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Building Operator Certification: Energy Efficiency for Building Operators
The Building Operator Certification (BOC) is a nationally recognized training and certification program focused on energy performance job skills for building operators. Developed by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and administered by Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, the curriculum has been updated in 2013, thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy grant. BOC certified operators are able to improve building energy efficiency, prolong equipment life, and deliver cost savings through preventive maintenance.
The BOC Level I consists of 56 class hours, including in-class exams, and five project assignments, for a total time commitment of about 74 hours. Classes include lecture, discussion, small group exercises, and facility tours. Projects require participants to demonstrate competence by preparing an HVAC equipment floor plan for their buildings, benchmarking their buildings using Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM), conducting a lighting survey and lighting retrofit case study, completing an HVAC controls review, and developing an occupancy schedule for their facilities.
The advanced BOC Level II Certification is tentatively planned for late 2013. In addition to four core courses (Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting Principles, Advanced Electrical Diagnostics, HVAC Troubleshooting and Maintenance, HVAC Controls and Optimization), exams and projects, BOC Level II includes supplemental courses to meet a program requirement of 61 class hours. The final syllabus will list additional topics determined by survey of BOC Level I graduates.
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, developer of the BOC, received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in recognition of the BOC's contributions to energy education. To read reports on energy conservation actions past students have taken as a result of BOC training, go to www.theboc.info/benefits.html. To register for the next Honolulu BOC program, click on course titles or call 808-956-9249.
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