Cincinnati State to launch Energy and Environment Center
April 17, 2009
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is launching an initiative designed to cement its standing as a regional leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable design and the environment.
Cincinnati State President John Henderson today announced the establishment of the Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State.
The center will function as a way to consolidate Cincinnati State’s green energy and construction offerings and expand them as opportunities arise. But, more importantly, it will serve as a regional resource for businesses, community leaders and learners who are interested in environmental and energy-related issues and new careers in these expanding fields.
“Cincinnati State already has one of the strongest energy management and environmental technologies programs in the Tri-State,’’ Henderson said. “The Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State will help students, job seekers, businesses and the general public develop and execute a smart, cost-effective approach to energy policy, and protect the environment in the process.’’
Cincinnati State has the region’s first comprehensive program devoted to the energy-efficient, environmentally friendly construction practices developed by the United States Green Building Council. The College offers a full sequence of courses to prepare students to understand and meet the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED) standards in such areas as sustainable design, heating and air conditioning systems and construction management. The program also includes a course that prepares students – and practicing professionals -- to sit for the LEED Accredited Professional Exam.
Cincinnati State also has the region’s first on-campus major devoted to renewable energy. It gives students hands-on education and training in such areas as solar panel installation, geothermal systems, fuel cells and thermal solar applications.
The College also offers majors involving environmental engineering technologies, power systems engineering technologies, and the design and operation of water and wastewater treatment plants. And its Workforce Development Center in Evendale offers traditional-style green energy courses (including one that prepares students to test for certification as photo-voltaic system installers), as well as customized assistance to businesses trying to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and operating systems.
The Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State will be a regional leader in education and community outreach on energy and environment issues, including: energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, composting and recycling. The Center will conduct city, county, state, regional and national meetings and events pertaining to a wide range of energy and environment issues such as vegetated roofs, sustainable design and construction, biofuels and stormwater management.
The Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State plans to help professionals not only develop and use technology in an environmentally responsible manner, but also develop ways to correct problems created by past practices.
Douglas Heesten, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, said the Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State will benefit from several recent grants and gifts.
Among them:
- A three-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand existing programs to reach more participants, increase awareness of energy-related jobs and develop online and hybrid versions of certain energy-related courses.
- A $25,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to launch a pilot program to help displaced workers find employment in “green’’ industries through internships, co-op placements or job placements.
- A renewable energy lab funded by Duke Energy, the Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Bank, Trustee), the Ohio Department of Development and Cincinnati State.
- An anonymous donation of $10,000 to support scholarships for students majoring in renewable energy, sustainable design or who participate in workforce development training involving “green’’ industries.
“The people here at Cincinnati State are among those who believe that Cincinnati should become the center for sustainable, renewable energy in the Midwest,’’ Henderson said. “We’re committed to making that happen.’’
Larry Feist, chair of Cincinnati State’s renewable energy program, said he hopes to help capitalize on Cincinnati’s legacy as a center for machine tools and metal-working to advance new technologies. And he said the region’s location – notably its access to barges on the Ohio River and to major freight rail lines -- should give it a competitive advantage with technologies such as wind turbines designed for utilities and large industrial customers. The components of those machines are so large, he noted, that they are often difficult to ship by truck.
Cincinnati State is also exploring the addition of curriculum devoted to the production and support of biofuels. Already the Midwest is a national leader in the manufacture of corn- and soy-based ethanol. But wide-ranging research and development is underway involving a variety of other sources, and Cincinnati State is planning to prepare its students for careers in what promises to become a growth industry.
The college also plans to ramp up efforts to provide training and educational programs at its Workforce Development Center in Evendale for companies and individuals that are involved with advanced energy industries or retrofitting their infrastructure for energy efficiencies.
“The Energy and Environment Center at Cincinnati State is just a first step,’’ Henderson said. “It’s a way for us to lay down a marker and demonstrate that we’re serious about taking the lead in this crucial area.’’
The Center will be housed at Cincinnati State’s Clifton campus.
