The Fundamentals of Energy Efficient Building Operations course provides the basic principles of energy efficiency awareness and practices in commercial buildings. It is designed for those looking to start a career in building operations and maintenance, existing facilities personnel who are looking for a solid foundational understanding of energy efficiency and building systems, and those whose work intersects with facilities and the built environment. The course includes seven parts that can be delivered over three full-day classes when delivered in person, and has been adapted to six half-day classes for virtual delivery. The total time commitment for this course is 18 hours.

Utilizing core Building Operator Certification® (BOC) concepts, this training focuses on efficient operations and strengthens building optimization skills. The training is intended to complement other on-the-job training and experience to provide a general awareness of building operations fundamentals from an energy efficiency perspective.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Achieve general awareness of facilities and instill efficiency ethic
• Reinforce BOC concepts
• Strengthen building optimization skills
• Identify areas for energy savings
• Make energy-smart decisions in day-to-day tasks

After completion of seven course modules that introduce foundational principles for optimizing building efficiency, the interdependencies of key building systems, and the basics of measuring and benchmarking energy performance, participants will earn a Fundamentals of Energy Efficient Building Operations Certificate. Successful completion of the course can be paired with one-year of experience for a student to meet eligibility requirements for BOC Level I.

The course modules and their learning objectives are:

Part 1: Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Overview

Program Overview
Concepts of green and high-performance buildings
Trends in building operations
Building a plan for your facilities
Learning activity: Developing your facility’s baseline and goals
Green building certification

Part 2: HVAC Fundamentals

Introduction to HVAC
Heating & Cooling Systems
Air Systems
Learning Activity: Identify equipment from a sketch – 30 minutes
Maintenance Overview

Part 3: Lighting Fundamentals

Lighting Principles
Learning Activity – Using a Light Meter
Lighting Equipment
Lighting Maintenance
Lighting Efficiency
Learning Activity – Utility Incentives

Part 4: Energy Conservation Opportunities

Energy Conservation and Facility Management
Common Opportunities for Low-Cost Operational Improvement
Learning Activity: Energy Conservation Opportunities
Introduction to controls

Part 5: Indoor Environmental Quality

Indoor Environmental Quality Overview
Effective Communication
Learning Activity: Communications Case Study
Fundamentals of Indoor Environmental Quality
Preventing IEQ Problems
Pollutant Control Strategies

Part 6: Measuring and Benchmarking Energy Performance

Energy Management
Energy Fundamentals
Energy Accounting
Learning Activity – Interpreting Energy Bills
Energy Benchmarking

Part 7: Conclusion: Putting It All Together

Engaging with customers
Monitoring and measuring

Students with a year of experience and successful completion of the course (earning their Fundamentals Certificate) will meet eligibility requirements for BOC Level I. The Fundamentals course has a single 20-question multiple-choice test at the end of the course, and no project assignments.