HVAC Program Leads Way in Teaching & Implementing Energy-Saving Technologies, Green Collar Jobs

During the sweltering Phoenix summers, often nothing become more important to a comfortable work or home environment than a well-running air conditioner and climate control system. And, as businesses and consumers are increasingly more aware of both the environment and how much they spend on energy costs, it has become apparent that climate control systems need to not only work well, but be energy and cost efficient. This demand has lead to the need of more energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) systems as well as professionals trained and ready to maintain them. To meet this demand, GateWay’s HVAC program is not only implementing and utilizing the latest in green HVAC technologies, but is giving its students hands-on experience with these technologies, allowing them to be at the forefront of the green industry.

“How can we manage and save energy while still meeting or exceeding the needs of buildings and the people who live and work in them? This is the question we continually address when we teach our students,” said Clyde Perry, PhD, division chair and faculty member in GateWay’s industrial technology division. “The HVAC industry must continue to meet the needs of green technology and our students need to be prepared to utilize that technology on the job.”

GateWay’s HVAC program is preparing students to meet the demands of green technology in a variety of ways, including teaching about weatherization, building efficiency, environmentally friendly solutions for climate control and the continually evolving standards for air conditioning. Students also gain hands-on experience through manufacturing their own products and implementing energy management techniques, such as duct design, solar power and training on new high-efficiency HVAC systems. GateWay also implements and teaches its students how to minimize unnecessary travel and lying down of wire by using blue tooth and other technologies. Students also learn how to monitor HVAC systems’ efficient energy use by using computer technology.

In addition to utilizing its own resources, GateWay’s HVAC program partners with environmental control industry leader Johnson Controls to teach its students the latest in hands-on green technology. Johnson Controls is a leader in sustainability and passes along that knowledge in its educational endeavors. “Johnson Controls recently asked their educators to ‘go green’ and we are partnered with them and continue to be so because we have answered that call,” Perry said.

 “Control systems play an important part in the operation of a building and determine whether many of the green design aspects included in the original plan actually function as intended. A building automation system such as Johnson Controls Metasys network is a form of centralized controls capable of controlling HVAC and other systems such as life safety, lighting, water distribution, energy management and security; these systems are at the core of a building's performance,” said Dave Kenny, Johnson Controls instructor at GateWay. “The partnership between GateWay and Johnson Controls provides the GateWay students with the knowledge and hands-on learning since the mechanical lab at the college is completely controlled by a Metasys network. As they prepare for their future careers, they are also becoming part of the green initiative.”

In addition to the HVAC’s educational components and partnership, this fall its students will also be able to learn more about photovoltaics, a technology that directly converts sunlight into electricity. Students will once again gain hands-on experience with technology as GateWay is home to its own photovoltaic-based solar panel. A new class on photovoltaic technology begins this fall.

Learn more about our HVAC and additional Industrial Technology programs.