FOCUS GROUP REPORT

Environmental Control Technology
Industry Education Initiative:


Developing a Next-Generation Community College Curriculum for Energy-Efficient High-Performance Building Operations


Peter Crabtree,* Joe Deringer,** Rick Diamond,*** Chuck Frost,****,# Phil Haves,*** Katie Koelle,* Nick Kyriakopedi,# Evan Mills,*** Mary Ann Piette***


* Peralta Community College District

** The Deringer Group

*** Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

**** Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

# Laney College

October 2003

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Abstract

On September 5, 2003 Peralta Community College District and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory held a half-day focus group meeting to obtain critique and recommendations for their “Environmental Control Technology Industry Education Initiative.” The Initiative focuses on modernizing community college curriculum to equip building technicians with skills required to commission and operate high-performance buildings, with particular emphasis on energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in the context of HVAC&R equipment and control systems. An experienced facilitator (Rick Diamond) guided the process.

The overarching aim of the Focus Group meeting was to advance understanding of industry needs and to obtain an informed critique of a “strawman” curriculum plan and innovative teaching methods. A draft of this report was prepared following the meeting and circulated to the participants as well as interested parties who could not attend. Their comments are incorporated in this final report.

The 47 participants represented a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders, including contractors and consultants, facility owners and managers, equipment manufacturers, energy policymakers, energy providers, researchers, and educators (high school and community college). There appears to be considerable appetite for new approaches to the education of building operators, as evidenced by the turnout and enthusiasm exhibited at the meeting.

The focus group considered three broad issue areas: (1) Industry Needs, Opportunities, and Skills Required; (2) Curriculum Analysis and Development; and (3) Learning Methods. Breakout sessions were held among five working groups representing various trades or segments of the industry. Participants provided written and verbal reports.

The participants widely agreed that many of the problems seen today in achieving and maintaining energy savings can be traced to inadequacies in the operation of facilities, and lack of awareness and knowledge about how existing systems are intended to be used. Successful operation of buildings requires understanding and preserving the “design intent” behind the systems, an ability to respond to changing conditions, and an appreciation of the link between energy-using systems and human comfort and occupant satisfaction, etc. Participants and others we interviewed confirmed that while these issues are addressed in various graduate-level and continuing-education programs, they are virtually absent at the community college level.

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