CASE STUDY
ENERGY MANAGEMENT TRAINING SESSIONS
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE, PHOENIX, AZ
As part of Lincus’ energy-efficiency based design assistance services, we offer educational presentations and a variety of workshops and seminars. We often provide these services for utility customers and mechanical contractors to offer the latest information on energy-efficient design and operating cost savings, as well as utility DSM program incentives. Through on-site activities, we are able to witness first-hand how the new technologies are working, and can bring this information back into the classroom.
Lincus approach to the Workforce Education & Training (WE&T) combines traditional workforce education and training efforts with innovative web-based software platforms, designed to ultimately lead to verifiable cost and energy savings. This approach by creating a new work force that is trained on how energy efficiency, water conservation and demand response audits are performed and create a mechanism for the installation of recommended measures through existing utility company programs. This new workforce would consist of:
- Design-build Architects and Engineers
- Electrical and Mechanical Contractors
- Trade Schools
- Building Operational and Maintenance Managers
- Residential Homes and Behavioral-based Competition
During the economic downturn and due to lack of new construction, architects, engineers, and electrical and mechanical contractors are having difficulty finding new business opportunities. In certain market segments, building owners are finding it more and more difficult to identify deep energy savings because of the lack of interest by energy service companies on identifying more difficult and time-consuming projects. That, along with lack of capital, are the main road blocks preventing them from developing their own substantial savings opportunities.
Strategic plans in various states envision that their workforce will be trained and engaged to provide the human capital necessary to achieve the state’s economic energy efficiency and demand side management potential. To achieve this plan, a typical WE&T program effort developed by Lincus includes:
- Initiation and ensuring of long-term WE&T development and strategic planning, including identification of funding streams and market sector specific needs.
- Supporting community college and adult education efforts to develop a training program based on visible career paths in energy efficiency and related fields.
- Incorporation of energy efficiency and integrated demand side energy management practices into traditional contractor and technician training.
- Providing support for the creation or expansion of energy management and efficiency focused curriculum within college and university programs, fostering this knowledge in clear view of students and faculty.
- Development of school curriculum that includes a basic understanding of energy fundamentals, including environmental, water resources and greenhouse gas impacts as well as solutions to mitigate energy use impact such as energy efficiency, demand side energy management, water conservation and behavioral changes.
To achieve WE&T goals, Lincus recommends: a) sector strategies that ensure collaboration between the utilities, trade associations, contractors, and end use customers; b) assist customers and utilities in developing incentive programs with contractor participation; and)
innovative auditing approaches tailored to specific market sectors.
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