UNDP Jobs - 35245- International Consultant on Building Codes and Rat

International Consultant on Building Codes and Rating Systems

Location :

Home-based with one mission to Ashkhabad, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2013

Application Deadline :

12-Feb-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 working days in the period from April 2013 to December 2013

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The objective of the UNDP/GEF project on improving energy efficiency in residential buildings in Turkmenistan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy management and reducing energy consumption in the residential sector in Turkmenistan.

The project has been designed to:

strengthen building codes and associated normative documents on energy efficiency in buildings,
develop capacity at Turkmengas State Corporation and other state entities to identify end-use energy savings in their housing stock and implement investments to reduce end-use energy consumption,
introduce improved highly-efficient design measures to major housing designers and developers, and
replicate these measures through protocols for energy-saving measures in prototype buildings and through mainstreaming EE issues into state construction and housing policies and programs.

The project seeks to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gases in residential sector in Turkmenistan and is structured into four project components:

Energy efficient building codes and supporting capacity strengthening
Demand-side management : partnership with Turkmengas State Corporation
Improved design measures for major residential building designers and developers
Replication through partnership with other developers and support for policies that encourage energy efficiency

At present, neither new construction nor refurbishment projects consider the energy performance of the buildings involved. The buildings being constructed and refurbished now without any attention to energy efficiency are effectively “locking in” patterns of energy consumption – and associated greenhouse gas emissions -- for the next several decades at needlessly high levels. Even before the construction boom, emissions in the residential sector totaled more than 3 million tonnes of CO2, or nearly 10% of total CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Now, these emissions play an increasing role in the overall share of greenhouse gas emissions in Turkmenistan, and the residential sector is the third largest source of emissions in the country. Without intervention, these emissions will continue to grow unchecked.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Outputs Expected:

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist on Environment and direct supervision of the Low-emission Development Component Manager, in close cooperation with International and Project Team Advisors and Consultants, the Building Codes and Rating Systems Consultant will be tasked with the following duties and responsibilities:

Energy-efficient building codes and supporting capacity strengthening:

Review and provide recommendations on drafts of new and revised building codes developed by the Project Team: Thermal Performance of Buildings, Residential Buildings, Roofs and Roofing, and Building Climatology, including checking of whole-building energy-efficiency performance requirements and associated calculation methodology. Analyze the proposed building codes and provide comparison with world best practices, with existing requirements in Turkmenistan, and with the goal of increasing energy efficiency in residential buildings by 15-25 percent.
Provide information to the project team on existing energy passport systems (documentation and rating systems for energy performance of buildings) throughout the world.
Based on information and preliminary analysis conducted by the Project Team, assess national conditions and provide recommendations on a proposed new energy passport system in Turkmenistan.
Oversee the Project Team’s development of a technical methodology for calculating and rating energy performance in residential buildings of Turkmenistan, taking account of world best practices and national conditions.
Present recommendations on the need and applicability of a labeling system on energy performance for newly designed, renovated, and/or existing buildings in Turkmenistan, based on assessment of national conditions.
Assist the Project Team in preparing and reviewing a report summarizing the review of world practice and providing recommendations with regard to the energy passport system and associated efforts in rating and labeling of buildings.Contribute to the development of the plan for 2014 activity with regard to documentation, rating, and labeling of buildings in terms of energy performance.
Contribute to the development of an official design manual (code of practice) for architects and construction engineers on meeting new energy-efficiency requirements of building codes as well as guidance on how to exceed required energy performance levels (with a target of further 15-25% greater efficiency than code requirements).
Contribute to the development of training modules and materials for architects, designers and construction engineers.
Conduct introductory training sessions on energy-efficient building codes and energy passport systems.
Contribute to the development of a brief report on the importance and expected benefits of new and revised building energy codes and energy passports for high-level government officials.

This work will be carried out via regular remote correspondence with the Project Team, plus one visit to Ashkhabad, covering one full work week.

Outputs:

Recommendations presented for the drafts of new and revised building codes: Thermal Performance of Buildings, Residential Buildings, Roofs and Roofing, and Building Climatology.
Summary information presented on existing energy passport systems throughout the world.
Technical methodology elaborated for calculating and rating energy performance in residential buildings of Turkmenistan.
Recommendations presented on applicability of a labeling system to newly designed, renovated and/or existing buildings in Turkmenistan.
Recommendations presented on the plan for 2014 with regard to documentation, rating, and labeling of buildings in terms of energy performance.
Recommendations presented on an official design manual (code of practice) on meeting and exceeding new energy-efficiency requirements of building codes.
Training modules and materials on energy-efficient building codes and energy passport systems provided.
Training sessions on energy-efficient building codes and energy passport systems for national experts conducted.
Written report summarizing Consultant’s participation in the mission to Ashkhabad undertaken during this assignment outlining:
Mission objectives, goals and outputs
Brief assessment of results achieved during the mission to Ashkhabad
Outline of next steps for the completion of assignment

Deliverables and timeframe:

The following deliverables and indicative schedule are expected from the consultancy contract. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy assignment. All deliverables should be submitted to UNDP by the Consultant in Russian or English.

Phase 1 deliverables:

Recommendations for the draft of new and revised building codes: Thermal Performance of Buildings, Residential Buildings, Roofs and Roofing (Timeframe: July 2013)
Summary information on existing energy passport systems throughout the world (Timeframe: July 2013)
Training modules and materials on energy-efficient building codes and energy passport systems (Timeframe: August 2013)
Training sessions on energy-efficient building codes and energy passport systems for national experts (Timeframe: August-September 2013)
Written report summarizing Consultant’s participation in the mission to Ashkhabad undertaken during this assignment (Timeframe: September 2013)

Phase 2 deliverables:

Technical methodology for calculating and rating energy performance in residential buildings of Turkmenistan (Timeframe: September-October 2013)
Recommendations on applicability of a labeling system to newly designed, renovated and/or existing buildings in Turkmenistan (Timeframe: September-October 2013)

Phase 3 deliverables:

Recommendations on the plan for 2014 with regard to documentation, rating, and labeling of buildings in terms of energy performance (Timeframe: November 2013)
Recommendations for the draft of new and revised building code: Building Climatology (Timeframe: November-December 2013)
Recommendations on an official design manual (code of practice) on meeting and exceeding new energy-efficient requirements of building codes (Timeframe: November-December 2013)

Competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Strong analytical and research skills
Ability to meet the deadlines
Excellent organizational, analytic, communicative, time-management, and teamwork skills
Good writing skills and computer literacy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Academic qualifications in building science and/or thermal engineering. The candidate shall also have knowledge of economics and/or policy regarding energy efficiency in buildings.

Experience:

At least 10 years of practical experience in development, assessment, and application of building codes and rating systems for energy efficiency.
Wide familiarity with current best practices in energy-efficient building design, with regard to both heating and cooling as well as other relevant issues
Proven experience in preparing and conducting training relevant to building codes and building rating systems
Working experience in developing countries and CIS countries is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English, including excellent analytical and presentation skills. Skill in written and spoken Russian is strongly preferred.

Submission of applications:

Methodology:
All applicants shall submit a detailed methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment.

Financial proposal for implementation of the assignment:
All applicants shall submit a detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum, which should include: a consultancy fee, administrative expenses (if applicable), travel expenses (if applicable), and/or any other expenses the applicants deem necessary to incur during assignment.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.

Payment Conditions:

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy and travel costs required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy.
Payment will be released in three installments: 40% (Phase 1 deliverables), 30% (Phase 2 deliverables), and 30% (Phase 3 deliverables) upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by the Programme Specialist on Environment.