What is the difference between a consulting engineer and an energy consultant? And when should a building owner bring an energy consultant on board?

By definition, a consulting engineer provides professional engineering services and advice to clients. An energy consultant provides energy solutions pertinent to energy management and energy efficiency. These energy solutions are based on engineering principles.

An energy consultant should be brought on board to audit the energy-consuming systems in a building and to provide solutions to improve a building’s energy performance.

Subhi Alsayed is an associate project manager at Morrison Hershfield Ltd. He can be reached at salsayed@morrisonhershfield.com.