Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) has received a $168,500 (grant through the NH Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the NH Division of Economic Development as the sponsoring partner.  The grant will be used to develop an Energy Auditor Training Program statewide to increase the number of trained energy auditors in the NH workforce.

The first two-week intensive training will be held at LRCC beginning on Monday, September 14, 2009.

“College personnel are very pleased to partner with the Division of Economic Development to provide energy auditor training throughout New Hampshire,” says LRCC President, Dr. Mark Edelstein (Laconia).  “The partnership will enable us to offer the course at a significantly reduced cost, making it much easier for people to get this training and prepare for jobs in the rapidly expanding green economy.”

“Given the rise of green jobs and the need for energy auditors statewide, this grant is tremendous news for New Hampshire,” says New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director, Roy Duddy. “This training will not only allow more New Hampshire businesses and residents to become more energy efficient, it will also provide an excellent career path for interested students.”

Students completing the training satisfactorily will be able to apply for the coveted Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst certification allowing them to become energy auditors, analysts, building operators, resource conservation managers, technical service representatives, measurement and verification technicians, and many other related professions.

LRCC will function as the hub site but will also provide the training at five other sites around the state between September and December.

The LRCC Energy Auditor Training Program will be taught by Building Energy Technologies, LLC, Principal, Andy Duncan, Ph.D. (Bow), and other energy specialists from his company headquartered in Bow.  Duncan plans to cover building science, professional energy assessments, infrared thermal imaging, types of heat transfer, blower door/ air leakage testing, insulation basics, domestic hot water efficiency, moisture issues, and fuel combustion safety.

“The course is an excellent opportunity for those interested in becoming building energy analysts,” says Duncan, who was a professor of Environmental Science at New England College (Henniker) from 1997 to 2003. “It is short but intensive, and can be demanding for students who are not already familiar with building energy diagnostic equipment.”

For additional information, contact LRCC Academic Affairs Vice President, Tom Goulette (Belmont), or Administrative Secretary, Andree Thibault (Concord), at 524-3207. Registrations are now being accepted.