Certified Sustainable Building Operator (CSBO)

Program Overview

On a day-to-day basis, buildings of various uses and sizes are run and maintained by building operators and managers, who look to ensure that issues are resolved, and tenant satisfaction remains high. Whether in a commercial, institutional, or industrial facility, Building Operators are typically the ones that ensure that a building’s heating, cooling, mechanical and electrical equipment is running effectively. Building Operators are also commonly responsible for preparing a facility for seasonal changes, performing repairs and maintenance checks, ensuring things are up to code, and being vigilant of safety hazards. Although a Building Operator may have a diploma or certification, CIET’s Certified Sustainability Building Operator designation has been created to give both new and established Building Operators and Managers who have limited knowledge of the impact of building mechanical and electrical systems on energy use, operational costs, and on GHG emissions.

This 5-day certification program offers participants a holistic view of sustainable building operations. Through the CSBO program, participants will have the opportunity to improve their technical expertise, job skills, and awareness of core areas including HVAC systems, controls, electrical and mechanical systems, building energy performance, O&M best practices, GHG emission-reduction strategies, the incorporation of smart technologies and more. By completing and passing the end-of-course exam, this training will also give participants the opportunity to earn an impactful designation that certifies their understanding of a sustainable approach to Building Operations.

Building Operations teams that have been exposed to CIET training have reported significant operational savings, improved tenant satisfaction, reductions in GHG emissions, and better transfer of skills and knowledge from more senior building operators to other colleagues. Moreover, the CSBO program is a great way to ensure that important technical and sustainable O&M concepts are embedded and re-enforced within the building operations team. The program also serves to ensure that energy and GHG retrofit, and management project successes will continue to be supported by staff, as opposed to fade over time.

Key learning objectives:

• Optimize electrical and mechanical systems, and their controls
• Understand building energy loads and end-use consumption
• Apply basic benchmarking concepts for building energy analysis
• Identify opportunities for improving efficiency by utilizing best practices and tools (BAS, data analytics)
• Assess, prioritize, and apply sustainable O&M strategies
• Understand building GHG emissions and strategies to achieve net zero
• Comprehend smart grids, smart buildings, and AI technologies, and their applications in buildings

Audience:

• New and existing Building/Facility Operators
• Building Supervisors & Managers
• Building maintenance staff
• Technologists, specialists, and tradespeople (lighting, HVAC, others)
• Building engineers
• Service providers to the commercial building industry
• Third-party building management vendors