Showing posts with label geothermal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geothermal. Show all posts

IECRM partners with USGBC Colorado for a visionary job skill training program ...

"IECRM partners with USGBC Colorado for a visionary job skill training program to elevate the green building skills of Colorado workers and keep them competitive in the marketplace. GPRO is a series of training courses and coordinated certificate exams that teach those who build, renovate, and maintain buildings the principles of sustainability combined with trade-specific green construction knowledge. GPRO was developed by the Urban Green Council chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the leading authority on efficient and affordable green buildings.

This course may be available FREE OF CHARGE! To see if you or your students qualify for tuition-paid training, contact IECRM at 303-853-4886 for assistance locating a State Workforce Center or click here to find the center nearest you. You will need to ask for the SESP Scholarship qualifications and mention this course specifically.

GPRO Fundamentals of Green Building
(Prerequisite course for all GPRO trade-specific courses)
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Time: 5pm to 9pm
Location: IECRM Denver Campus
Cost: $280 per attendee
Entry-level course to teach experienced professionals the basics of sustainability and green building. Course materials cover the "green gap" between standard trade skills and the new awareness and skills required to successfully implement green building. Individuals with experience in construction and building operations will have an advantage when taking this course, but anyone interested in green building is encouraged to participate. This course is accredited for USGBC LEED AP continuing education credits!

GPRO Electrical Systems
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Time: 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Location: IECRM Denver Campus
Cost: $330 per attendee
IECRM and USGBC Colorado continue to lead the country in delivering this new, innovative training to electrical contractors! GPRO Electrical Systems expands on topics presented during the GPRO Fundamentals of Green Building course, and goes on to teach sustainable construction practices to workers in the electrical industry. Upon completion of this course, students will take an examination for certification as a GPRO accredited professional. This course is accredited for USGBC LEED AP continuing education credits!

To RSVP for these courses, go to www.iecrm.org/Courses.aspx. The deadline to register for GPRO Fundamentals of Building Green is September 30. The deadline date for GPRO Electrical Systems is October 14.

Independent Electrical Contractors - Rocky Mountain (IECRM)
480 East 76th Avenue, Building 5 / Denver, Colorado 80229 www.IECRM.org

Geothermal

Humans have been using geothermal resources for at least 10,000 years, but its recent attention is increasing in this whirlwind of interest that surrounds clean and renewable energy.

Geothermal systems use the earth's core temperatures to provide heat and power. Systems can range from basic wells, pipes, and controls that can heat and cool a single house, to elaborate piping under roads that melt ice and snow, to complex systems supplying steam for large powerplants.

Colorado is fortunate to have some of the nation's best geothermal resources (here's Colorado's geothermal map) and recognizing this, governments are looking at ways to enhance its use. The Governor's Energy Office has a working group analyzing this resource, the various technologies used, and incentives available, NREL has engineers and scientists devoted to advancing the technologies and commercialization of geothermal, and BLM continues to increase the number of leases on federal lands for geothermal projects.

Jobs in this sector include drillers, installers, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, engineers, mudloggers, as well as those ancillary positions in sales, management, contracts, landmen, analysts, IT, HR and administration.

Although I haven't yet seen an increased demand for geothermal specific jobs in our state, I predict this will change drastically in the coming years as this clean technology becomes more familiar and popular, and particularly if utilities look to Colorado's geothermal resources as they've done in other states such as California, Nevada and Utah. It's also a good way to get the oil rigs (many of which are now stacked from dropping crude prices) retrofitted to get them back to work.

Photo courtesy of otdrafting