County of Ventura Region BOC Level I Attendees, December 20, 2017. Courtesy photo.
VENTURA —The Building Operator Certification (BOC®) program is recognizing the County of Ventura in California for its commitment to professional development for building operators and to energy management. Making the investment in their local government and special districts operator teams prepares them to support the county and state’s energy management and operational efficiency goals while providing their staff with a career path in energy efficiency and smart buildings.
The attendees of the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) hosted BOC Level I course (pictured below) included staff from regional cities, hospitals, school districts, and the county. County of Ventura employee attendee Leigh Lain Walker stated, “It was great getting to learn from the expertise of the instructors, exchange solutions with the other attendees, and gratifying to confidently apply what was learned into my daily work. I feel each attendee gained something from each class in the course that will positively impact our workplaces and our communities.” The Level I attendees will continue on to the BOC Level II course being offered in April 2018.
The BOC program provides skill enhancement training to building operations and maintenance personnel through a coherent set of eight in-class training days focused on HVAC equipment, lighting technology, electric systems, energy conservation strategies, and building controls. The in class training consists of instructor led discussions, group activities, tool demonstrations, and peer exchange. Another key part of the training program is the facility project assignments. Students are assigned projects to complete at the facility where they work, giving them the opportunity to garner hands on experience with their building, its systems, and energy use data.
Community Memorial Hospital employee Ron Lawrence stated “The concepts and ideas introduced in the classes will not only benefit me as an individual but the organization that I work for. We were introduced to tools and concepts that will assist us in making our buildings more efficient and comfortable. One of the things that helped me was the homework assignments. Each assignment challenged me and allowed me to gain a working knowledge of processes outside of my normal scope of work. We don’t always get to work with people from the many organizations that were represented at the BOC classes. I was able to learn from the experiences of those that attended the class.”
The BOC program helped Ventura County building operations staff:
- Increase the longevity and efficiency of building equipment
- Reduce the risk of unnecessary capital expenditures
- Mitigate revenue and productivity loss through preventative maintenance
- Identify and implement low-cost/no-cost improvements
BOC can help government buildings meet energy and carbon legislative requirements while reducing expenses through efficient operations and maintenance. Many of the program’s classes are also aligned with the competencies identified by the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 for the building operations professional. BOC supports goals outlined in the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan. Discover course offerings in your area by calling 1-877-850-4793 or visiting the BOC web site at www.theboc.info.
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The Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance is a Joint Powers Agency comprised of public agencies collaborating to address good energy stewardship through integrated demand-side management practices in Ventura County.