainger, McMaster-Carr, and Amazon
Measurement Tools
Onsite tools used for building assessments include:
Essential Tools
- Laser or tape measure
- Clipboard
- Flashlight
- Camera on smartphone
Energy Audit Tools
- Kw/Kwh meters for power measurement
- Blower door for building air leakage
- Water temperature thermometer
- Duct blaster for duct air leakage
- Infrared thermometer
- Infrared camera
Indoor Air Quality Tools
- Carbon dioxide
- Combustion analyzer
- Humidity gauge
- Thermometer
- PM2.5 sensor for particulates
In addition, we encourage the development of “folk quantification” tools, using your own senses for approximating measurements, such as estimating overall building and room dimensions by counting your steps, recognizing different illuminance levels by eye, estimating temperature by touch, etc.