Questar III’s Green Technologies and Renewable Energy program was recently awarded $50,000 in federal stimulus funding from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the purchase of energy efficiency and renewable energy training equipment.
The Green Technologies and Renewable Energy program, which started in September 2011 at Columbia-Greene Educational Center in Hudson, is now also offered at Rensselaer High School as of September 2012.
The funding will be used to purchase equipment such as an Energy Auditing Technology Trainer and Sustainable Conservation Trainer that will provide real-world skills to students at both program locations.
The Energy Auditing trainer provides hands-on experience in measuring energy usage and consumption in various types of buildings. Students will learn how to save and conserve energy and use the auditing equipment to see where energy is being wasted.
The Sustainable Conservation Trainer provides hands on experience in evaluating the three major building related energy conservation systems: insulation and lighting, passive solar heat and ventilation, and sustainable architectural design.
The innovative Green Technologies and Renewable Energy program will also receive equipment and tools to help students better understand energy management and sustainability. Ultimately, this will allow more Questar III students to become certified in these technologies and become aware of the technology available in the field.
This funding augments Questar III’s existing partnership with Hudson Valley Community College and NYSERDA as a participant in the Home Energy Analyst Technician (HEAT) program, which provides Construction and HVAC students and teachers with curriculum and hands-on training in building science and energy auditing.
Debora Moran, assistant project manager, Workforce Development, NYSERDA, said, “We’re pleased to help support these training initiatives for students, which will provide the hands-on experience that is so important in the marketplace.”
