Sustainable Energy Manager Associate Certificate (SEMAC)

BCIT, in partnership with BC Hydro and with support from Natural Resources Canada - Office of Energy Efficiency, is launching a series of part-time studies courses in Sustainable Energy Management.

These courses are designed to support employment opportunities in the emerging field of sustainable energy management, with focus on energy demands of commercial and institutional buildings. Once you have completed these courses you will be eligible to become an Energy Manager within your organization. The Energy Manager's salary will then be partially funded by BC Hydro if your organisation's electricity bill is over $250,000.

Furthermore, if you do not have a P Eng, MBA, or Certified Journeyman Electrician designation, this program at BCIT will be added as an accepted qualification to meet BC Hydro's minimum education requirements to be a partially funded Energy Manager. You can be the solution to the problem of BC Hydro customers' inability to find a qualified Energy Manager.

Please contact the BCIT Project Coordinator, Steve Finn, for further details.

Course Information

CESA 1101 – Energy Basics

CESA 1102 – Building Systems

Presents an overview of various conventional energy dependent building systems, conventional and alternative passive systems, and their interaction with each other, including lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Examines non-mechanical building systems, such as building envelope, insulation, windows, glazing, as well as building systems controls. Building performance improvements, including energy performance, through building recommissioning or continuous commissioning, will be examined. Introduces energy performance simulation computer modelling as a tool to establish baselines and change scenarios for energy reduction strategies.

CESA 2101 – Codes and Standards

Presents an overview of various energy policies, laws, codes, standards, and building rating systems for existing buildings. Introduces energy requirements, targets, and performance measures currently mandated or suggested as best practices, as well as upcoming further reduction requirements.

CESA 2102 – Operations

Presents the actions and management systems required by Facility Management to effectively manage energy use as part of its day-to-day activities. Presents an overview of various energy dependent business operations, such as travel, procurement, waste management, and water use, and related less energy intensive alternatives

CESA 3101 – Energy Auditing

Presents an overview of various audits aimed at identifying opportunities for energy demand reduction in existing buildings. Audits covered include: heat energy, electrical energy, travel and transportation energy, purchasing, waste and water use. Examines synergies and tradeoffs between energy reduction opportunities within building systems and operations.

CESA 3102 – Change Management

Presents an overview of various marketing principles aimed at gaining acceptance for energy reduction solutions, ranging from needs assessment, to promotion, messaging, and uptake tracking. Presents an overview of various components and approaches of social marketing, aimed at changing personal and group attitudes and behaviours. Introduces concepts of organizational behaviour and change management, including group effects, motivators, and communication techniques, to help facilitate organizational change towards a corporate culture of energy conservation and reduction. Explores negotiation concepts and processes, focusing on joint problem-solving and decision-making. Explores approaches to developing social marketing programs within an organization or for building occupants.

CESA 4101 – Strategic Management

Presents an overview of various strategic management tools, including business case development, strategic energy management plans, monitoring, targeting and reporting, benchmarking, and sustainability management systems. Explores components of the various tools, incentives, purposes, and performance indicators. Introduces continuous improvement methodologies with application to energy management in existing buildings.

CESA 4102 – Decision-Making

Presents an overview of various decision-making tools and methodologies. Performance indicators examined include: direct and indirect financial costs and benefits, and nonmonetary costs and benefits. Emphasis is placed on full life cycle costing, assessment and energy analysis.

CESA 4103 – Project Development

Presents an overview of the full scope of the development of an energy management project. Provides a practical experience opportunity to bring together all the components of an energy management project learned in the Sustainable Energy Manager program in the form of a mock energy management project plan for a real business or building. Includes preparation of a written report and delivery an executive summary presentation. Explores various project delivery methods.