Press Release
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
January 20, 2007
Paige Knutsen
312-587-8390 x 19
pknutsen@mwalliance.org Building
Operator Certification (BOC) Program Coming to Iowa!
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and the Northwest Energy
Efficiency Council (NEEC) are pleased to announce the addition of Iowa to the
national Building Operator Certification (BOC) program. With this approval, MEEA
and NEEC welcome Iowa as the 20th state to join the BOC provider network.
BOC is a competency-based training and certification for building operators,
offering improved job skills and more comfortable and energy efficient
facilities. The certification also provides a credential for professional
development while offering employers a way to identify skilled operators.
Graduates of BOC training typically achieve utility bill savings of $12,000 in
the first year and document a decrease in the number of tenant complaints.
The Iowa BOC program will be administered by the Midwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance (MEEA) on behalf of the Iowa Energy Center in partnership with Alliant
Energy-Interstate Power and Light Co., Aquila, and MidAmerican Energy Company.
MEEA is a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to
support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation and
offers BOC training in five Midwest states.
Floyd Barwig, Director of the Iowa Energy Center says, “BOC training is a great
opportunity to help businesses stay competitive by shaving energy costs. We’re
excited about the opportunity to work with MEEA and NEEC to bring the program to
Iowa.”
BOC Level I certification is earned by completing 56 hours of classroom training
and written exams, in addition to hands-on projects conducted at the operator’s
facility. Topics include HVAC systems and controls, energy conservation
techniques, electrical systems, and indoor air quality.
According to Nicole Healey, Product Manager at Alliant Energy, “BOC offers great
value to private sector companies and public institutions interested in
controlling energy costs to stay competitive and to be environmentally
responsible. We are achieving major utility bill savings in commercial
facilities, and well-trained, front-line staff are key to that success.”
Over 5,000 operators hold BOC certifications nationally. The certificate is
registered with the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI), the
Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE) and the International Facilities
Management Association (IFMA) for continuing education maintenance points.
A Free BOC informational Web Cast is scheduled on Thursday, March 1, 2007. To
register, visit www.boccentral.org. BOC
course series will be held in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Council Bluffs and Des
Moines beginning in February.
For more information, go to
www.boccentral.org, or visit the national website,
www.theboc.info
ABOUT NEEC
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) is a business association of
the energy efficiency industry. NEEC’s mission is to promote policies and
programs that enhance market opportunities for energy efficiency. Building
Operator Certification is one such program and continues to gain national
recognition.
ABOUT THE IOWA ENERGY CENTER
The Iowa Energy Center supports projects that help Iowans understand how
they can make their homes more comfortable and affordable to own. It is
investing in initiatives that help Iowa industries and businesses run
efficiently so they can be more productive and profitable. The Energy Center
also helps Iowa communities strengthen their local economies and make their
environments healthier.
### |
