Press and Media
NEWS RELEASE
January 19, 2007
Contacts:
Paige Knutsen, MEEA, 312-587-8390 ext. 19
Cynthia Putnam, NEEC, 206-292-3977
Download News Release (100k pdf
)
Iowa is 20th State to Offer Building
Operator Certification
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and the Northwest
Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) are pleased to announce the addition
of Iowa to the national Building Operator Certification (BOC) program.
With this approval, MEEA and NEEC welcome Iowa as the 20th state
to join the BOC provider network.
BOC is a competency-based training and certification for building
operators, offering improved job skills and more comfortable and
energy efficient facilities. The certification also provides a
credential for professional development while offering employers
a way to identify skilled operators. Graduates of BOC training
typically achieve utility bill savings of $12,000 in the first
year and document a decrease in the number of tenant complaints.
The Iowa BOC program will be administered by the Midwest Energy
Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) on behalf of the Iowa Energy Center
in partnership with Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light Co.,
Aquila, and MidAmerican Energy Company. MEEA is a collaborative
network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to support sustainable
economic development and environmental preservation and offers
BOC training in five Midwest states.
Floyd Barwig, Director
of the Iowa Energy Center says, “BOC training is a great
opportunity to help businesses stay competitive by shaving energy
costs. We’re excited about the opportunity to work with
MEEA and NEEC to bring the program to Iowa.”
BOC Level I certification is earned by completing 56 hours of
classroom training and written exams, in addition to hands-on projects
conducted at the operator’s facility. Topics include HVAC
systems and controls, energy conservation techniques, electrical
systems, and indoor air quality.
According to Nicole
Healey, Product Manager at Alliant Energy, “BOC offers
great value to private sector companies and public institutions
interested in controlling energy costs to stay competitive and
to be environmentally responsible. We are achieving major utility
bill savings in commercial facilities, and well-trained, front-line
staff are key to that success.”
Over 5,000 operators hold BOC certifications nationally. The certificate
is registered with the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI),
the Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE) and the International
Facilities Management Association (IFMA) for continuing education
maintenance points.
A Free BOC informational Web Cast is scheduled on Thursday, March
1, 2007. To register, visit www.boccentral.org. BOC
course series will be held in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Council Bluffs
and Des Moines beginning in February.
For more information, go to www.boccentral.org,
or visit the national website, www.theboc.info
ABOUT NEEC
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) is a business association
of the energy efficiency industry. NEEC’s mission is to
promote policies and programs that enhance market opportunities
for energy efficiency. Building Operator Certification is one
such program and continues to gain national recognition.
ABOUT IOWA ENERGY CENTER
The Iowa Energy Center supports projects that help Iowans understand
how they can make their homes more comfortable and affordable
to own. It is investing in initiatives that help Iowa industries
and businesses run efficiently so they can be more productive
and profitable. The Energy Center also helps Iowa communities
strengthen their local economies and make their environments
healthier.
|
