Cedar Valley College goes green

by Loyd Brumfield of Cedar Hill TODAY

You'd be surprised how much a simple barrel of collected rainwater can cut your water bills and help keep your lawn lush, said Felicia Cook, director of Cedar Valley College's Cedar Hill Center.

If the college's plans are successful, it hopes to unleash an army of contractors, builders, engineers and ordinary people who are well-schooled in the concept of energy efficiency and going green.

CVC's main campus in Lancaster has been approved for a new complex of buildings to be built with “green” principles in mind, and each building in the complex will feature a different emphasis on environmental awareness.

The Green Building Institute, as it has been named, will also offer intensive online courses to promote energy efficient building practices for both professionals and homeowners.

“One of the things we noticed when we first got into the Green Building Institute, was that as we looked at workforce trends, what we saw was a need to train people working in the industry to foster these green concepts and use them in their practices,” Cook said.

CVC is partnering with Home Depot for a trade show scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at the Cedar Hill store on FM 1382. Master builder Jim Sargent will speak at the show at 11 a.m. about the environment-friendly materials he uses to construct his homes.

Sargent has built a “zero-energy” home in Frisco that people can tour, Cook said.

Sargent is also the instructor for the online courses at CVC. Through the Green Building Institute, students can earn an associate degree in residential performance technology or a certificate in the field after six months.

Residential performance technology is a field that involves building code education and other areas.

Builders, construction workers and home inspectors earn expertise in several kinds of building materials and their effects on the environment, Cook said.

Sound home-building techniques are also taught, Cook said.

The seed money for CVC's program came from the U.S. Department of Energy, but several businesses and other government organizations have also provided funding, including TXU, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Sargent himself.

TXU has given $40,000 over a two-year period toward the program.

Other programs offered through the Green Building Institute include multimedia instruction modules for distance learning, continuing education for professionals who must learn the International Energy Conservation Code and continuing education for the community about home “extreme energy makeovers” and “green interiors.”

“Wouldn't it be great if we in the Best Southwest were at the forefront of this movement?” Cook said.

That's one of the reasons why the courses for the program are online, so that anyone anywhere with Internet access can take part, she said.

“Our initial goal is to educate the public on green programs and their benefits,” Cook said, adding that simple ideas such as collecting rainwater in barrels (“water harvesting”) and adding weatherstripping around doors and windows will also be taught.

CVC has already heard from companies who want to hire their students, Cook said.

“I always tell them, ‘Well, we don't have any students yet,'” she said.

After hearing that, the companies tell Cook that they are willing to wait until the first graduates are produced.

“These companies want to grow their own technicians,” said Diana Phillips, CVC's Continuing Education and Workforce specialist. “There are already companies out there who are ready to hire.”

The Sierra Club's Terry Jensen will also appear at the trade show to speak on the growing concept of “urban ecovillages,” and the first 50 visitors to Home Depot during the show will take home a free tree seedling.

The show will also feature several vendors who can show off their products on a stage at predetermined times, and home improvement workshops, exhibitor tables and food will be on hand, as well.

Everyone, including people who may not necessarily be interested in the environment, have a stake in greater energy efficiency, Cook said.

“The average homeowner may not know anything about energy efficiency, but they certainly have an interest in lowering their utility bills,” Cook said. “The curriculum is ready, and what we are hoping to do now is generate grassroots interest from the public.”

For more information about the Green Building Institute, contact CVC at 972-860-7892.

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous