Gateway trains energy auditors
In Northern Kentucky, a community college that overlooks Cincinnati gives students hands-on experience in conserving energy. Gateway Community and Technical College in Covington now offers an Energy Audtior class, which gives students the training they need to prepare for the Building Analyst Certification Exam trough the Building Performance Institute. Gateway pairs the course with its Air Conditioning Technology area of study. The energy auditing class is open to students and businesses that want to get employees certified in the process. The first class runs from Jan. 30 through Feb. 3. In eight hours per day, students and professionals can get a quick boost to their skill sets, and salaries. Employers that send employees to the class may be eligible for state funding to offset costs as part of an effort to boost enrollment. Energy Auditors can work for energy companies, building contractors or air conditioning companies to help homeowners reduce their consumption of energy. By having mock houses on campus, the staff at Gateway gives students specific training that mimics what they will be doing once in the field. They use tools like thermal imagers to locate areas of heat loss and duct blasters to find leaks and bad seals. After an energy auditor inspects a home, they will be able to advise homeowners on how to lower utility bills. “Our facility really gives people an opportunity to try what they are going to be doing,” says Ric Bowen, associate professor at Gateway. “We have all the equipment right here. In the future, Gateway hopes to expand its Energy Auditor program to provide commercial energy auditor training and attract even more enrollment. By Evan Wallis
