Home › Forums › CCEM Forum › CCEM 103 – Question 3
- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by Jen Grebeldinger.
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June 18, 2015 at 3:28 pm #1220Carly JohanssonModerator
Is expertise or education in renewable energy or energy conservation part of your job description? If not, do you think it should be?
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June 29, 2015 at 11:40 am #1226Jen GrebeldingerKeymaster
Yes, expertise & education in Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy are major aspects of the work I am involved in with the Arctic Energy Alliance. Providing information on these topics in-person, over the phone/e-mail, and offering community workshops on a variety of related topics are totally the focus of my position as the Dehcho Community Energy Coordinator, here in the SW corner of the NWT.
Alas, given that these topics are as far-reaching as they are, my “expertise” is much more as a generalist & “switchboard operator” … plugging folks into the even greater expertise & technical knowledge of our Energy Management Specialists who work out of the AEA’s Yellowknife (main) office. It’s great to be able to make these links & connect community members, business owners, & community leaders to the wealth of information they can tap into through our more specialized technical Staff.
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July 3, 2015 at 2:52 pm #1229Carly JohanssonModerator
Having general knowledge of energy conservation and renewable energy is helpful in my role. I am not expected to conduct energy audits but do contract them to be conducted and need to be able to read and understand them. I work for a public sector organization in BC who is responsible to submitting our GHG production via the Carbon Neutral Government. Energy Conservation is part of my role via looking for ways to reduce our GHG output through energy efficiency or conservation. Having knowledge of these principles and practices are not a written part of my job description, but it is understood that I have them to apply none-the-less.
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July 7, 2015 at 2:47 pm #1232Carly JohanssonModerator
Expertise in renewable energy and energy conservation are explicit requirements of my job description. As a Senior Energy Planner I’m basically required to provide input on any aspect of renewable energy ranging from generation to distribution to regulation. On the demand side I am required to have a working knowledge of the building science, by-laws, and technologies that make energy conservation possible. Needless to say, the range of potential issues I tackle creates a “catch-up/keep-up” state of play, in which I’m constantly challenged to stay on top of the prevailing issues and potential responses. It’s fun. 🙂
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July 9, 2015 at 1:29 pm #1234Carly JohanssonModerator
Ryan
Just curious – what is your training/ schooling background? I am thinking of working on options that get me out of the compliance (at least hazardous materials) environmental work. -
July 20, 2015 at 11:21 am #1249Jen GrebeldingerKeymaster
When I begin my career as an Environmental Planner, my job description did not include any requirement for expertise or training in renewable or energy conservation but I would say that I feel my role in policy development and implementation has changed that and now I feel a need to upgrade my training and awareness in renewable energy so that I can stay up to speed with the evolving industry and be better able to recognize local opportunities to support the industries growth in Nanaimo.
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July 22, 2015 at 7:06 am #1269Jen GrebeldingerKeymaster
Ryan. Your position sounds like a great one to be in to help shape the direction the community goes in. I’m curious how your position interacts with other City departments and community organizations in getting projects / programs completed on the ground. Do you feel yourself to be the “switch board operator” or the expert or both?
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July 24, 2015 at 9:16 am #1272Jen GrebeldingerKeymaster
Rob,
For my work with the Arctic Energy Alliance as a Community Energy Coordinator for the Dehcho region, I definitely look at my role as a “switchboard operator” & I often refer to myself as such. We have a strong team of technical folks of whom I gladly connect people with in our Yellowknife (main) AEA office. Our AEA Energy Management Specialists provide Energy Rating Service audits, commercial building energy audits, advice on new building or retrofit plans, as well as renewable energy systems, predominantly solar, biomass, waste heat recovery, and some on wind.
We’ve also organized WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer), solar PV installation, infrared thermography, HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration, & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada) training courses to help build the capacity of contractors, community members, & government workers around the NWT as well as our own AEA Staff.
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August 7, 2015 at 9:34 am #1278Jen GrebeldingerKeymaster
I’m not aware of a single public service job that has renewable energy or energy conservation as a part of the job description where I live. That being said, the maintenance department at the school district has implemented many efficiency upgrades, and a couple of significant solar projects, as well as heat pumps and geo-exchange systems so people where I work do have knowledge. The secretary treasurer of the District is responsible for the carbon neutral GHG accounting. I know the planning department has done some research into the policy implications of wind energy in the Islands Trust. I aspire to work as an energy manager, but I think that the field will have to grow significantly before such a specialized position opens up locally.
While aspiring to be of service in an official capacity, I do a ton of research for the Salt Spring Community Energy group, and my new Solar PV installation business (inc. 2015) requires a lot of specialized knowledge. This is keeping me very busy indeed!
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