HVACR Instructors Advance Green Concepts April 6, 2010 - The industry-supported 2010 HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop, held March 24-26 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia, continued a fifteenth straight year of strong attendance, diverse support from the entire HVACR and plumbing industries, and well-received educational and personal growth opportunities. With an educational and informational focus on "Advancing Green Mechanical Concepts," numerous workshop sessions were offered on defining how educators are adapting to "the way green is changing the way future technicians are trained." David Boyd from Appion led a session on Green System Evacuation & System Dehydration which highlighted the evolution of increased efficiencies (SEER) and the transition to non-chlorine based refrigerants. ACCA’s Wes Davis presented a workshop session on HVAC System performance testing which discussed the theory involved in measuring HVAC system performance, factors to consider, nationally-recognized standards and approved procedures. Another ACCA technical specialist, Don Prather, delivered a presentation on HVAC Testing and Balancing where he addressed air testing and balancing and what technicians need to know. Other "green" presentations included The Myths, the Realities and What Techs Need to Know about Net Zero Homes; Integrating Green Building Systems into a Curriculum; The Green in Geothermal Heat Pumps; and Solar Water Heating. The Opening General Session gave instructors an overview of the changes happening in secondary and postsecondary education. Keynote speaker Tom Applegate of the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) spoke on the challenges in building skills during a challenging and changing economy. Following Dr. Applegate’s presentation, Bryan Albrecht, President of Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Kathy Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent at the Maryland State Department of Education; Paul Hallam, a plumbing apprentice instructor from Indiana and Kevin Couch, the President of CARE led a discussion on the importance of community and technical colleges. Topics included the mismatch between skills and available jobs, the importance of having what is often called "real world" experience as an instructor, motivating students to develop a career path, and what states are doing to support teachers in developing their own skills and measuring the outcomes of student achievement. Finally, the panel discussed how to access information about federal or state financial resources. In addition to education and skills enhancement, this workshop also provided ample opportunities for trainers and instructors to network with fellow instructors, industry associations, and manufacturers. More than 40 exhibitors provided attendees with practical information on a variety of topics and technology updates. Developed from collaborative efforts and support of 11 organizations across the HVACR and plumbing industry spectrum, the HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop continues to be the only event designed specifically by the industry for educators and administrators. The 2010 Workshop was jointly developed and sponsored by ACTE, ACCA, AHRI, CARE, HARDI, HRAI, NATE, NAOHSM, PHCC Educational Foundation, RSES and SkillsUSA. For more than forty years, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America has served the educational, policy and technical interests of the small businesses that design, install, and maintain indoor environmental systems. ACCA is a non-profit organization with members in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Learn more at www.acca.org.