Facility Management Program Addresses Need to Sustainably Update our Country’s New and Old Buildings

New Program Launches in June with Subject Matter from the International Facility Management Association

Across America in small towns and thriving cities, a similar issue is cropping up: aging buildings. While older buildings are often respected for their historical nature, there is often a need to update them for structural reasons, aesthetic purposes and even energy usage. In fact, right now The Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) is underway to collect data on the structure, operational characteristics and energy use of 12,000 buildings across the U.S. The data collected is only going to heighten the role of sustainability of buildings, both new and old, around the country.

With new window technology, energy efficiency options, water conservation choices and more, entire cities can improve their sustainability with renovation. Ecotech Institute, the first and only institution entirely focused on green jobs training, is launching its Facilities Management degree in June, which will train professionals to tackle this issue.

The International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), the world’s largest and most widely recognized association for professional facility managers, helped develop the curriculum for Ecotech Institute’s Facility Management Technology degree program. It is an associate’s degree program that will prepare students for careers in the field of facility management, focusing on the operation, maintenance, analysis, auditing and cost of energy management systems. Students will receive instruction that is designed to prepare them to analyze, operate, and maintain mechanical and electrical systems.

According to Ecotech’s Clean Jobs Index, there have been 75,000 jobs posted in the U.S. related to facilities management so far in 2013. To see applicable positions in each state, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex. A sample of possible facilities management jobs that graduates of this program could be qualified for include: Energy Manager, Facilities Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds and Plant Manager.

Ecotech Institute, based in Aurora, Colorado, now has more than 520 students who receive hands-on training in the growing field of sustainability. In addition to Facility Management Technology, Ecotech currently offers the following degree programs:

•    Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
•    Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
•    Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
•    Energy Efficiency Program, Associate of Applied Science
•    Electrical Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
•    Power Utility Technician, Associate of Applied Science
•    Business Administration – Sustainability, Associate of Applied Science