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Is There a Need for Energy Managers?

By Jennifer Runyon
May 5, 2010 | 13 Comments

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An interesting piece of information floated across my desk today and it touched on something that I’m working on so I thought I would share it.

One of my news sources, Guy M. Zaczek, sent out a letter explaining that a new Energy Management technical training program that has been proposed by SUNY’s Niagara County Community College is in danger of being scrapped because the program can’t find enough evidence that there is a need for it.

He writes, “It hurts me to say this, but a program that is desperately needed will never see the light of day because organizations that use Energy Managers, HVAC Technicians, [and] Energy Service Consultants have not picked up their pens to say that there is a need for an educated workforce in this subject. This is not just one credit class but a whole two-year program with five unique classes designed for the realities of today’s practical Energy Manager.”

The program would offer A.A.S. degree in Energy Management and Systems Technology.

Zaczek cites an LBNL study entitled, “Energy Efficiency Services Sector (EESS) Workforce Education Needs (PDF)” that states that many other community colleges with programs like this have waiting lists and have seen increased demand for their programs over the years “by four-year degree holders looking to receive practical training as preparation for a job in the EESS.”

According to the study, these successful and growing programs are located at Lane Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Laney College, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Oakland Community College.

Niagara County Community College is simply looking for businesses located in or near New York that anticipate hiring energy managers in the next six years to fill out a 6-question survey and send a short letter to the college indicating their needs.

So are you are New York company that might need to hire an energy manager in the next 2-6 years? If so, please contact Guy M. Zaczek. He’ll send you the survey to fill out and the letter you need to sign.

Are you involved with a renewable energy education and/or training program located somewhere else? If so, please send me the name of it or leave a comment with the program name. I'm working on an article about Renewable Energy education and training programs in the U.S. and abroad.

Energy Efficiency

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

13 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 13

WarrenSchirtzinger

May 6, 2010

Hi Jennifer,

I did a market study for the Northwest Energy Education Institute (located at Lane Community College) and then helped them develop their Energy Management Certification (EMC) Program.

What we found was most of the energy education programs do not teach or measure "capability." And the overwhelming perception -- among utilities, building management firms, employers, energy service companies, associations, etc. -- is credentials based on written tests are of limited value.

That's why we developed a strategy for the EMC that requires the student to implement an energy-saving project, and measure the results. It forces the energy manager to learn and apply energy management techniques.

It's logical there would be increased demand for practical training. If a program only teaches fundamentals it will be much less valuable than a program that provides practical experience.

Warren Schirtzinger
http://solar-strategies.blogspot.com

Comment
2 of 13

JenniferRunyon

May 6, 2010

Thanks for the insightful comment, Warren. I really appreciate it and will pass it on. Hands-on real world training makes the most sense to me, too.

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3 of 13

dvenerg1

May 7, 2010

My experience in becoming a "C.E.M." through arduous course work and a 4 hour exam - through the Association of Energy Engineers - has offered interesting insight on this subject.

First of all, I am a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) and - incredibly - most states/agencies actually accept any "P.E." stamp as authorization to conduct any energy audits and related energy work. That's an incredible presumption.

Having gone through the arduous process of becoming a licensed C.E.M., I can share with you that it is a tough road and is both intense and enlightening. As an engineer with an MSME graduate degree, I found the course work to be of exceptional value. It is diverse and practical - while requiring sufficient math skills to enable the students to apply their skills to a systems approach - needed in today's complex building/industrial applications.

Finally, having acquired the skills and credentials to practice energy audits, it has been a remarkable "non-event" - since few State agencies and few organization leaders (engineering associations or other professional groups) require any special training or credentials for acceptable/required background to do about any energy evaluation.

Thus, the folks decrying the lack of enthusiasm for "trained professionals" are correct in their findings. And such findings speak loud to the very need they are prepared to fill. The looming question is: how to build the case for the need when the established network doesn't comprehend the process?

Good for you, in reporting this void!

Don Voigt, P.E., C.E.M.
Port Washington, WI

Comment
4 of 13

gregchick

May 7, 2010

I am equally amazed that single family dwellings dont use an auditor/designer to apply emerging technologies correctly. Currently we have a "product claim / unread owners manual" getting this new serge of products on the buildings . This um professional approach will net us a lower grade rating for the products than would /could be. I can hear it now " oh those green products dont work" Just like the ULF toilets complaints (for a different reason, but still an anneccessary failure)
Greg Chick dba ramonas plumber .com

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ewricha

May 7, 2010

Hi Jennifer,

My guess is that any utility would welcome any specific skill training that universities/colleges may offer but most would hesitate to develop a long term relationship with the program - especially in an economy where major customers are struggling.

I honestly believe that those individuals really focused on improving the quality of their work and building their careers would find a such a focused program regardless of the backing from their company.

Thanks for the article!

Ezra

www.wattblog.com

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ray-neff-70338

May 7, 2010

Regarding the NWEEI mentioned in the first comment and utility support in the previous, LCC's program recieves significant annual support from our local, municipal utility EWEB (Eugene Warer & Electric Board) since the program began almost 20 years ago. We still have work to do with EWEB on some RE fronts but overall they're one of the most progressive utilities around and have been a leader on the energy efficiency front for 3 decades. My 50 year old house, and my wallet, have been a direct beneficiary of their weatherization program. Glad to see NWEEI getting recognized as a leader they are.
Keep up the good work.

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JenniferRunyon

May 7, 2010

Ray-neff, thanks so much for your comment. I don't know if the Niagara County Community College has reached out to the local utility but that certainly seems like a good place to go. I'll pass on your comments. I, too, have benefited from the weatherization program from my local utility, PSNH.

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Anonymous

May 7, 2010

Hi Jennifer, I have been involved with Facility Management, Energy Management and Energy Engineering for over 25 years. I have bachelors in Solar Engineering Technologies and an MBA. I also have my CEM and I am a LEED AP. Back in the early 1980's, when the solar industry was growing, there was only one college, I am aware of in the US, which was offering an accredited BS in Solar Engineering. I bring this up because like Energy Management or Energy Engineering there are few, if any, accredited degrees in these disciplines. Typically these skills are learned on the job. If a person is degreed they typically are either Mechanical or Electrical Engineers. Most Energy Engineers are degreed while a smaller percent of Energy/Facility managers are. I currently work for a large ESCO and I can tell you that finding qualified and experienced Energy Engineers is a challenge, to say the least. Most of our junior Energy Engineers are recruited out of colleges/universities that are IAC (Industrial Assessment Center) participating schools. When I worked as a Facility Manager (Chief Engineer, Director of Engineering, ect) you typically learned energy management skills on your own by trying different technologies related to lighting, HVAC, pneumatics, ect. I always felt that learning skills, related to energy efficiency, increased my value to the company. I always shared this view with other facility managers and those I mentored. I think that Niagara Community College and other schools, with similar programs, should be recruiting folks in the facility management disciplines. These people would benefit from these programs by increasing their knowledge of energy management or preparing them to move on to 4 year degree program in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering at an IAC college or university. Just my thoughts. Boyd

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zaczek

May 7, 2010

Warren,
You hit the nail on the head. A student in this program absolutly needs hands on experience. The first items we purchased were an insulation blowing machine. a blower door and thermal imaging cameras. I might not have said it but Niagara County Community College is located NORTH Of Buffalo. We do know something about old cold buildings. And some of us have years of experience making existing structures more efficient. Your comments were well deliver and already received. What else would you suggest?

Comment
10 of 13

zaczek

May 7, 2010

To: Don Voigt, P.E., C.E.M.
Port Washington, WI

I can see that a PE from Wisconson also knows something about cold buildings. My daugher is a PE and I work with engineers all the time so please take a bow. You deserve it. As for the CEM certification I have to agree with you. The training is great and they are a great bunch of people.

For about sixteen years I worked on comercial HVAC from Chillers to Cleaver Brooks Boilers. I have run and programmed Johnson Control Energy Management computer systems and made mechanical modification too numerous to mention. Just this past week I took my Building Codes class here in New York to show I know how to conduct a commerical building energy analysis using the DOE COMcheck program.

But the problem lies in those who may hire future energy service technicians. When you don't see CEM listed in the want add and they don't know what a COMcheck program is you might also assume they don't want pay the going rate for a PE. You end up with a blend of other experience that may or may not cut it with todays energy markets. And on top of that, no expectation of future training is provided to fill in the holes. Your thoughts?

Comment
11 of 13

zaczek

May 7, 2010

Greg Chick,
You are one of those guys who knows GPF. You can also calculate heating load and the fine line between a Tankless Hot Water Heater and a family of five. People will spend $100K or more on a home but not one day learning how it works. After doing thousands of energy audits I really felt sorry for the widows, who lost their husbands that took care of everything around the house.

More than once we had to make some phone calls to family and neighbors to get plastic on windows, attic doors installed, furnace filters replaced, or even just windows closed, vents unblocked, and unused refrigerators unplugged. Energy 101 for everyone. You must see your share as well.

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MaheshBhave

September 12, 2010

In an MBA course for Information Systems for Decision Making in Fall 2009, I designed a project where students had to research and design a Zero Net Energy home using solar. The students visited local retailers, did research on panels by various suppliers, sunlight hours, roof area, tilt, and so on, and submitted impressive reports with designs for their own ZNE homes. They then scaled back to "deploy" what they could afford. I provided them with an Excel template for entering various component costs, cost of money, subsidies, and other assumptions. Copenhagen conference was happening at the time. There was great enthusiasm in the class. I recommend such an exercise.

Mahesh Bhave
619 847 2777 Mobile

Comment
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dianamuir

September 14, 2010

Looking to hire "3" individuals: Solar, Hydro-, Wind Power project managers for $10M USAID program. Please send resumes to admin@world-virtual-school.com for consideration. Include salary requirements.

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About: Jennifer Runyon is managing editor of RenewableEnergyWorld.com and Renewable Energy World North America magazine, coordinating, writing and/or editing columns, ... more »