Explore learning resources for each high-priority competency area under the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act to fill in knowledge gaps and better prepare you for running a highly efficient facility. Note that not all high-priority competency areas are listed.
Facilities operations and maintenance | Facilities management technology | Energy management | Water efficiency | Sustainability | Performance measures | Leadership and project management
Facilities operations and maintenance
Demonstrate the following:
Familiarity with building systems and knowledge of how they affect energy use
Ability to monitor and evaluate how well building systems perform
Ability to manage corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance
Familiarity with and ability to manage, grounds and exteriors, parking structures, site utilities, landscaping and grounds, exterior envelope (roof, brick, masonry, etc.) and custodial operations
Knowledge of the effect that climate and variable environmental conditions can have on the building envelope and systems
Ability to collect building systems’ operating and performance data
Understanding of indoor air quality, and how to test and adjust it
Knowledge and ability with lighting systems
Knowledge and ability to identify water distribution and irrigation leaks
Knowledge of FEMP’s O&M Best Practices
Knowledge of the building retuning process to ensure maximum energy efficiency and comfort for building occupants including, data collection requirements, and continuous retuning practices
Knowledge of and the ability to perform testing and obtain measurements required for predictive maintenance
Knowledge of metering and sub-metering for energy and water and how they contribute to systems optimization
Knowledge of new technology and tools targeting increased efficiency of O&M
Knowledge of basic connections between lighting, air quality, thermal comfort and acoustical performance and human health outcomes; locate and describe references that address thresholds thought to provide indoor environments that optimize human health and performance
Facilities management technology
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge of best practices related to facility management technology
Ability to identify evaluation criteria, evaluate, and recommend facility management technologies solutions
Ability to assess how changes to facility management technologies will impact current infrastructure, processes, and building systems
Ability to plan for and oversee the acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, upgrade, and disposition of components supporting facility management technologies
Ability to monitor performance of facility management technologies and make appropriate recommendations when modifications are needed
Knowledge of a building automation system
Ability to conduct trouble-shooting procedures at the equipment, system and building levels using facility management technologies, where appropriate
Ability to conduct trouble-shooting of critical systems
Knowledge of computer assisted facilities management and computerized maintenance management systems
Ability to operate computerized maintenance management systems
Knowledge of cybersecurity requirements and configuration management of utility and building systems, subsystems, sensors, and other component devices to support continuity of operations
Energy management
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge of distributed generation options and regulatory requirements
Knowledge of renewable energy systems: solar (thermal and photovoltaic), wind, biomass, hydropower
Knowledge of demand response strategies
Knowledge of energy management systems and the ability to participate in energy teams to implement system
Knowledge of how to perform an energy savings assessment
Knowledge of laws, regulations and executive orders that pertain to energy management, status of compliance and existing energy management plans
Knowledge of applicable codes and standards
Knowledge of all types of commissioning, the differences between them, and commissioning requirements in laws and executive orders
Ability to oversee and manage a building commissioning process
Knowledge of alternative financing options for energy projects
Knowledge of utility meters – location, reading and data management
Knowledge of utility billing, rate structures, and special rate programs and incentives
Knowledge and ability to develop an energy master plan
Knowledge and ability to develop a metering program
Knowledge and ability to identify and develop low-cost and no-cost energy efficiency opportunities
Knowledge and ability to provide operational support to energy management control systems
Knowledge and ability to develop/assist in project identification and justification
Knowledge and ability to monitor facility energy projects
Ability to calculate and respond appropriately to established energy metrics such as power utilization efficiency
Water efficiency
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge of water efficiency principles that are applicable in both the public and private arena
Knowledge of federal water policy and goals found in laws and executive orders
Knowledge of the water efficiency goals for the federal government
Knowledge of how the following affect water use and efficiency and ability to make recommendations based on life cycle analysis and best practices to facilities team
Knowledge and ability to conduct both a top-down and bottom-up water audit
Sustainability
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge of sustainability, as defined by high performance buildings in EISA 07
Knowledge of the Guiding Principles for Federal High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, and federal mandates
Knowledge of agency sustainability goals, metrics, and initiatives, such as those found in the department or agency strategic sustainability performance plan
Knowledge of agency resiliency and adaption goals, metrics, and initiatives, such as those found in the department or agency resiliency and adaptation plan
Performance measures
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge of key building performance measures, where and how to read them, and reporting requirements
Knowledge of performance measurement concepts (for example, SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, time-bound)
Knowledge of cascading key performance Indicators that can be used to measure how well mission, management, program and individual goals are being met
Ability to establish baselines from which progress toward attainment of goals can be measured
Ability to establish feedback systems to support continuous improvement of an organization’s processes, practices, and results or outcomes
Leadership and project management
Demonstrate the following:
Knowledge and ability to conduct a needs assessment based on customer requests and develop appropriate project requirements
Knowledge of green building certification systems used by the federal government and industry
Knowledge that the TCO is best determined through life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for facilities
Knowledge of how to find/calculate the basic costs required for an LCCA
Knowledge of additional methods for calculating TCO and other economic analysis
Knowledge and ability to use a LCA to estimate the environmental impacts of a material, product or service through its entire life cycle
Ability to create an effective statement of work for COR or contracting officer to ensure proper procurement of a product or service
Ability to quantify potential for cost savings and cost avoidance
Ability to supervise personnel as required
Ability to translate innovative ideas into actionable tasks
Ability to provide decision makers with better information about the total long-term costs and consequences of a particular course of action
U.S. General Services Administration