Shoreline Community College
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

The Solar PV Designer Program will train students to specify and/or recommend solar panel systems for residences and buildings. Participants will be able to assist and inform the electricians who install solar panels. The program will have a strong hands-on component.

 Understand the basics of design for residential and commercial photovoltaic systems.  Perform site analysis, including sun path assessment, roofing assessment, and alternative mounting options, including building integrated technologies.  Demonstrate understanding of installation and troubleshooting skills, maintenance issues and design criteria for photovoltaic energy systems.  Understand types of renewable energy systems and appropriately size and make recommendations for particular situations.  Evaluate residential and commercial building energy use patterns.  Obtain preparation for NABCEP Entry Level Test. 2009-2010 Career Planning Guide Solar/Photovoltaic (PV) Design and Marketing

In 2006, the College joined the City of Seattle as a founding member of the Seattle Climate Partnership, making a commitment to reduce the College's "carbon footprint" in the next few years. The College became a national training center for alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technology and co-sponsored the 2006 Washington State Odyssey Days, a two-day conference to heighten public awareness about the importance of using alternative fuels and other practical solutions to reduce carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Serving the future needs of our students and communities is one of the top priorities of the College, and therefore new curriculum is being developed to support the emerging renewable energy industry. College, business and labor officials met with representatives from the Washington State University Energy Extension Program and Northwest Solar Center to discuss curriculum development and with College faculty to review existing curricula from nationally-recognized renewable energy programs. They also identified the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to build and support a local renewable energy workforce. This planning process resulted in the production of a report to the community to use as a guide for creating training programs for jobs in renewable energy. The group is currently developing certificate and degree programs and plans to begin offering the first pathway certificate program, the High Performance & Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate: Solar Photovoltaic Designer - certificate program ZEH Practices Certificate of Proficiency Zero Energy Bldg Practices Course Descriptions The program was approved by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in September. The general knowledge, skills and abilities, tools and equipment needs, worker behaviors, job titles and wages, as well as future trends and concerns, have already been identified for this program. Two-year programs that are under consideration are Solar Construction (leads to a bachelor's degree at Washington State University); High Performance & Zero Energy Building Practices; Photovoltaic Design & Installation Certificate; Solar Energy Foundations; and Renewable Energy Career Overview Tech Prep.

The Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate will provide students with the beginning steps in theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for a career in sustainable building design, constructions, maintenance and management. Emphasis in on residential and commercial building design with specialties in passive solar and sustainable (green) building design and photovoltaic (solar electric) system design. In this program, students will obtain an introductory background in alternative energy and an understanding of practices in high performance and zero energy building practices. This training will enable students to prepare for the state Manufacturing Solar Installation certification through Silicon Energy and the National PV Installer Certification through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners NABCEP. The program will have a strong hands-on component.

 Understand the basics of design for residential and commercial renewable energy systems- solar, thermal, wind.  Demonstrate understanding of installation and troubleshooting skills, maintenance issues and design criteria for photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems.  Understand types of renewable energy systems and appropriately size and make recommendations for particular situations.  Understand natural building materials, techniques and design considerations (including straw bale, adobe, pressed block, cob, natural plasters, etc).  Evaluate residential and commercial building energy use patterns.  Obtain preparation for state and national PV Installer Manufacturing Certification. 2010-2011 Career Planning Guide Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate

The Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate will provide students with the beginning steps in theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for a career in sustainable building design, constructions, maintenance and management. Emphasis in on residential and commercial building design with specialties in passive solar and sustainable (green) building design and photovoltaic (solar electric) system design. In this program, students will obtain an introductory background in alternative energy and an understanding of practices in high performance and zero energy building practices.

This certificate includes training in the principles of energy auditing and weatherization inspection. Students will learn the principles of energy, energy and the building shell, energy auditing, air leakage, insulation, windows and doors, heating ad cooling systems, indoor air quality, lighting and appliances, and water heating. Students will be trained to conduct energy audits and work with utility customers in the field. This course is the beginning step in acquiring knowledge to pass the BPI National Certification Exam for Energy Auditors.

 understanding of basic energy-related components of single-family residences  understanding of conservation measures and analysis techniques  understanding of combustion systems  understanding of interactivity of energy consumption and improvements  understanding of conservation technologies  understanding of a positive way of working with customers  understanding of how to write audit reports.

The Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate will provide students with the beginning steps in theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for a career in sustainable building design, constructions, maintenance and management. Emphasis in on residential and commercial building design with specialties in passive solar and sustainable (green) building design and photovoltaic (solar electric) system design. In this program, students will obtain an introductory background in alternative energy and an understanding of practices in high performance and zero energy building practices.