Oct 30 2008
Commercial buildings use about 1/3 of the energy worldwide, accelerating the demand for implementation of energy-saving techniques into new and existing buildings. To address this, building owners and the design and construction industry have found green, sustainable building as the right solution.
And now students and universities are incorporating these principles into the classroom. Senior engineering students at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) will learn more about proven green building solutions and the engineer's role in green building.
David Wilkins, business leader for Trane's commercial systems business in Memphis will discuss these topics with students on Oct. 29 from 3:15 to 3:50 p.m. in Carrier Hall at the University of Mississippi.
Not only will Wilkins discuss growing trends, but will address the myth that green building green is significantly expensive.
"While the initial investment in construction costs for green building may be marginally more, the long-term cost of a poorly designed, inexpensive building will be far greater," said Wilkins. "Long term, green buildings improve indoor air quality and comfort, enhance occupants' productivity, limit greenhouse gas emission and enable energy savings of 30 to 70 percent."
As the need for green buildings soar, the demand for engineers to make it happen does too. Wilkins will also meet with the student chapter of Association of Mechanical Engineers to discuss alternative career paths that will enable students to get out from behind the drafting table into roles such as technical sales and project management.
Technical sales engineers provide the knowledge and resources to turn building systems into business advantages for customers. They're responsible for:
- Working with building owners, architects, engineers and contractors to ensure the right mechanical systems are designed, applied and installed in the way that they were intended
- Ensuring systems meet business goals -- for example, creating the right environment to learn, to heal or to work
- Staying up with trends like green building, environmental responsibility, energy efficiency and indoor air quality -- and knowing how to counsel on the best ways to apply them.
The University of Mississippi will also host an engineering career day on Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon and Trane representatives will be among companies participating.
Engineering Better Careers, Engineering Better Environments
The Engineering Better Careers, Engineering Better Environments program was created by Trane in response to an impending engineer shortage. By 2015, the HVAC industry will be short roughly 700,000 engineers with more than 70 percent of energy services companies expecting their future to be impacted by shortages of skilled personnel.
The program is designed to connect Trane's senior executives with college engineering students looking to make a difference in the built environment today.
Trane teams with engineering schools, like Ole Miss, to engage students in the issues important to their careers, like the environment, energy use and business ethics. It also creates experiences for students that better prepare them for the business world, including sponsoring clubs, events, internships and limited scholarships as well as providing software and lab equipment at reduced rates.