James L. Newman, CEM, LEED® AP, OPMP, FESD, Owner and Managing Partner of Newman Consulting Group, LLC, with world headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, MI, has been selected to serve as a provisional assessor for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) pilot for the Operational rating of a new building energy labeling program, the Building Energy Quotient (EQ).

The Building EQ program provides the general public, building owners and tenants, potential owners and tenants, and building operations and maintenance staff with information on the potential and actual energy use of buildings — thus closing the gaps between intention and operation.

Provisional Assessors for the program will perform a building energy audit and assessment in order to determine energy use, which is then translated into an easily understood scale to convey a building’s energy use in comparison to similar buildings, occupancy types and climate zone.

“Information on a building's energy use is the critical first step in making the necessary changes and choices to reduce energy use and costs,” Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. “ASHRAE is grateful for the men and women who have volunteered their time and talent to ensure that the Building EQ program is a success.”

More information on Building EQ can be found at www.buildingeq.com; information on Newman Consulting Group can be found at www.newmanconsultinggroup.us.