Blog Post

#2682 BCIT Partners with SkyFoundry in Advanced Building Controls and Energy Management Program

John Petze Tue 21 Feb 2017

In September 2016 the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) launched its new Advanced Certificate in Building Controls and Energy Management (BCEM). This fully online distance education program has been designed to help supply industry with graduates who can use controls and building automation systems to improve energy efficiency. This program fills the need for education about controls, building automation, and energy management as a combined field. Graduates will integrate this knowledge in all phases of a building’s life: design, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operation.

BCIT has partnered with SkyFoundry to provide students with access to SkySpark analytics to help do project work on real world building data. The students use SkySpark to do assignments in their courses including their Building Systems Integration and Analytics course.

BCEM is comprised of nine courses that take a student approximately 1.5 years in part-time courses to complete with an option to complete in 2.5 years with a reduced course load.

BCEM will produce skilled practitioners who have expertise in the advanced design, use, and recommissioning of controls systems to manage energy at the building level. This industry is now growing as more high performance and “connected” buildings are being constructed.

BCEM is a program for designers, builders, operators, commissioners, and energy managers of buildings. Each type of individual will come into the program with a different skillset. This program will provide each sector segment with the same language and knowledge in order to help improve energy efficiency of buildings through the use of effective controls systems.

Graduates of the Advanced BCEM Program will be able to:

  • Specify and work with methods of electronic building documentation in order to support building controls operations.
  • Apply the fundamentals of energy management and integrate them into the design, planning, development and operations of building controls. -Navigate the typical control architectures, networking, and communication protocols.
  • Integrate energy efficient control strategies in building systems, such as HVAC system, lighting system, security system, etc.
  • Assess building analytics tools.
  • Apply building codes and standards pertaining to building systems and operations.
  • Maintain and manage the life-cycle of building controls systems and associate equipment.
  • Build a culture of conservation using the controls features inherent in modern building systems.
  • Write and interpret building controls specifications.
  • Develop a business case to support building improvements.
  • Apply continuous optimization principles to building systems and operations.
  • Specify and review the various commissioning processes for new and existing building systems
  • Develop data management strategies.

Full details on the BCEM Program here

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