Press and Media
NEWS RELEASE
October 30, 2006
Contact: Cynthia Putnam, 206-292-3977
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IFMA Awards Approved Provider Status to the Building Operator
Certification Program
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) recently
granted status to the national Building Operator Certification
(BOC) program as an IFMA Approved Provider for the Facilities Management
Professional (FMP) and the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designations.
This affords IFMA members the opportunity to both earn and subsequently
maintain their professional status using the training services
of the nationally recognized BOC program. Trainings accepted by
the Approved Provider Program have the “IFMA quality seal
of approval” so that participants can be assured that the
trainings will contribute to their professional credentials and
expertise.
BOC is a competency-based, professional training and certification
that provides energy-saving operational strategies for facilities
engineering and maintenance staff. Participants benefit from both
improved job skills and more comfortable, energy-efficient facilities.
The certification also provides a credential for professional development
while offering employers a way to identify skilled operators. Graduates
of the BOC training typically achieve utility bill savings in the
first year from $12,000 to $20,000, depending on local utility
rates, and document a decrease in the number of tenant complaints.
Former IFMA South Sound chapter president Judy Johnson believes
the training is invaluable. While currently Emergency Management
Coordinator & Facilities Operations Administrator for the Washington
State Department of Social and Health Services, Johnson was previously
a Facilities Operation Manager for the state. At that time, she
had all her people go through BOC training. “Building technology
is far beyond turning wrenches and edging into crawlspaces. You
have to have a level of practical ability, but you also have to
have fundamental knowledge,” says Johnson. She continues
to support the program and requires all her staff to maintain certification.
The Building Operator Certification (BOC) program continues to
expand its presence nationally and to gain recognition as a leading
provider of valuable training for facilities managers and staff.
Sponsored by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC), BOC
is already recognized as an “exemplary program” by
the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as
a part of a national awards program to honor America’s best
energy efficiency programs.
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. Level II certification requires
49 hours of classroom training in even greater detail.
Over 5,000 operators hold BOC certifications nationally.
ABOUT NEEC
The Northwest Energy Efficiency
Council (NEEC) is a non-profit
business association of the energy efficiency industry. NEEC’s
mission is to promote policies and programs that enhance market
opportunities for energy efficiency, of which BOC is one such program.
Further information on the BOC program can be found on the national
website, www.theboc.info.
National partners with NEEC in the BOC program include: the Northeast
Energy Efficiency Partnership, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
the Wisconsin Focus on Energy, the North Carolina Community College
System at AB Tech, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Building
Operator Certification – California, the Northwest Energy
Education Institute at Lane Community College, and the New York
State Energy Research & Development Authority.
For information on the IFMA Approved Provider Program:
Visit: www.ifma.org/learning/recognized/app_providers.cfm.
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