July 23, 2009... Trident Technical College offers continuing education courses leading to careers in green building and analysis. The college is one of six Energy Efficiency Training Centers in South Carolina to deliver residential energy audits, envelope sealing, energy efficiency and weatherization training programs, funded by federal stimulus dollars.

New green courses include Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst, BPI Envelope Professional, BPI Manufactured Housing Professional and Weatherization Technician. Combining classroom instruction and individual student performance tests, these courses cover the fundamentals of building science, measurement and verification of building performance, and professional ethics, conduct and communication. A small building on the college’s Main Campus has been modified to use as a test house for training related to building performance and weatherization.

TTC also offers the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Field Inspector Training and Exam course, which leads to a national certification. This course is ideal for home inspectors, trade contractors and others involved in residential construction as well as for those with technical aptitude looking for a new direction in their careers. Course topics include building science, home energy rating data collection, and performance testing to determine building infiltration and duct leakage rates.

Building Science Level I is a preparation course for the HERS and BPI courses, which covers general building science, the calculations of building science and performance. It also covers calculations involving mathematics, trigonometry, geometry and units of measure. These green courses are part of a multifaceted initiative — TTC Green — that expands the college’s energy efficiency and sustainability efforts at all three campuses plus every training site.

Registration is ongoing for green continuing education courses. To register, visit www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm or call 843-574-6152. For more information, contact Bill Spaulding at 843-574-6778 or e-mail bill.spaulding@tridenttech.edu.