Ecotech Training teaches building professionals the lessons they need to succeed.
[Photo: Pixabay]
If the solar industry keeps growing at its current rate, the whole planet will be covered in solar panels in fewer than 70 years—at least by the estimation of Sean White, a solar energy instructor at Ecotech Training. He likens his field to that of computers in 1980. Products and policy are developing so quickly, he says he was in the right place at the right time when he began his career in solar.
White frequently attends renewable energy conferences to keep abreast of solar innovations and says the conversation can be radically different from one year to the next. “It’s an exciting time to be working in an industry that’s driven by such cutting edge technology.”
The amount of electrical power generated by solar has increased almost 500-fold over the past two decades, and opportunities for solar professionals continue to expand. White and his colleagues at Ecotech Training are passionate about helping their students become leaders in the field.
Be in the Know
If you work in solar energy, Ecotech courses will help you get certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which can enhance your credibility and earning potential. But the Ecotech curriculum goes beyond teaching to the test. From hands-on installation workshops to the science behind photovoltaics, Ecotech takes a holistic approach to solar training.
FROM OUR SEPT+OCT 2018 ISSUE
The preferred publication of leading green professionals.
[Photo: Pixabay]
NABCEP is a voluntary certification program, but in White’s experience, practitioners who pass the exam are more likely to be hired and have a more comprehensive understanding of the technology. As the industry grows, so do the opportunities for solar professionals. “We see people with all different backgrounds in our program,” White says. Ecotech offers a range of solar courses so participants can choose to focus on installation, sales, safety, or design.
Ecotech Training also offers specialized courses in energy auditing. “I recommend these trainings to every building professional,” says George Callas, energy efficiency instructor. “After almost every course I’ve taught, students have told me it completely changed how they do their job.”
Building Performance Institute (BPI) Analyst and Envelope Professional courses will prepare you to evaluate energy performance and create a greener built environment. Callas began teaching BPI courses after building a zero-emission home for his family. “I left New York City with a 1-year-old and moved to Maine to get back to the land,” he says. “Without knowing anything about construction, I built a super insulated, fossil fuel–free house.”
Callas says improving building efficiency is one of our most vital responsibilities in addressing climate change. “BPI training gets to the heart of what it takes to make home environments healthy and energy-efficient,” he says.
[Photo: Pixabay]
Callas says he’d do some things differently if he was building his off-grid home today. “I just didn’t know the building science,” he says. Now he helps builders and architects make smarter choices.
LEED is the most widely used certification for green building, so an understanding of the rating system can benefit anyone in the industry. Ecotech’s LEED trainings focus on cutting edge green building innovations and the LEED rating system. Flexible online curricula make preparing for the LEED exam straightforward and accessible.
Ecotech Training’s three areas of training:
Solar (online and in-person)
Courses:
- Photovoltaic Associate
- Photovoltaic Advanced
- Photovoltaic Mastery (combined associate and advanced course)
- Technical Sales
- Sales Mastery
- Solar Thermal
- Specialty (Solar Fire Safety and National Electrical Code update training)
Why you should take them:
- Master key concepts in solar design, installation, and safety
- Learn up-to-date industry standards and best practices
- Prepare for NABCEP exams
Possible careers: Solar PV designer, solar installer, solar service technician, solar construction estimator, site surveyor, maintenance technician, solar sales consultant, solar energy advisor
[Photo: Pixabay]
BPI Certification (online and in-person)
Courses:
- Building Analyst
- Envelope Professional
- Building Analyst and Envelope Professional combined
- BPI Multifamily Building Analyst
Why you should take them:
- Learn to conduct safety and performance checks
- Learn to complete an energy audit to BPI standards
- Prepare for BPI Exams
Possible careers: energy analyst/auditor, home energy rater, building assessor, envelope inspector, energy efficiency specialist, energy consultant
LEED Accreditation (online)
Courses:
- Green Associate
- Accredited Professional Building Design and Construction
- Accredited Professional Operations and Maintenance
Why you should take them:
- Understand how to improve resource and energy efficiency
- Learn the LEED project process
- Prepare for LEED exams
Possible careers: architectural design, project manager, interior designer, construction coordinator, sustainability consultant/specialist, green infrastructure inspector
