HARRISBURG – HACC has been named a “school of distinction” by the Green Mechanical Council, a national association representing the emerging green technology field.
“This award recognizes the commitment to education and energy conservation made by educational programs that include sustainable technologies and green concepts in (the college’s) HVACR curriculums,” said Steven H. Allen, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based association.
“The Green Mechanical Council School of Distinction Award will be presented annually to no more than four recipients. HACC is among the first recipients of this award,” Allen said.
“HACC is honored to receive national recognition for our commitment to utilizing components of the emerging green technology field in our training classrooms,” said HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski.
“HACC is an educational leader in Central Pennsylvania, emphasizing sustainable energy practices in our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), solar photovoltaic (PV) and building analyst programs,” he added.
Last fall, HACC received a visit from Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, who joined Sygielski, Workforce Training Dean Cynthia Reiner, students and faculty on a tour of the Green Center of Central Pennsylvania and in a roundtable discussion about the college’s green jobs training programs.
Grants totaling $538,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry currently fund HACC programs that prepare students for jobs cleaning up and restoring contaminated properties, installing solar electric systems, and conducting energy efficiency upgrades.
HACC is a partner with the Green Mechanical Council, which works with career technical schools, apprenticeship training programs, technician certification programs, and programmatic accreditation organizations to ensure high quality training and certification in sustainable technologies.
The council’s School of Distinction award will be presented during the annual HVAC Excellence Educators and Trainers Conference March 18-20 in Las Vegas.
