The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and CleanEdison Inc. has announced a partnership to offer a series of certificate-based classes specializing in energy efficiency training for commercial buildings.
The partnership with training provider CleanEdison provides the only class in New York City offering Building Energy Sustainability certification.
“The training courses fill an important need in New York City for entry level professionals who are seeking to update their skills and successfully compete in the workforce in the areas of facilities maintenance and operations,ˮ said David Greenstein, director of continuing education and public programs at The Cooper Union.
“This is a win not only for the employees, but also for the building owners who will benefit from significant energy savings and cost reductions.”
The four-day course will be given in the Great Hall at Cooper Union beginning Nov. 12, and will be led by Susan Dee, previously of the New York State Energy Office, an industry veteran who has audited over 100 multifamily and over 50 government and institutional buildings.
Commercial energy auditor training prepares facility managers, property owners, building engineers and others in the industry to find the strengths and weaknesses in the energy usage of a commercial building.
On average, building operators who are trained in energy efficiency can save an estimated 72,000 kWh per year in their facilities, equivalent to $12,000 annually at national electricity rates, according to a study by the Building Operator Certification (BOC) company.
This course may be eligible for energy efficiency incentives and rebates in New York State.
At the end of the course at Cooper Union, students who pass the final exam will be nationally-recognized and awarded the Building Energy Sustainability Technician (BEST) Certification by the Association of Energy Engineers.
“Energy efficiency is an incredibly important part of clean energy, though renewable energy tends to get more headlines,” said Avi Yashchin, CEO of CleanEdison, adding that the partnership will also provide courses in Entry Level Solar Thermal and Entry Level Solar Photovoltaic.
