Source: Laney College

Laney College, a multi-ethnic urban community college in downtown Oakland, California, has been developing and expanding a series of sustainable building performance programs over the last five years. We are excited to have recently joined the Green Collar Association and look forward to networking with partner colleges. Here we provide a brief overview of our programs:

The Environmental Control Technology (ECT) program offers degrees and certificates in residential, light commercial, and commercial HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) systems and a new certificate and degree in Building Automation Systems (pending approval). Supported by a National Science Foundation Grant, the program has expanded and deepened its curriculum to focus on best energy management practices in system design, installation, repair, operations, and maintenance. The program has recently joined the U.S. DOE and EPA Labs 21 Initiative as a Center of Excellence in High Performance Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Education and Training. Please visit http://elaney.org/wp/environmental_control_tech/ for more information on the ECT program.

In March 2009, the ECT program sponsored the first California Community Colleges Energy Efficiency and HVAC Symposium with 30 regional community colleges participating. Conference resources are available through the ECT website. In June 2010, we will host a two-day intensive workshop and peer exchange for HVAC and Building Automation programs nationwide. If you are interested in learning more and attending, please contact Barbara Widhalm at bwidhalm@peralta.edu.

In response to the growing demand for energy efficiency technicians in the residential/light commercial sector, we have launched two new grant-funded interdisciplinary programs in the past year, both designed with extensive industry input.

The Building Performance and Energy Efficiency Program (BPEEP) is an interdisciplinary accelerated one-year course of study designed to qualify graduates for immediate employment in weatherization, energy auditing, diagnostic assessments, and energy efficiency retrofitting. With applied coursework in Environmental Control Technology, Carpentry, Architecture, Electrical, and Engineering, graduates are able to choose from a wide range of career and continuing education options.

The Oakland Green Jobs Corps (OGJC) is a six-month intensive all-day program in energy auditing, energy efficiency retrofitting, water conservation, and solar hot water and PV installation. The courses build construction, carpentry, electrical and plumbing skills. Students learn about green building materials and techniques, emerging technologies, and strategies for evaluating existing buildings for green retrofitting opportunities. Field learning opportunities, including solar, greywater and rainwater installations, are available on weekends. 

For more information on both programs, please visit http://elaney.org/wp/green/.

Our curriculum is built around hands-on, problem-based learning opportunities, supported by our extensive lab facilities, including a full-size hyronic HVAC lab and multi-vendor building automation system. We have been fortunate to have had strong industry support throughout the lab and curriculum development process. Please come and visit!