Lake Land College is leading the nation in creating an energy independent campus with real examples of renewable energy in action. We have also developed a large list of green courses and programs that meet the career demands of the growing sustainability field. As a student in one of the college’s new green courses or programs your experience will include training on industry equipment and instruction in:
Green Jobs covers a wide spectrum of opportunities from training in wind energy maintenance and the actual development of renewable energy sources to jobs that support lifestyles of health and sustainability. The programs are delivered in a flexible format to meet the demands of those seeking to upgrade skills, those unemployed or those who are passionate about this field. Face-to-face assistance for new college students as well as scholarship assistance is available.
Lake Land College’s Technology faculty are creating programs and courses that meet current technical demands as well as the business side of the growing sustainability field. The programs span from learning technical skills, installing renewable energy systems, and servicing equipment to gaining business knowledge to run sustainable offices, handle sales or market new renewable energy products and services.
Future courses and programs will include training in low-impact, energy efficient construction techniques, integration of digital networks in home construction, training in SCADA, wind energy, smart grid operation, renewable & alternative energy, energy efficiency & weatherization, resource sustainability, solar thermal applications, bioenergy, and site assessment for renewable energy.
Three new certificates and one degree program have been developed will provide opportunities to specialize in green technology, earn an associate degree, or prepare for additional training at a four-year college or university.
Bioenergy is renewable energy that is derived from biological sources. This energy is derived from biomass which is organic material that has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. Biomass can include wood, manure, sugarcane, agricultural grains, and a variety of available organic products that can grow in local climate and weather conditions. Renewable organic resources, unlike energy derived from oil, are constantly replenished in a sustainable life cycle and never run out. Biomass can be used to produce biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts:
Biofuels is biomass, usually plant sugars or starches that are converted to liquid fuels for use in transportation or are gases like methanol derived from decaying organic matter. Ethanol and biodiesel fuels can be produced from many sources including corn, sugarcane, soybeans, or recycled vegetable oils. The future of biofuels lies in converting cellulosic materials, like switchgrass and corn stover, directly into ethanol by fermenting and breaking down the cellulose in plant cells. Another future application is the commercial development and production of biodiesel from algae and other plant-derived fats. Energy from the anaerobic digestion of manure or landfill wastes in the form of methane can be collected and used to produce electricity.
Biomass power technologies convert renewable biomass fuels into heat and electricity using processes similar to that used with fossil fuels. Burning wood to heat our homes is an example. Large-scale projects can use any combustible material to produce electricity, heat for industrial processes, or both as in cogeneration projects like the EIU Renewable Energy Center plant. Steam generation technology to produce electricity is very dependable and proven. In addition, biomass gasifiers can produce gas as fuel that can be burned or used in fuel cells.
Bioproducts produced from biomass could replace the chemical feedstocks now derived from fossil fuels. Plastics, chemicals, and composite materials from renewable resources could be produced from agricultural crops and residues, trees and forest products, grasses, animal wastes, and organic municipal solid wastes. This is a growing field where production agriculture, research, and industry expertise will combine to produce energy-efficient and cost-competitive products to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Lake Land offers TEC 064, Bioenergy and TEC 066, Resource Sustainability as courses in the new green technology curriculum. They deal with the fundamentals of energy use and production from biogas, biofuels, and biomass including production methods, domestic and industrial uses, and sustainability issues related to the needs of future generations.
Career pathways for those interested in bioenergy could include production agriculture, harvesting technologies, storage, and management, supply-chain management, production facility laboratory services, labor, or management, fuel handling, transportation, distribution, or production, enzyme and fermentation biology, or dozens of other possibilities.
Energy efficiency is the process of using energy more effectively to produce the same benefit with less energy used. Energy efficiency differs from energy conservation because conservation just means using less energy or changing behavior (ex. turning down the thermostat without adding more thermal insulation). Energy efficiency coupled with renewable energy production are said to be the “twin pillars” of a sustainable energy policy. Efficient energy use coupled with sustainable energy development can significantly reduce our use of fossil fuels.
For existing buildings more efficient energy use might begin with an energy audit which is an evaluation of a building structure and its mechanical components to determine where changes could be made to improve occupant comfort or reduce energy use. This could be done for residences as well as industrial facilities. Once the energy-wasting areas are identified, weatherization techniques could be applied to stop air infiltration or more efficient electric appliances and equipment could replace less-efficient devices. Weatherization might be adding more insulation, changing door or window seals, calking, installing outlet seals, insulating pipes, or otherwise doing air sealing or insulating to keep the conditioned interior spaces more comfortable and reduce energy losses.
Industrial settings might improve their energy use by changing the type of energy they use by generating power from waste or by using combined heat and power systems (cogeneration) to meet their energy needs. Mechanical systems could be converted to variable speed drives to match a motor’s energy output to the required load. Motors made of superconducting materials or using voltage compensation can also be used to reduce energy use. Pumps, compressors, conveyors and a nearly unlimited number of systems can benefit from electronic controls, variable speed drives, and improving their maintenance practices. There are many possibilities to improve energy efficiency in an industrial setting and the savings improve profitability and flow right to the bottom line.
Lake Land offers TEC 059, Weatherization Technician/Installer and TEC 065, Energy Efficiency, as part of the green technology program. These courses prepare students to assess homes according to current industry standards, apply building weatherization techniques, and learn the fundamentals of energy transfer, distribution, conservation, and efficiency as it relates to residential, commercial, and industrial use.
Career pathways in energy efficiency could include Weatherization Technicians, individuals and subcontractors who install weatherization products, Energy Efficiency Engineer/Manager/Field Engineer, Energy & Sustainability Analyst, Energy Advisor/Auditor, field Inspector, Installation Specialist, Building Controls Technician/Engineer, Marketing Specialist, Energy Consultant, Plant Operator, HVAC Technician/Manager, Energy Management Specialist, or dozens of similar titles.
The cost of energy is increasing and sustainable, energy efficient construction is the trend of the future. Green construction or sustainable building uses processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient from building siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. Buildings built using these concepts are efficient, durable, and comfortable.
Environmentally friendly construction practices produce environmental, social, and economic benefits. Green building uses sustainable design and may incorporate permeable concrete to enhance replenishment of ground water, renewable energy sources like active and passive solar energy, solar panels to generate power, a reduction in the use of building materials, improved building design, and landscaping to reduce heating and cooling costs. While different regions may apply different techniques, all of them involve energy efficiency, materials efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air environmental quality improvement, waste reduction, and maintenance efficiency. These processes and methods improve the sustainability of a project by the way raw materials are used, where they come from, how they are processed, and ultimately incorporated into the building project.
Life cycle assessment of the construction process accounts for the impacts of raw materials acquisition, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal or recycling. This can lead to a certification framework called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) where green building practices of design, construction, operations and maintenance lead to a certification score or measurement tool. A higher LEED certification indicates a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly project. Some businesses and individuals want a LEED certified building because they believe it leads to a healthier work and living environment, improves air and water quality, reduces waste, and benefits society as a whole. A LEED building may cost more but it is generally appraised to be worth more because it has lower operating costs and can command higher rents and occupancy. LEED standards are continuously being modified and improved so the LEED process should produce a more streamlined and efficient process in the future.
Lake Land offers a program in Building Construction Technology. This program is currently being revised and will include instruction on LEED and green building technology.
Because we are always building new homes and businesses the number of career pathways in construction technology is huge. These might include Construction Laborers, Planners, Managers, Estimators, and Developers, Electricians, Solar Panel Installers, Energy Analysts, Heavy Equipment Operators, Plumbers, Glazers, CAD Technician, Energy Auditors, Building Inspectors, Bankers, Logistical Managers, Sustainability Technologies Specialist, Engineers, Planning Analyst, Architects, Maintenance Technician, Facilities Planning Manager, Sales Managers, Green Buildings Project Manager, and hundreds of related occupations.
Recycling is reusing materials in existing products to create new ones. What we throw away can be sorted and channeled back into new buildings and products at a fraction of the cost of new materials. An entirely new industry has sprung up around an idea that recycling makes sense from an energy standpoint as well as being a pillar of sustainable living.
As the population grows and with it the need for raw materials, society needs recycling. Municipal solid waste (MSW) can include anything we throw away like plastics, glass, paper, old furniture, electronics, tires, or yard clippings. These things can be recovered at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is sorted and processed before being sent to manufacturers. MRFs are increasingly part of single-stream recycling where all MSW is collected together then segregated later into separate recyclable streams. Curbside pickup where individual families separate waste and put it at the curbside and drop-off recycling where recyclables are dropped off at a central location are still popular. Anything that is recycled keeps it out of a landfill and prevents pollution.
By recycling we prolong the storage capacity of landfills and we reuse good materials. We also reduce pollution because fewer new products need to be produced and we reduce our need for new natural resources. What doesn’t get recycled can be burned to produce heat and steam for industry or the organic component of waste can be composted. Old landfills can be tapped for the methane it produces which is used to power equipment that generates electricity.
Lake Land offers several courses that relate to recycling: TEC 066, Resource Sustainability, TEC 057, Introduction to Renewable Energy, and TEC 058, Alternative Energy. Recycling is part of our green technology future.
Career pathways in recycling are quite diverse. You could be recyclable material collector or truck driver that takes waste to a MRF. At the MRF you could be a sorter, mechanic, technician, materials handler, heavy equipment operator, or machinery maintenance worker. You could also be a material recovery manager, route manager, or sales representative. Many municipalities also employ recycling advocates to manage and promote their recycling program. Landfills manage waste with heavy equipment, technicians monitor the air and water, managers acquire permits and submit reports, and power plant workers generate electricity.
Renewable energy comes from the sun, wind, water, biomass, wave power, and earth. In fact, except for geothermal energy, all renewable energy derives from the sun. The sunlight can be harvested directly using solar panels; its heat can be used to warm homes and produce domestic hot water. Uneven heating of the earth causes wind that can power wind turbines or make waves which can generate electricity. Rainfall and climate can produce biomass or hydroelectric generation with surplus water runoff. All of these forms of renewable energy can be used instead of fossil-based power to meet our energy needs.
Alternative energy is just another form of energy produced by unconventional means. Electric-powered vehicles, fuel cells, liquefied natural gas for transportation fuel, and methane gas harvesting from landfills are just a few.
Career pathways for renewable & alternative energy are very diverse. Whether we are installing solar panels, pool heaters, or domestic hot water heaters, wind turbines, operating a methane recovery center, developing electric vehicles, researching biofuels, or developing new forms of energy to power our lives, there are also a lot of support careers that are needed in addition. We need electricians to install electrical equipment, plumbers for water heating, carpenters for building more efficient homes, transportation managers to move equipment to development sites, engineers to integrate renewable energy into the conventional energy grid, scientists, technicians and managers to manage projects, etc. The new technology and the needs to make it work are an entirely new industry.
Lake Land offers TEC 057, Introduction to Renewable Energy, TEC 058, Alternative Energy, and TEC 066, Resource Sustainability. These courses are the foundation to many pathways found in the renewable energy economy.
Sustainability is stewardship and the responsible use of resources where the needs of present society are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is keeping biological systems diverse and productive over time as a healthy ecosystem, ethical consumerism, urban planning, energy & transportation planning, lifestyle and cultural behavior issues, optimizing food production capacity, and developing new technologies that reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources. Achieving sustainability will enable Earth to support life as we know it. There are challenges, however, as developing countries begin to use more fossil fuels and resources to develop infrastructure and a higher standard of living for their people that other cultures already enjoy.
Sustainability involves reconciling environmental, social, and economic needs. These three pillars of sustainability suggest many goals but how these goals are achieved are open to interpretation and debate. We struggle with what the definition of sustainability is as it should be factual and scientific but it also has to address current cultural inequities, unsustainable use of water and resources in some cultures, and the global balancing of production and consumption. We don’t have a consensual definition or plan on how to achieve sustainable systems for everyone and that is a major challenge. The total impact on humankind depends on the global population and if the ecosystem carrying capacity and global resources can equitably support everyone on Earth.
Environmental consideration in sustainability involves environmental management and stewardship. We have to manage our industrial processes to protect air, land, and water to ensure our environment remains healthy. The Earth has limited ability to cleanse itself of toxic chemicals, combustion aerosols, pollutants, and particulates. Oceans and land use have to maintain productivity to allow future generations to sustainably harvest fish and grow their own food. Energy needs to shift to renewable sources rather than fossil origin to reduce pollution and its effects. Water use needs to be limited to the regeneration capacity of aquifers and surface water use should be more efficient. Finally, as the global population increases we need to find ways of using more renewable sources of building materials and chemicals while utilizing recyclable materials as much as possible.
The social dimension of sustainability might be the most difficult to address as each global culture has its own views about what inputs and how much is needed to support their own lifestyle or the lifestyle they aspire to. There is a vast difference in resource use between developed and undeveloped nations. Social justice and poverty alleviation is important to undeveloped nations, less so to the developed nations. Population growth in undeveloped nations will complicate the sustainable discussion as they want a larger share of resources to improve their lifestyle. As the developed nations become further removed from first-hand knowledge of food production and natural ecosystems, their concern for the natural environment may change if the issue isn’t in their back yard. Transportation issues can become transformational if the cost of fuel does not allow long-distance commuting to jobs and navigation within urban sprawl. The inequitable distribution of resources may result in intercultural resource wars.
Economic sustainability promotes social equity and well-being while preventing environmental degradation. Unsustainable economic growth is linked to over-exploitation of the Earth’s life-support system which has negative consequences for future generations. We have to find ways of producing more goods with fewer energy and material inputs while maintaining our standard of living by reducing the amount of resources like water, energy, wood, or materials that are needed for support of our lifestyles. We also need to learn how to be happy when we use fewer resources.
Resource sustainability for the global population is a complex issue requiring significant action, planning, and cooperation. Lake Land offers TEC 066, Resource Sustainability, which examines sustainable energy generation and use, housing sustainability, water use, recycling, resource use reduction, and cultural issues relating to lifestyles of health and sustainability.
Career pathways in sustainability might include Recycling Coordinators, Recyclers, Environmental Resource Manager, Environmental Regulation Administrator, Facility Planner, Green Economy Director, Materials Analyst, Political Scientist, Policy Developer, Political Analyst, Politician, or others.
Smart grid technology is a developing industry process that increases efficiency, reliability, and security of the electric power supply. It does this by regulating fluctuating power generation sources, like wind turbines or solar panels, and automatically analyzing where power is needed, and managing the demand of electricity during times of peak energy use. Electricity has to be produced and transported to where it is used the instant it is needed. Fluctuating renewable energy sources, like wind turbines with variable winds or solar panels on a cloudy day, complicate system operation of the electrical grid because conventional power sources have to swing their loads to keep the electrical system stable and reliable. Pumped hydro storage facilities can temporarily store wind power that isn’t needed just when it is produced. Smart power meters can be used to enable time of day energy billing to shape the energy demand curve. Predicting the weather accurately, predicting demand, and scheduling the operation of renewable and conventional energy generation can become very complicated. Much of this has to be done through computer modeling, accurate guessing, and automated controls.
Smart grid also deals with managing energy and media in our homes. The homes of the future will be able to manage their energy use and plan activities based on the expense of electricity. We will be able to control appliance use, deliver media, and access the internet so we better make use of our time and energy dollars.
Lake Land offers several courses as part of this new green technology development: EET 065, Home Technology Integration, TEC 063, Electric Power Distribution, and TEC 067, Smart Grid Introduction.
Career pathways will include installation technicians for smart meters, computer technology, and home technology integration. Meteorologists, computer simulation specialists, mathematical model developers, system operators, engineers, and power plant workers will be needed. Managers of the new technology rollout, customer service representatives to explain the new technology, and technically trained administrators familiar with how the electrical system works will be needed as well. As this new technology develops, workers with technical skills will be able to fill jobs that make our energy system more efficient.
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun. Other indirect sources of solar energy include wind and wave power, hydroelectricity, and biomass because these sources derive from the sun. Except for geothermal and tidal energy, all renewable energy is derived directly or indirectly from the sun.
Solar power can be created by converting light into electricity by using solar panels, sometimes called PV (photovoltaic) panels. Panels convert light into electricity by using the photoelectric effect where photons in sunlight are absorbed by semiconductor material which then gives off electrons. The free electrons that are produced set up a potential difference and a direct current (DC) is produced. The direct current can be used as-is or converted to alternating current (AC) by use of an inverter. The AC power can be used by standard appliances or fed into the electrical grid. Concentrating photovoltaic systems (CPV) use reflective surfaces to focus sunlight from several points onto a single receptor photocell. Tracking systems are used to keep the sunlight focused to a single point as the sun travels across the sky. Tracking systems can be utilized in both PV and CPV systems as the efficiency of energy transfer to solar panels improves when the light strikes perpendicular to the cell surface. The electricity generated by PV systems can be affected by dust and gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, weather, the seasons, or by local obstacles like mountains or trees.
Energy from the sun can also be utilized for interior lighting, hot water heating, solar cooking, pool heating, space heating, or generating electricity and process heat by concentrating the sun’s energy and reflecting it to a focal point on a steam generator. Solar distillation can be used to distill undrinkable water then disinfect it to provide clean water in developing countries.
Solar power is intermittent and isn’t available at night. Part of the challenge in fully utilizing solar energy is storing the power produced during the day to be used at night or on cloudy days. Buildings may utilize thermal mass to store heat to be released at night, excess electricity may be used in pumped storage, battery systems, or thermal storage media, or the electricity may just be put on the electrical grid displacing fossil fuels being used.
Lake Land offers TEC 061, Solar Energy, TEC 062, Solar Thermal Applications, TEC 066, Resource Sustainability, and TEC 069, Site Assessment for Renewable Energy, as part of the green technologies program dealing with solar energy. These courses allow students to determine the feasibility of solar installations, the types and installation methods of practical solar energy & heating technologies, and how solar energy fits in to a sustainable future.
Career pathways might include Solar Panel Installers or Technicians, Solar Water or Pool Heating Installers or technicians, Sales Representatives, Site Assessors, Estimators, Solar Installation Managers, Solar Designers, Engineers, Electricians, Plumbers, or many other careers in manufacturing, sales and distribution, and installation, as well as utilities.
Wind is created by uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. Wind was first converted to useful energy by windmills which ground grain, drove machinery in factories, or pumped water. It also was harnessed to propel sailing ships. Today, the wind is also harnessed by wind turbines which are used to generate electricity and is one of the fastest growing segments of the renewable energy industry.
Large, commercial wind farms consisting of hundreds of individual wind turbines can be developed in areas where winds are favorable. Wind quality varies greatly among geographic regions based on geography, altitude, height above ground, variability, and intermittency. Wind farms need a consistent source of steady, powerful winds to be economically viable.
The variability and intermittency of wind greatly complicates the production of electricity by wind power. Electricity generation and instantaneous consumption must remain in balance to maintain a stable electrical grid system. This can be a problem when large wind farms combine with variable winds to produce widely fluctuating electricity generation. If the available wind is used to produce electricity and the consumptive demand of electricity is less than is produced the electricity must be stored somehow or utilized in some other part of the country. Integrating renewable energy sources and dispatching conventional electricity generation simultaneously requires a good electrical transmission system and real-time information about wind forecasting and projected energy demand. Integrating wind energy and solar electricity with conventional fossil fuel generation is part of the smart grid which will help integrate variable electrical generation with variable demand.
There are many applications of small wind turbines. Small-scale wind power can be integrated with a solar panel battery backup system to live off grid. Large farms or factories can install their own wind turbines to replace utility-provided power. Small wind turbines can be used to replace utility power with any surplus being sold back to the utility. Small turbines can be made or purchased to reduce the amount of power received from a utility.
Lake Land offers WND 040, Introduction to Wind Technology, WND 041, Wind Technology Maintenance I, WND 042, Tower Rescue and Competent Climber, and TEC 063, Electric Power Distribution, TEC 067, Smart Grid Introduction, TEC 069, Site Assessment for Renewable Energy as coursework to prepare students in pursuit of a career in wind energy.
Career pathways in wind energy could be Wind Energy Technicians, Wind Project Managers and Designers, Civil Engineers, Dispatchers, Meteorologists, Computer System Analysts, logistical and transportation specialists, machinists, assemblers, welders, quality control inspectors, scientists, biologists, site developers, Aerospace Designers, Electrical & Materials Engineers, Environmental Engineers and Technicians, and many others.
Tell us what you are interested in and we will send more information! Contact either Joe or Brian to learn more.