Through this funding opportunity announcement (FOA), DOE intends to provide grants to support the training of energy auditors by paying the costs associated with energy auditor trainings and certifications, for the purpose of conducting energy audits, or surveys, of commercial and residential buildings. This activity is pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act section 40503(a),1 which established the Energy Auditor Training program. DOE intends that the investments made through this competitive FOA will enhance the broader government-wide approach to support sustainable, clean energy auditing efforts in commercial and residential buildings. It is expected that this will be accomplished through the deepening of partnerships and collaborative initiatives across, and among States, agencies, organizations, and DOE.

Under BIL section 40503, DOE was appropriated $40 million to award grants to eligible States to train individuals to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings.

Eligible applicants seeking a grant through this program, must demonstrate a need for assistance for training energy auditors and submit a proposed training curriculum for energy audit trainees; an identification of the covered certification that those trainees will receive on completion of that training curriculum; the expected per-individual cost of training; a plan for connecting trainees with employment opportunities; and any additional information required by FOA.

The covered certifications:

1. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Building Energy Assessment,
2. Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Energy Auditor,
3. Building Performance Institute (BPI) Home Energy Professional Energy Auditor,
4. Residential Energy Services Network Home Energy Rater,
5. any other third-party certification recognized by the Department, and
6. any third-party certification that the Secretary determines is equivalent to the aforementioned certifications.

To date, DOE has determined that the following certification(s) meet this standard:

• Building Performance Institute's Building Analyst Professional
• Journey Card from a Relevant Registered Apprenticeship Program

DOE intends for the EAT Program to support workforce development efforts that recruit and train residential and commercial energy auditors. As energy regulations and standards continue to evolve, the increase in energy auditors, and professionals with energy auditing skills, will allow for more audits to be completed so more buildings will be retrofitted to meet current and future energy requirements.

DOE anticipates that the future FOA may include the following Topic Areas:

• Topic Area One: Commercial Energy Auditors
• Topic Area Two: Residential Energy Auditors

This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of DOE’s intention to issue a FOA in the near term. All information contained in this Notice is subject to change. DOE may issue a FOA as described herein, may issue a FOA that is significantly different than what is described herein, or may not issue a FOA at all.