With a 32-session, 4-track educational program, certification opportunities, a 50+ booth Expo Hall and plentiful networking opportunities, CxEnergy is the #1 conference for building commissioning, energy management, testing and technology (April 6-9, San Diego, CA).

CxEnergy draws hundreds of the nation’s leading commissioning experts, energy management professionals, MEP engineers, HVAC testing professionals, facility managers and building owners. Presentation topics include case studies in commissioning and energy management in buildings and facilities (particularly featuring the owner perspective); a two-hour roundtable discussion of HyperScale Data Center Commissioning and Construction; a two-hour roundtable discussion of California’s Title 24 Energy Code; advances in building automation and control technologies; a review of the 100+ changes made in ASHRAE’s 90.1 energy standard’s 2019 edition and more!

CxEnergy Technical Presentation attendees earn AIA (LU/HSW or LU), USGBC LEED General Education, CxA and EMP continuing education credits for presentations. Members of CEBN receive 10% discount with promo code CEBN10. For questions, contact ACG Headquarters at info@commissioning.org or call 202-737-7775. Register today at www.CxEnergy.com.

CxEnergy Insights

CEBN is a Supporting Organization of CxEnergy 2020, which is presented by the Energy Management Association (EMA) and its affiliates, the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), and the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC). Learn more from the President’s of each of these three groups in a FAQ below.

Robert Knoedler, PE, EMP, CxA, Hanson Professional Services Inc.: President EMA

What is the Energy Management Association and how does it relate to CxEnergy?
Knoedler: The Energy Management Association is dedicated to advancing the quality of energy management for the benefit of our members’ clients. We believe strongly in working through partnerships to pursue common goals. EMA works with two other nonprofit trade associations, ACG and AABC, to produce CxEnergy  Our respective missions are distinct, but we all operate in the sphere of energy efficiency, building optimization, and best practices for code compliance. We collectively have more than 600 member companies and over 2,000 people in the field carrying our professional certifications. EMA has collaborated with ACG on CxEnergy since 2014.

What can attendees expect at CxEnergy?
Knoedler: This year we expect nearly 700 attendees and 50 sponsors and exhibitors. CxEnergy’s location is prime to attract members of the west coast’s thriving energy efficiency community to attend and participate.  Programming is aimed to serve both a national audience and the local California community. CxEnergy also offers opportunities to obtain continuing education credits for renewal of many technical certifications and professional licenses. CxEnergy is also sponsoring a pair of site tours on Thursday, April 9: a technical tour of San Diego International Airport, and a tour of the University of California – San Diego Utility Plant.

How is EMA contributing to CxEnergy?
Knoedler: EMA is offering the Energy Management Professional (EMP) Seminar and Exam on April 6-7.  This program attained ANSI accreditation and DOE Better Buildings® Workforce Recognition in 2017. In addition to the elevated appeal provided by ANSI and DOE recognition, the EMP program has earned “Qualified Energy Auditor” status in the ASHRAE 211 Standard for Commercial Building Energy Audits. This status enables the EMP program to serve as an accredited credential for work in state and local energy efficiency ordinances as well as utility incentive programs. EMA will also be sponsoring one of the sessions on the CxEnergy Technical Program. I’m teaming with Jim Magee, CxA, EMP of the Facility Commissioning Group, for a presentation entitled: Commissioning for Reliability and Resiliency – Lessons Learned. We will discuss how owners of critical facilities are adding formal resiliency plans to their risk management strategies. EMA is also proud to sponsor the second annual CxEnergy Open Golf Tournament at the Steele Canyon Golf club on Tuesday, April 7. Visit the CxEnergy website for registration and sponsorship details.

Steven “Rusty” Ross, P.E., CxA, EMP, SSRCx: President, AABC Commissioning Group

What is the AABC Commissioning Group?
Ross: The AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) is a nonprofit association dedicated to the advancement of independent third-party commissioning professionals. We accomplish this by educating, training, and certifying qualified individuals as Certified Commissioning Authorities (CxAs), and Certified Commissioning Technicians (CxTs). Our membership includes the largest body of verified independent, third-party commissioning personnel in the world. CxEnergy, started out as our annual meeting. The rebrand to “CxEnergy” took place in 2014. We couldn’t be happier with the results. The great synergy among our three groups’ members is unmistakable and we’re increasingly drawing attendees from the ownership side.

What commissioning-related and ACG-specific activities will occur at CxEnergy?
Ross: ACG is involved in a pair of events in the vital data center sector. These include a two-hour presentation, HyperScale Data Center Commissioning and Construction, facilitated by ACG Board member Derek de Jesus. It will bring together experts from Google, Facebook and Microsoft on the owner side, as well as Cx providers and contractors, for a lively discussion on commissioning facilities that are now critical to virtually every aspect of our economy and lives. CxEnergy is also offering an April 7 full-day seminar entitled Introduction to Mission Critical Environments, which will cover concepts and special considerations associated with managing mission critical data center projects.

ACG, will also conduct a CxA workshop and exam administration on April 6-7. We are expecting a strong showing as it is rare for us to get that far west, we do have a large ACG membership in California, however, and we’re expecting an excellent turnout from those companies as well those new to ACG.

Benjiman J. “BJ” Link, TBE, United Testing & Balancing: President, Associated Air Balance Council

How does AABC advance energy efficiency?
Link: AABC is an association heavily involved in building diagnostics and provides essential services to not only building owners, but commissioning agents and energy managers. AABC establishes industry standards for Total System Balance of building environments and is the only association that exclusively certifies independent agencies. Members receive certification, technical training, continuing education, marketing, business resources, professional networking, and industry advocacy. We are often associated with the profession of testing, adjusting and balancing or, simply, TAB. Certification is an essential part of our mission. Our principal certification is the TBE, or Test and Balance Engineer. All AABC member agencies must have at least one certified TBE on staff. The TBE is ultimately responsible for overseeing technical operations of the company.

What is AABC’s contribution to CxEnergy?
Link: CxEnergy is the perfect venue to share our members’ knowledge and expertise throughout the engineering and architecture community, and with property professionals of all commercial and public building types. Our most visible activity is AABC’s preconference event, TAB & Cx Seminar for CxAs, Engineers, & TAB Professionals. It takes place April 7 and features a slate of programming focusing on test and balancing issues ranging from Case Studies: Commissioning and Test and Balance Collaboration; Effects of Temperature Change on Building Static Pressure Measurement; and ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2019 Changes related to Balancing, Commissioning, and Operation. You can register for the AABC Seminar on the CxEnergy website. We also have an information-packed spot on the technical program entitled, Fundamentals of Test & Balance for Engineers, which explains many of the key test and balance issues—from precise specifications, to duct leakage testing, to pump and fan-curve considerations.

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Editor’s note: CEBN is a CxEnergy Supporting Organization and its members receive a 10% discount with promo code CEBN10. For registration and sponsor/exhibiting information, visit www.cxenergy.com