Malaspina students get green training

Energy efficient buildings are becoming more and more important. These ‘green’ buildings are the wave of the future, so it’s no surprise that Malaspina University-College is offering a new program designed to satisfy this growing need in our community.

The Green Building and Renewable Energy Technician program is a two year diploma that addresses energy efficiency and renewable energy applications in buildings. The program is a great option for people working in, or intending to work in the field of green building design, construction and operation. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2008.

“There is an increasing demand for technically trained people that can do the kind of work this program prepares them for,” said Eric Smiley, a professor in the Engineering department at Malaspina. “It fits perfectly with Malaspina’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.”

Applied technical courses will be complemented with design, evaluation and communication courses. One third of the students’ time is in the lab or field. Graduates will be prepared to participate in the emerging green building industry or the renewable energy industry, providing technical communication, design, assessment and evaluation services to engineers, architects, contractors, project managers, and facilities managers.

“This program is divided evenly between developing the theoretical knowledge necessary for analysis and design, the applied skills in installation, operation and maintenance and the communications skills necessary to work in a professional environment,” said Smiley.

With the new BC Green Building code and the increasing costs of fossil fuels and energy, Smiley adds that practices like these will become standard in the next few years.

“The renewable energy industry was consulted a few years ago by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges and a need for specific training in renewable energy was recognized since that industry is experiencing very rapid growth,” he said. “Government, business and the general population recognize that with climate change and decreasing supplies of oil and gas, energy efficiency and renewable energy are two primary ways of ensuring that we will continue to have the energy we need in the future at a reasonable cost.”

This unique program is a partnership between the Science and Technology and Trades and Applied Technology departments at Malaspina. Students in the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration program will be able to ladder into the Green Building program. It’s one of the first times at Malaspina that there has been a laddering agreement between a trades and science program.

“For a number of years, we have wanted to be involved in helping with the growing need for alternate energy systems”, said Fred MacDonald, Dean of Trades and Applied Technology. “Everything has come together at the right time for our two faculties.”

There are excellent employment opportunities for students who graduate from this program. Emphasis in the program is on the skills and knowledge necessary to work with professionals engaged in green building and renewable energy projects.

The Green Building and Renewable Energy Technician program has an application deadline of March 31, 2008, with classes starting in September 2008. This two year diploma program will take place on Malaspina’s Nanaimo and Cowichan campuses.