Free training to qualify for “green jobs” in building thermography and photovoltaic system design will be held between May 21 and June 21 at East Central University in Ada and the Kiamichi Technology Centers in McAlester, Idabel and Atoka.
ECU will provide free day care on its campus for the children of parents enrolled in the Ada classes. Parents should reserve spaces for their children at least three days before their class begins.
The university also will award certificates for all participants who complete a class.
The classes start May 21 and 22 in Ada with Building Thermography. The deadline to enroll in the class is 5 p.m. May 18. Thermography is the science of visualizing infrared energy (heat) patterns. It has applications in a number of industries and in determining environmental conditions.
The class will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will teach scientific principles of thermography, thermography applications, operation of infrared cameras and the use of thermography software to analyze infrared camera data and generate thermography reports.
Building Thermography also will be offered at the three Kiamichi Technology Centers. The dates of the class, followed by the registration deadlines in parentheses, are June 12 and 13 in McAlester (June 8); June 18 and 19 in Atoka (June 15); and June 20 and 21 (June 18) in Idabel. All classes will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The one-day Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) class will be held only at ECU in Ada and the Kiamichi Technology Center in McAlester. It will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 23 in Ada, with registration ending on May 22, and on June 7 in McAlester, with registration ending on June 6.
The LEED class will offer national certification to become a LEED Green Associate. It will teach principles of building design, construction and operation in order to achieve greater efficiency, improved health and comfort in indoor environments and promote sustainability. It includes printed materials and an online course and learning tools to prepare participants for the National LEED Green Associate professional credential.
The Photovoltaic System Design and Installation Class will be taught from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning May 24-25 at ECU in Ada. Registration will end at 5 p.m. May 23. Other classes will be held at the Kiamichi Technology Centers. Dates and locations are June 5-6 (June 1) in McAlester, June 18-19 (June 15) in Idabel and June 20-21 (June 18) in Atoka.
Photovoltaic systems are renewable energy systems capable of generating electricity from sunlight for residential, public and commercial buildings. The course will include system design, solar resource and site assessment tools, component selection, system sizing calculations and basics of system installation. After completing the course, participants will receive a certificate.
To enroll or for more information, call Irina Campbell at 580-559-5632. Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens and at least 18 years old. They can be either employed or unemployed workers, veterans and spouses of veterans, workers impacted by the National Energy and Environmental Policy, or individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.
The courses are sponsored by the Southern Oklahoma Green Jobs Consortium Grant of ECU and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.