Smart Start to Skilled Technical Careers in Energy Management Technology

随着智能技术与传统机械系统集成，以控制住宅和工业建筑中的照明、通风、安全和其他功能，能源使用的未来正在发生变化。例如，现代建筑控制现在包括具有日光传感器的Wi-Fi照明控制、用于控制通风率的二氧化碳传感器以及用于食品冷藏等关键需求的电力负荷警报等设备。因此，对熟练能源技术人员的需求增加，他们所需的技能也更加复杂。 在东北部的威斯康星州，对能源管理技术人员的需求继续超过合格申请人的供应。因此，需要新的战略来解决短缺问题，并建立一支熟练的技术人员队伍来管理这些技术。在这个项目中，东北威斯康星州技术学院将与当地雇主合作，增加熟练的能源管理技术人员的数量。具体而言，该项目旨在开发一个能源管理教育计划，将机械设备工程技能与信息技术和计算技能联系起来。 该计划旨在培养一支熟练的技术人才队伍，以满足日益互联网连接的全球社会的能源管理需求。现有能源管理技术计划的教师和学院的K-12关系经理将与行业和中学教育代表合作，向学生，教师和教育领导者介绍当今智能技术驱动的楼宇控制系统。通过这一伙伴关系，该项目计划：创建能源控制职业途径证书作为入门级途径证书;提高能源职业和教育意识，注意在传统上由男性主导的领域招募更多的女性;提供课程，实践资源，培训和支持高中教师提供证书中的一个学分课程;并通过为高中三年级和四年级学生提供双学分，推出完整的证书作为入门级证书。该项目有可能创造一个可复制的模式，以满足雇主对熟练技术人员的需求。最终，预计该项目将支持降低智能能源安装和维护的成本，有利于环境以及消费者健康和财务。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The future of energy use is changing as smart technologies integrate with traditional mechanical systems to control lighting, ventilation, security, and other functions in residential and industrial buildings. For example, modern building controls now include devices such as Wi-Fi enabled lighting controls with daylight sensors, carbon-dioxide sensors to control ventilation rates, and power load alarms for critical needs like food refrigeration. As a result, the need for skilled energy technicians has grown and the skills they need are more complex. In Northeast Wisconsin, the demand for energy management technicians continues to exceed the supply of qualified applicants. Thus, new strategies are needed to address shortages and create a workforce of skilled technicians to manage these technologies. In this project, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will partner with local employers to increase the number of skilled energy management technicians. Specifically, the project intends to develop an energy management educational program that bridges mechanical equipment engineering skills with information technology and computational skills. The program will be designed to prepare a skilled technical workforce that will address energy management needs in an increasingly internet-connected, global society.Faculty in the existing Energy Management Technology program and the College’s K-12 relations manager will collaborate with industry and secondary education representatives to educate students, instructors, and educational leaders about today’s smart technology-driven building control systems. Through this partnership, the project plans to: create an Energy Controls Career Pathway Certificate as an entry-level pathway credential; increase energy career and education awareness, with attention to recruiting more women to a field traditionally dominated by men; provide curriculum, hands-on resources, training, and supports for high school instructors to deliver a one-credit course in the Certificate; and launch the full Certificate as an entry-level credential through dual credit delivery for high school juniors and seniors. This project has the potential to create a replicable model for meeting employer demand for skilled technicians. Ultimately, it is anticipated that the project will support reductions in the cost of smart energy installations and maintenance, benefiting the environment, as well as consumer health and finances. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.