Renewable EnergySCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT & GEOMATICS

selkirk.ca/program/renewable-energy | 1.888.953.1133, ext. 393 | Castlegar Campus

As current political, economic and environmental trends continue to converge with

advancing technologies, the renewable energy field keeps growing, along with its job

prospects. This Advanced Certificate offers renewable energy theory supported by

practical lab experience, field trips and a project demonstrating energy conservation

with renewable energy technologies. The program is eligible for university credit in other

environmental or related programs.

The Renewable Energy program covers renewable energy applications, energy conservation, electricity and heat transfer as well as the economic, social and environmental contexts of renewable energy technologies. The course curriculum includes:• energy audits theory and application• renewable energy system design and installation • career options

Learning OutcOmes

Students of this program will learn how to:• complete a residential energy audit • calculate residential heat loss • perform a blower door test • do a cost benefit analysis of energy conservation

strategies using software• recommend improved energy efficiency by changing

habits and retrofitting• explain operating principles, applications and

limitations for ground source heat pumps (GSHP), solar thermal water and space heaters, solar PV panels,

biomass energy, small hydro generators and wind energy turbines; assess when and where their installation makes economic and/or environmental sense and estimate the system installation costs

• carry out a quantitative site assessment for solar energy, small hydro, wind or GSHP potential energy

• size residential ground source heat pumps (GSHP), solar thermal, biomass energy systems, solar PV, small hydro and wind energy systems

• acquire basic electrical skills, safety knowledge and Electric Code principles, and install residential solar PV, small hydro and wind turbine systems

• understand basic mechanical refrigeration system components, operating concepts, safe work practices; size a residential GSHP and a solar thermal water heater/space heater

• design and build a small structure that combines energy conservation and renewable energy technologies—on budget, on schedule and critiqued

• comprehend career and employment options in the emerging field of renewable energy

selkirk.ca/program/renewable-energy | 1.888.953.1133, ext. 393 | Castlegar Campus

static and current electricity, magnetism, resistance, potential difference, resistors, capacitors, inductors, solenoids, relays, insulators, conduits, DC power, Ohm’s Law, circuits, AC power, generators, basic electronics and control. The basic principles of heat transfer and its application for air and ground source heat pumps and solar thermal technologies are also covered.

Project and Field Trips Students apply their skills by planning, designing and building a reduced scale building with maximum energy efficiency. The building is designed solar thermal ready, incorporating a solar PV system. Students choose to build using recycled materials or experiment with non-conventional building systems—like straw bale. The project must be on budget, on deadline, show cost per square foot to build and operate.

WhO can appLy

• Technical tradespeople• Environmental Technology or related diploma

program graduates (Canada)• Science graduate associates, second year or higher

environmental science or studies• Mature students• Applicants at the discretion of the Chair of the

School of Environment and Geomatics

VieW this prOgram OnLine

selkirk.ca/program/renewable-energy

Renewable EnergySCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT & GEOMATICS

reneWabLe energy certificate cOurses

Applications of Renewable Energy explores energy supply and demand in historic and current economic, social and environmental contexts. You will learn applied energy basics (energy, electricity, heat, units, conversion, Ohm’s Law, energy density, energy losses and gains, and typical residential rates of consumption). Renewable energy (RE) systems, operating principles, limitations and calculation of potential gross and net

energy output are examined. Labs cover the use of volt, amp, watt and Ohm, meters, oscilloscopes and exercises on biomass, small hydro, solar thermal, solar photo-voltaic, and wind energy systems.

Energy Conservation covers heat loss calculations; hot water and space heating loads; energy auditing; use of a blower door; energy conservation and retrofitting techniques; developing, costing and calculating energy conservation retrofitting savings; use of Hot2000 or other validated residential energy consumption modeling software. Course graduates can seek certified residential energy advisor status.

Electricity and Heat Transfer follows an established curriculum of lessons and labs on basic electrical and heat transfer theory, and applied skills. Students study

reneWabLe energy certificate matriX

COURSE TITLE Hours/wk

TOTAL HOURS

% of TOTALHOURS

Applications of RE 11 66 35Energy Conservation 7 42 22Electricity & Heat Transfer 7 42 22Project & Field Trips 5 30 16Guest Speaker 2 10 5

TOTAL 32 190 100