the future needs our energy

Centennial College’s School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science – a leader in the provision of applied training in Canada – is illuminating the path to Ontario’s energy future. Through Centennial Energy Institute (CEI) we are providing the critical job skills for the new energy economy, and providing clarity to those seeking to implement modern energy technology.

The focus of the CEI is to provide support and solutions in the three key factors driving energy technology and deployment in Ontario: skilled labour, technology evaluation, and pathways to commercialization.

On February 20, 2010 industry professionals from all over North America came to Centennial College to participate in a Introductory RETScreen Workshop. The day long sold-out Saturday workshop was led by Christian Cianfrone, a Green Buildings expert with Morrison Hershfield.

Dr. Sean White, lead instructor from the Ontario Solar Academy was one such participant: "I have used other programs for determining how to get the most out of a system, determine my annual system output and most important of all, the payback of a system" he said. "Through the CEI, in one day Christian showed me how to use RETScreen for those purposes" he continued. Noting the deficiencies in alternative software for analyzing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, Dr. White can now help students to better design PV systems using RETScreen software.

The next workshop takes place March 20, 2010 at Centennial College's Progress Campus in Toronto's east end. Further dates in Winter and Summer 2010 include April 17, May 15, and June 19. Registration is available here. Anyone who participates in the Introductory RETScreen Workshops has the opportunity to fill out a course evaluation form where they can indicate what further specific training in RETScreen they may desire. The information gathered from these forms will be used to determine the content of the Advanced RETScreen workshops being developed for the Summer and Fall 2010 Terms.

The Centennial Energy Institute would like to officially welcome Lynda O'Malley to the CEI team.

Lynda joins the CEI as a part-time Project Analyst in a period of exciting developments at SETAS and in Ontario. With the successful initial phase-in of the province's Green Energy & Green Economy Act, interest and investments in energy conservation and sustainable energy generation is growing rapidly, leading to a high demand for training, research and consultancy. Linda is finishing her Masters degree at York University in  energy storage and smart grid policy and has been active in the green energy sector in Ontario and Germany for several years.

Lynda will be focused on the CEI's marketing, roll-out and administration of its Industrial & Building Energy eXpertise (IBEX) training program for building and facility managers, as well as the development of other training programs and industry partnerships.

Once again, the staff of the Centennial Energy Institute and the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science would like to welcome Lynda to her new role.

Introduction to Alternative Energy Technologies Workshop - Next start date to be determined. Send an email to cei@centennialcollege.ca to get updates on this workshop.

IBEX On-line Energy Management Program - Registration Coming March 2010! Send an email to cei@centennialcollege.ca to get updates on IBEX status.