Degree Programs
Sustainability Highlight:
Lane Community College Selected to work with the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab.
Lane Community College was recently selected to work with the NationalRenewable Energy Lab (NREL) to update its Solar Master Plan. Lane will be receiving technical assistance to assess, rank, and prioritize solar electric projects using criteria that identifies the top 5 most beneficial and cost effective projects that move the college toward achieving it’s goal of generating about 6,000,000 kwh/year of renewable energy by 2050. College staff will work with NREL technical staff to determine the feasibility of siting installations, collecting solar insolation information, matching types of solar electric array and racking systems to existing locations, and delivering a tool for the college to continue to use to rank solar electrical projects. Lane's goal is to identify the first project and use the outcomes of the technical assistance to apply for funding resources like local or state grants, community donors, capital improvement money, etc to install it with in 3 years of the completion of NREL’s technical assistance.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Awarded
Lane Community College has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to fund an Independent Learner Energy Education Design (iLEED) project led by Energy/Water Education Programs Coordinator, Roger Ebbage. Over the next 3 years, the $618,881 grant will focus on providing community college students with opportunities to learn about energy management through online classes, developing hands on skills with “real world” field projects and cultivating potential employment connections with Northwest public utilities mentors.
iLEED introduces a new method of career technical educational content delivery to the industry which enables energy efficiency education to be distributed to a wider geographic area. It supplies highly-qualified energy management technicians to our region’s commercial building sector, and provides access to high-wage, high-skill jobs to students in rural areas, or students who are not able to attend “traditional” classes.
With this model of higher education/ industry partnership, energy management students will be served regardless of their geographic location, work-schedule, or family obligations. This opens opportunities to student demographics that are currently unavailable in current classes and absent within the energy industry.
iLEED is more then just generating online courses and or an online degree option. The program is piloting a methodology for non-centrally located remote students to be able to accomplish technical hands on activities. These activities are guided by industry experts who can facilitate access to tools, mechanical equipment and or tactile experiences. Additionally, they provide an invaluable direct student-to-industry connection that cultivates immersion into the industry along with potential employment opportunities.
The program is motivated by:
- The high demand for energy management workforce by industry
- The need for a novel education method which will expand technical education to broader student populations,
- Lane Community College’s expertise in energy management programs and experience delivering quality programs outside the traditional campus environment.
"This is not just taking a program online, rather, we have the potential to revolutionize how career technical programs serve underserved populations. Utilizing proven online instructional methods and innovative partnerships, we expect to increase the Energy Management program’s enrollment and consequently that of Lane Community College."
– Energy/Water Education Programs Coordinator, Roger Ebbage.
The iLEED grant begins July 1, 2016 and is funded for three years.
For information contact: Roger Ebbage, Coordinator, Energy/Water Education Programs ebbager@lanecc.edu, (541) 463-6160
News
BUILDING 1 STUDENT SERVICES HITS A BULLS-EYE WITH "TURN IT OFF" ENERGY SAVING SHOWCASE
April 7, 2015
In one term, Student Services staff lowered their baseline electrical energy use by 9 percent breaking a 10-year record of energy use increases in Building 1. The team saved enough energy during the winter 2015 term over the baseline year of 2005 to power nine average Lane county houses and saved the college over $950 dollars. How did they do that?
The Institute for Sustainable Practices (ISP) gives a big shout out to staff in the Testing, Student Finance, Enrollment Services, Counseling and Disability Services areas for bringing their green to work every day. By consistently turning off their un-needed lighting and equipment plug loads Building 1 Student Services staff made a big difference with small steps. The Testing office changed their procedures for turning on and off computers, Student Finance stepped up and turned their area lights off, Enrollment Services and Counseling implemented plug load controls to shut off office equipment when no one was using it, and Disability Services encouraged and educated their staff and students to 'Turn It Off'.
You can help Lane Community College make a difference in the fight against climate change. Participate in the college wide "Turn It Off"' campaign which targets lighting and equipment plug loads by encouraging people to take small steps at work to save energy and make a big difference. Take a virtual tour at http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/tools-and-resources/bring-your-green-work-interactive-cubicle to find out more about how Student Services lowered their electrical energy use and hit the bulls-eye on their target. Student and energy savings success starts here! Submitted by Anna E Scott, 5805.