New certification HEATS up BOCES Construction Technology program
Pilot program opens career doors in “green buildings”
technologies
 The
HFM BOCES’ Career and Technical Center Construction
Technology Program is one of eleven high school programs
of its kind in New York State that is piloting a new
“green building” secondary education certification
program for Home Energy Analyst Technicians (HEAT).
HFM BOCES construction classes met with representatives
from the New York State Education Department and the New
York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Center for Energy Efficiency and Building Science to
discuss the certification program on Friday, Nov. 6.
The curriculum developed by NYSERDA will allow HFM BOCES
students that successfully complete the course and
written exam to receive a HEAT Certificate from Hudson
Valley Community College.
Students can choose to continue in an internship with a
Building Performance Institute (BPI) accredited company,
and may apply for a number of HEAT program-generated
scholarships that may cover all the costs of the written
and field tests necessary to earn BPI Building Analyst I
Certification.
According to Construction Technology instructor Mark
Tanner, who acted as a consultant for the statewide
initiative, the HEAT secondary certification curriculum
combines elements of building science applications, home
energy performance evaluation, measurement of
cost-effectiveness of new, energy savings applications,
and trouble-shooting home energy, health, and safety
problems using a “whole-house approach.”
“This is a great opportunity for our area high school
students who are interested in pursuing careers in
“green building” technologies,” Tanner said. “It is my
understanding that this is the first BPI high
school-level, building analyst-modeled curriculum in the
country. Approximately 160 students in New York State
will participate in the pilot program.”
Tom Kalinski, from Fulmont Community Action Agency
Weatherization Program, also participated in the
presentation at HFM BOCES. Kalinski’s program is
supporting the new initiative and partnering with BOCES
to provide internship opportunities for students.
For more information, contact Construction Technology
instructor Mark Tanner at (518) 736-4330.
|
