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Building Energy and Resource Management

News from the Building Energy and Resource Management Certificate Program

May 2012: The Douglas College BERM program has now been included as a qualifying program for the Fortis BC Energy Specialist funding.  For more information, please contact Brian Chapell (chapellb@douglascollege.ca).

April 2012: Special section of BERM 1225 just added for Summer 2012.  Go to Application and Registration Services to register or contact Brian Chapell (chapellb@douglascollege.ca) for more information. 

Building Energy and Resource Management Certificate Program

Get a career in green building management with the Building Energy and Resource Management (BERM) program. This two-semester program is designed to provide you with the specific management skills, technical skills and critical thinking abilities to manage change in this constantly evolving world and to transfer that knowledge to others.

BERM has been developed with the support of Natural Resources Canada and BC Hydro.

Program overview

While focused on traditional needs for energy management (HVAC and lighting conservation, heat flow, and utility rate structures), the BERM program will also expose students to principles of internal waste management programs (from paper to food), setting up transportation (carpool) programs, water conservation measures, understanding change management and GHG ‘hidden' in building materials.  We believe communication skills will be as important as hard technical skills and the criteria for and practice in writing policy and success stories will be part of this program. Students who complete the program will have an appreciation for the many avenues open to them for further education. This program addresses a shortage of people educated in Building Energy and Resource Management within British Columbia and across Canada.

Program outcomes

Graduates of this program will:

• become key players in the optimization of resource use in many areas; including electricity, natural gas, water and human labour in maintaining building systems

• participate in the set up of structural elements in an energy management plan, prioritize the specific issues in the organization, and develop parameters for an appropriate energy policy

• know typical sources for funders or rebates, understand how to optimize energy consumption in the rate structures or bulk utility contract purchases, find utility billing errors, understand how to validate consumption variances, and understand the benefits and pitfalls of energy service contracts

• possess a basic understanding of the skills needed and advantages of further training leading to Certification as an Energy Manager, a Certified Ener gy Auditor, an Accredited Green Roof Designer, or a LEED Accredited Professional

• be able to set up an internal Energy Awareness Program, understand how to determine or confirm various financial Return-on-Investment analyses from projects, Payback periods or Lifecycle costs, and have gained experience in presenting these and other energy issues to management and other employees

• know the principles of energy auditing as well as critical analysis of building equipment processes & interaction, allowing them to identify and prioritize on-going saving opportunities

• understand variables and options in calculating GHG emissions and reductions, application of GHG Offsets, and filing for regulatory agencies

• understand the methods and process in developing, implementing and maintaining a multi-faceted and comprehensive Continuous Improvement Program to ensure savings and other benefits are sustainable and maintained

Admission requirements

In order to gain entry to this program, you must have completed ONE of the following:

1.       High school diploma with Math 11 and Physics 11

OR

2.       Equivalent international educational experience

OR

3.       Equivalent work experience

For more information on admission requirements and equivalencies, contact Brian Chapell at 604-527-5001 or by e-mail chapellb@douglascollege.ca.

Start dates

The next intake is planned for September 2012.

Program cost

Tuition fees for this program are approximately $6,000. Students will be required to purchase one textbook that will cover all 10 classes at a cost of approximately $200.

Courses

This program can be completed in two semesters of full-time study, or over three or more semesters of part-time study in consultation with an advisor.  

Course Descriptions:

BERM 1100: Introduction to Building Energy and Resource Management

An overview of energy management & resource conservation in buildings and on their sites. Reviews current economic, environmental, and social implications of building operations and systems management. Emphasis is on energy and conservation literacy (understanding of terms and concepts), the evolution of the modern building, market and external forces that impact building energy use, and the increasing need for skilled building managers.

Prerequisites:  See Admission Requirements above

BERM 1110: Building Science - Design and Building Performance

An overview of building design & construction with emphasis on energy efficiency and durability. Reviews current understandings about building envelopes, building assemblies, and interactions with building mechanical systems. Important concepts, technologies, and strategies of energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality will be explored. The course will underline the importance of understanding building performance expectations.

Prerequisites:  See Admission Requirements above

BERM 1120: Resource Management and Financial Planning

This course will provide an overview various energy management tools, financing of energy management projects, and tracking performance of energy manag ement projects. Topics will include energy accounting, utility bill analysis, monitoring, targeting, and reporting, financial analysis, measurement and verification, financing energy management projects and developing a business case, and planning energy management projects.

Prerequisites:  See Admission Requirements above

BERM 1130: Building Mechanical Systems

This course will provide an introduction of building mechanical systems, their application, and associated energy saving opportunities. Topics will include building heating and cooling systems, their components, distribution systems, building ventilation systems, auxiliary building system, heat recovery systems, and domestic hot water systems.

Prerequisites:  See Admission Requirements above

BERM 1140: Building Electrical Systems

This course will give the student knowledge of basic electricity units of measure, terms, costs and savings methods. Motors will be reviewed with regard to determining the most efficient motor for specific applications. The motor as part of the system and not the only compon ent will be reviewed. Lighting will be examined in detail and result in an understanding of how we see, how light is produced, controls for lighting, parameters needed for review of alternatives for efficiency and electrical savings, and upcoming lighting products and technologies

Prerequisites:  See Admission Requirements above

BERM 1205: Operations Management

This course will provide an overview of various energy components of operations management and how they can identify energy saving opportunities in operations and help manage energy costs. Topics will include energy management control systems, energy system maintenance, re-commissioning and continuous optimization, and monitoring and reporting.

Prerequisites:  BERM 1130 and BERM 1140

BERM 1215: Energy Auditing - Process & Procedure

An introduction to the principles, process and procedures involved in an energy audit. The student will learn the place and the value of an energy audit in the overall Resource Management action Plan.   The student will learn how to define the scope of an audit, analyze the energy use, set objectives for the site tour, determine the Energy Conservation Measures, prioritize the ECM's, and write the report that will become part of the Resource Management Action Plan.

Prerequisites:  BERM 1130 and BERM 1140

BERM 1225: Auditing for Other Resources

An in-depth look at management of water resources, materials, and transportation resources as relevant to building and facility management. Reviews the complex interrelationships between supplies, extraction, transportation, end usage, and cycles of resources, including GHG em bodied in construction materials and LCA. Emphasis is on understanding end uses, conservation methods, measuring, auditing, and the importance of resource awareness.

Prerequisites:  BERM 1215

BERM 1235: The Green Building

An in-depth review of sustainable design & green building. Emphasis on green building materials, green purchasing, green professional certifications, and healthy indoor spaces.  Current trends in building innovation and the programs and rating systems that support these trends are examined.  The student will come away with an understanding of why building green is an essential strategy for sustainable development. Students will learn how to collaborate in the successful operation and maintenance of a green building.

Prerequisites:  BERM 1110, BERM 1130 and BERM 1140

BERM 1245: Completing the Resource Management Plan

Emphasis will be on covering the various aspects of energy management programs and planning that fall outside more traditional areas: communication skills and writing success stories; policy writing; developing RFP's; Change Management; managing contracts and outsourcing; environmental regulations and barriers to energy management plans. This course will also brings earlier courses together to help the energy and resource manager develop usable take-away management plans for energy and resource conservation, auditing, and operations.

Prerequisites:  BERM 1120

Corequisite:  BERM 1205

Practicum

The practicum portion of this program will be completed during the last few weeks of BERM 1245. Students will apply the skills they learned during classroom study in a two-week placement with a company in the industry, completing an energy/resource assessment project as part of their BERM 1245 course grade.  The goal is that after completion of BERM 1245, students will complete the program and join the workforce full-time by the end of May.

What are students saying about the BERM Certificate Program?

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