THE NEXT GENERATION
Over the course of the last year or so, I’ve had the great opportunity to work with a group of local contractors and a gentleman by the name of Orion Walker on a project for Mendocino College. Orion was retained as a consultant to Mendocino College to help research and develop new courses and certificates to prepare students for emerging career opportunities related to energy conservation, renewable energy and sustainability principals. The results of this work are seven new courses that will be offered this fall semester, which lead toward three new Certificates of Achievement. These Certificates are so new that the college is still waiting for approval from the State Chancellor’s Office, but that will come long before the end of the three semesters it takes to earn one. These courses and certificates form the basis of a new Sustainable Technology program now coming together at Mendocino College.
Since we have a populace in our County that is more forward thinking than most on the topic of green building, recycling and renewable energy, we feel the available education should reflect those ideals and our County should be a leader in teaching these practices.
NEW CLASSES AT MENDOCINO COLLEGE
These first basic classes are: (1) Safety Standards for Construction, (2) Understanding Blueprints, Diagrams and Schematics, (3) Fundamentals of Construction and Green Building, (4) Building Science and Home Performance, (5) Sustainability Overview, (6) Introduction to Clean Tech, and (7) Work Experience in Sustainable Tech.
The title of the classes pretty much explains the curriculum and what they’re all about. The Safety Standards class teaches basic jobsite safety and rewards its students with a Cal OSHA-10 certification card upon completion. The Blueprints, Diagrams and Schematics is self explanatory, you learn to read blueprints and all the accompanying documents that tell a builder how a structure is to be put together, and where, as well as wiring diagrams and other types of schematics. The Fundamentals of Green Building is as it sounds, how to build a structure with an eye towards conservation and sustainability, and gives a person the basic skills needed to distinguish themselves as someone who understands the concepts of building efficiency to a potential employer. The Building Science and Home Performance class is the one for the hardcore serious green student. It explains the basics of how the various systems in a home can be made to work together with energy conservation and efficiency being the goal. Class members will get hands-on experience with the various pieces of testing equipment used to assess and monitor the relative performance of a structure as it pertains to energy usage. An introduction to HERS (Home Energy Rating System) is also a part of this course. The Sustainability Overview is a general introduction to green and sustainability concepts. The Intro to Clean Tech is a look at emerging green/clean technologies, from electric vehicles, to solar, to LED lighting.
ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES
The three Certificates of Achievement that can be attained through taking and passing these classes all fall under the banner of “Sustainable Technology” and are: (1) Construction Certificate of Achievement, (2) Renewable Energy Certificate of Achievement, and (3) Residential Performance and Efficiency Certificate of Achievement.
All of these Certificates prepare a person for an entry level position at one of the businesses that make energy conservation or renewable energy a major part of their business plan. We have major players in the solar industry in Hopland and Willits as well as a number of Ukiah based companies that install solar systems or other conservation minded products as a part of their business.
As construction foremen and job superintendents always seem to be complaining about the lack of trained help in their area of expertise, and the field of green building in particular, these classes and Certificates will go a long way towards prepping workers to enter a field that should grow quickly over the next decade and beyond. Energy conservation, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable technologies are going to become a much bigger part of everyday life as we attempt to use less of a product that the world is running out of.
THE LAB
The College has a whole complete house right on campus that will be used as a lab and learning center. It’s a 50 year old house built at a time when there was no concern about energy usage, which makes it an ideal house to learn energy conservation concepts in and a great way to get real-world hands-on experience.
So now all they need are some students. Enrollment is now open, space is limited, and classes will start August 22nd. You can find out more at www.mendocino.edu/sustainabletech or by giving Orion a call at 707.468.3224 or emailing him at owalker@mendocino.edu
If all goes well, it is my understanding that more in-depth and specialty targeted classes will be added in the coming semesters. It would be exceptional if Mendocino College could become known as “the” place to come for energy conservation studies. So even if your goal is not employment in the green building industry, these classes can be a fantastic educational opportunity, just to learn for the sake of knowledge in an upcoming and fascinating field. For everyone and anyone.
Over the course of the last year or so, I’ve had the great opportunity to work with a group of local contractors and a gentleman by the name of Orion Walker on a project for Mendocino College. Orion was retained as a consultant to Mendocino College to help research and develop new courses and certificates to prepare students for emerging career opportunities related to energy conservation, renewable energy and sustainability principals. The results of this work are seven new courses that will be offered this fall semester, which lead toward three new Certificates of Achievement. These Certificates are so new that the college is still waiting for approval from the State Chancellor’s Office, but that will come long before the end of the three semesters it takes to earn one. These courses and certificates form the basis of a new Sustainable Technology program now coming together at Mendocino College.
Since we have a populace in our County that is more forward thinking than most on the topic of green building, recycling and renewable energy, we feel the available education should reflect those ideals and our County should be a leader in teaching these practices.
NEW CLASSES AT MENDOCINO COLLEGE
These first basic classes are: (1) Safety Standards for Construction, (2) Understanding Blueprints, Diagrams and Schematics, (3) Fundamentals of Construction and Green Building, (4) Building Science and Home Performance, (5) Sustainability Overview, (6) Introduction to Clean Tech, and (7) Work Experience in Sustainable Tech.
The title of the classes pretty much explains the curriculum and what they’re all about. The Safety Standards class teaches basic jobsite safety and rewards its students with a Cal OSHA-10 certification card upon completion. The Blueprints, Diagrams and Schematics is self explanatory, you learn to read blueprints and all the accompanying documents that tell a builder how a structure is to be put together, and where, as well as wiring diagrams and other types of schematics. The Fundamentals of Green Building is as it sounds, how to build a structure with an eye towards conservation and sustainability, and gives a person the basic skills needed to distinguish themselves as someone who understands the concepts of building efficiency to a potential employer. The Building Science and Home Performance class is the one for the hardcore serious green student. It explains the basics of how the various systems in a home can be made to work together with energy conservation and efficiency being the goal. Class members will get hands-on experience with the various pieces of testing equipment used to assess and monitor the relative performance of a structure as it pertains to energy usage. An introduction to HERS (Home Energy Rating System) is also a part of this course. The Sustainability Overview is a general introduction to green and sustainability concepts. The Intro to Clean Tech is a look at emerging green/clean technologies, from electric vehicles, to solar, to LED lighting.
ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES
The three Certificates of Achievement that can be attained through taking and passing these classes all fall under the banner of “Sustainable Technology” and are: (1) Construction Certificate of Achievement, (2) Renewable Energy Certificate of Achievement, and (3) Residential Performance and Efficiency Certificate of Achievement.
All of these Certificates prepare a person for an entry level position at one of the businesses that make energy conservation or renewable energy a major part of their business plan. We have major players in the solar industry in Hopland and Willits as well as a number of Ukiah based companies that install solar systems or other conservation minded products as a part of their business.
As construction foremen and job superintendents always seem to be complaining about the lack of trained help in their area of expertise, and the field of green building in particular, these classes and Certificates will go a long way towards prepping workers to enter a field that should grow quickly over the next decade and beyond. Energy conservation, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable technologies are going to become a much bigger part of everyday life as we attempt to use less of a product that the world is running out of.
THE LAB
The College has a whole complete house right on campus that will be used as a lab and learning center. It’s a 50 year old house built at a time when there was no concern about energy usage, which makes it an ideal house to learn energy conservation concepts in and a great way to get real-world hands-on experience.
So now all they need are some students. Enrollment is now open, space is limited, and classes will start August 22nd. You can find out more at www.mendocino.edu/sustainabletech or by giving Orion a call at 707.468.3224 or emailing him at owalker@mendocino.edu
If all goes well, it is my understanding that more in-depth and specialty targeted classes will be added in the coming semesters. It would be exceptional if Mendocino College could become known as “the” place to come for energy conservation studies. So even if your goal is not employment in the green building industry, these classes can be a fantastic educational opportunity, just to learn for the sake of knowledge in an upcoming and fascinating field. For everyone and anyone.
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