Environmental Control Tech (HVAC&R) Home
Announcing our New Website!
The Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Network promotes better building performance through the advancement of building science and technician education. Sponsored in part by National Science Foundation ATE grants, this national collaboration involves community, technical, and public 4-yr. colleges with programs in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R), controls, building automation, and energy/facilities management. There are many useful resources for educators and students alike including curricula, lab specs, research reports, job listings, weblinks, and college directory. Visit www.bestcte.org, and let us know what you think!
The Environmental Control Technology Department (ECT) is a technical program offering certificates and associate degrees in Residential and Light Commercial HVAC as well as Commercial HVAC systems, with new certificates and degrees in building automation systems and energy management in development (certificate information). Students in this program learn the theoretical, technical, and problem-solving skills essential for employment in the HVACR industry. Students completing the curriculum can seek employment as refrigeration technicians, heating, ventilation, air conditioning technicians, sales engineers, equipment and system installers, parts persons, operations and maintenance technicians, building engineers, controls technicians, and energy specialists.
The ECT Department occupies a space of over 8,000 square feet. The program provides theoretical content, and extensive hands-on labs on refrigeration systems, light commercial and commercial air conditioning and heating equipment, boilers, chillers, hydronic HVAC systems, and building automation control systems. The ECT department also has a computer lab in which HVAC systems are simulated as well as a Direct Digital Controls (DDC) lab representing most of the major DDC manufacturers. Read more about our lab facilities. In addition, ECT faculty have developed problem-based learning strategies [LINK to subpage] to expose student teams to real-life problem scenarios in building systems. Read more about problem-based learning.
Our faculty members are all experienced HVACR professionals with industry experience and academic credentials which they bring into the classroom with energy and enthusiasm. The ECT program is also an active corporate member of industry organizations, green jobs and sustainability networks, the PG&E Power Pathway for Energy Efficiency. In addition, the program has launched a Center of Excellence in High Performance Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Education and Training (Labs 21 Partnership). Read more about partnerships.
Preparing a Green Building Technician Workforce
Laney College is preparing technicians as key agents in implementing energy efficiency and sustainability measures in residential and commercial buildings. In partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Laney completed a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to broaden and deepen its curriculum for building science and engineering technicians in the commercial building sector. The new two-year certificate and degree emphasizes energy-efficient and high-performance building operations. Supported by a State Chancellor’s Office of Economic Workforce Development (EWD) Industry Driven Regional Collaboratives grant and a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education renewal grant, Laney is developing new curricular pathways and labs in building automation systems, energy management, and sustainability. Read about our Building Automation and Sustainability program, partnerships, and research.
In addition, Laney College has launched a series of building technician programs in energy efficiency and green building performance practices for the residential and light commercial sector. Read more about the Green Jobs Programs.
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