The Smarter Small Buildings Campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, offers technical assistance and recognition opportunities for adoption of rooftop unit (RTU) controls. The campaign helps building owners improve energy performance and occupant comfort through improved HVAC control and monitoring.
This case study explores how Roxbury Community College Center for Smart Building Technology partnered with PowerCorpsBOS to create a building operations pathway to train participants for jobs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in large buildings by maintaining building operations at peak efficiency.
Read the case study
Now accepting applications for June 2025.
Supported by an ATE grant from National Science Foundation, this professional learning program is intended to expand the national capacity for teaching Data Center Operations at technical and community colleges by engaging with secondary and postsecondary instructors.
The fellowship starts by attending a 3-day professional learning series at NOVA. Fellows will then participate in a 5-day externship at a data center near their work institution within 8-weeks of the initial professional learning. Stipends will be awarded to fellows who complete the 6-month fellowship.
Apply for the fellowship at teacherpd.novastem.us/fellowship
Download a DCO Professional Learning Fellowship Flyer here
For more info, contact Josh Labrie, Director of NOVA SYSTEMIC at jlabrie@nvcc.edu
Meet David Brannen, the latest spotlight from the BEST Center community.
“I’ve been at Rheem for four years. As a factory technical support team member for Rheem, I work on factory technical support and training on residential and commercial HVAC where the equipment changes very fast, so the contractors need help keeping up. Being an HVAC instructor in college was different because now I teach more product and company-focused knowledge at Rheem. With 27 years of experience, instead of teaching entry-level HVAC, I am tailoring my teaching for professionals to be able to work on Rheem’s HVAC products. Because BEST Center reaches out to colleges to help improve their HVAC curriculum they were an excellent opportunity for me to help develop curricula at the Texas college. Now, I can offer to put Rheem’s equipment and product knowledge into programs as a teacher. It is a great place to develop HVAC instructors to train students.“
– David Brannen, Rheem
Meet Pierre-Carlo Ortanez, the latest spotlight from the BEST Center community.
“I have been an HVAC instructor at Riverside City College as an adjunct for two years and as an assistant professor last August. Now it’s almost been one year of being an assistant professor. My connection to the BEST Center started with Mr. Galicia at College of the Desert. He built the building automation classes at Riverside CC. He recommended more training and forwarded Larry Chang’s email and invitation. BEST Center’s support system for the newest technologies has been helpful. BEST Center has created many networking opportunities, and I met instructors pursuing building automation. The most significant impact was the labs, where I got a lot from being in the BEST Center and curriculum support. Discussing the curriculum with other education professionals helped me develop the building control courses better. BEST Center has helped make our labs more fun. I can’t wait for the next BEST Center training.“
– Pierre-Carlo Ortanez, Riverside City College
Meet Susan Thompson, the latest spotlight from the BEST Center community.
“I have been a member of the BEST Center since 2016 because of how helpful the workshops and network has been. While teaching HVAC, I originally connected with the BEST Center while researching for program development of Building Automation System Operations Graduate Certificate.
Most recently, it has come full circle, as our JLL site team in Ottawa hosted Algonquin College Energy Management Graduate students for their Capstone project. We are looking forward to their conclusions and report.
I could not have met a better group with a shared ethos of technical excellence and the larger impact better buildings can have on the environment and resources. I continue to advocate for energy training for technicians and awareness for everyone.”
– Susan Thompson, JLL
BEST Center is made up of dedicated staff and members. This is the latest spotlight in a series about our community.
“I have been a member of the BEST Center since 2013 because it provides me with new technologies and teaching methods that I share with other instructors. I worked with HVAC and controls related jobs in the U.S. Air Force while attending school. I received my Industrial Technology B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University of Engineering, my master’s in education from Concordia University, and am currently working towards my doctorate in education at NCU. The reason why I got into teaching HVACR and controls is because I love to share my crafts and let people know about how many different varieties of technicians there are. Something I wish students would know is that you don’t need a 4 year degree to do well in this field; there are lots of different jobs that are compensated well. For other instructors, the BEST Center is a great place to improve your program with new technologies and up-to-date curriculum.”
– Robert McNabb
BEST Center is made up of dedicated staff and members. This is the latest spotlight in a series about our community.
“I currently teach mechanical and electrical engineering at Sacramento City College. What got me into the industry was my dad; I worked with him from installment to service in the industrial sector. I found enjoyment in mentoring upcoming apprentices so I decided to go back to my college to teach future HVAC technicians. I firmly believe in everything that the BEST Center is doing; I incorporate so much information I gained from workshops into my classes. The research that the center provides is a great step to improving climate change; it targets the next generation of technicians by educating the instructors.”
– Brad Prudhel
BEST Center is made up of dedicated staff and members. This is the latest spotlight in a series about our community.
“I have been a member of the BEST Center since 2015 because of how helpful the workshops are to my energy management program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Most recently, I copresented at a webinar about virtual energy audits and virtual tools for instructors to use during the pandemic. One of my big inspirations to teach building management are the students. I know how transformative an education can be for people, especially in this industry. BEST Center helps instructors, like me, integrate hands-on activities and industry related content to mechanical academic programs.”
– Jenny Brinker