Continuing Professional Development

Just because you don't want to pay for CPD doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. (You knew that anyway.)

Read books. Do the low-cost online training. Attend conferences. Meet with other local energy assessors and discuss RDSAP 9.82. Record it all.

Just make sure you include why you are doing it, how long it took, and what the success criteria are.

It is hugely frustrating for energy assessors when large areas of our industry are not as professional as we would like. It is your task to drive this from the inside.

Diversify - grow your energy rating business

Yes, it's expensive. Yes, you've not had a return on your previous training expenses.

But are you 'just' a DEA etc, or do you offer a complete energy rating consultancy? The market isn't as sown up as you might think. Just read Building magazine to see the dearth of qualified, accredited energy assessors for non-domestic properties. (Aside: you should read Building anyway. Why isn't there a good printed publication for energy assessors? Could you help run it, and be a thought leader in the market?)

At the very least, go to a briefing session. Understand what SBEM is and why iSBEM is so poor and clunky. Find out what the validity periods of a display energy certificate and advisory report are, and who would want them. Think about becoming an OCDEA for new build properties and see where the RDSAP methodology originated. It might help you think about future RDSAP changes. If you're interested in that sort of thing. And you should be.

Understand the wider industry that you are already an important part of.

PS: Here's a free strapline to your new, multi-sector energy rating business: We rate energy. Sorry if you think that's crap.)