Sources: ASHRAE, Atlanta; CP staff
The organization behind the most widely adopted building energy efficiency and mechanical systems standards has announced an inaugural cohort of 64 Certified Decarbonization Professionals (CDP). ASHRAE’s newest certification validates candidates’ competency to assess, analyze, and develop effective and sustainable strategies to reduce or eliminate the life-cycle carbon footprint of new or existing buildings.
“Decarbonization is essential to our global sustainability goals, and ASHRAE is committed to empowering professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead the charge,” says 2024-25 President M. Dennis Knight, P.E. “The Certified Decarbonization Professional program is not just a milestone for ASHRAE, but a much-needed tool for the industry as we work toward a net-zero future.”
CDP certification requires education and work experience; adherence to a code of professional conduct; and, passing a rigorous exam spanning tasks across eight domains, including decarbonization drivers, project planning and development, construction and renovation, passive and active efficiency, facility management, plus distributed energy resources. The ASHRAE Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization provided the vision and resources spawning CDP. It supports the group’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the built environment through education, research and the development of innovative tools or resources. — www.ashrae.org/certification