Building Automation is a field that is growing in importance and one that will be looking for workers to fill the need of a building automation systems technician. Cleveland Community College recognizes this ever-growing need and will be the first NC Community College to offer classes in building automation beginning fall 2013.

CCC Department Chair of Construction Trades, Russ Hamilton, says commercial builders and private home builders are constructing with automation in mind. “Everyone is eager to make facilities and homes run more efficiently by using less energy and being more ‘green’, says Hamilton. “Even in private homes, building automation is now being used in everything from lighting, security, to heating and air. When you see any new construction, you can bet the building is fully automated.”

Hamilton and CCC Discipline Coordinator of Electrical Systems, Alan Qualls, are working closely with the BEST Center (Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow) which is part of the National Science Foundation Center for Building Technician Education. They recently attended a workshop at Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) to gain even better insight into the field of building automation. Qualls says CCC will use Georgia Piedmont’s program as a blueprint for the new building automation program at CCC. “Once we toured GPTC’s building automation ‘living lab’ we knew exactly what we wanted to do and to offer at Cleveland. Already over three million homes and 650,000 buildings are using building automation. If you are interested in the building industry of the future, then this is the field for you,” he adds.

Cleveland Community College is busy preparing its own “living lab” for fall 2013 that will provide students taking building automation classes the opportunity to receive hands-on experience before hitting the field. “Students will get experience in everything from wiring HVAC sensors to lighting controls and then bringing the systems online for automation,” says Hamilton. “The type of student who is going to be interested in this line of work is someone who will learn both mechanical and electrical systems, but also must have good communication skills,” adds Qualls. “This student needs to be interested in everything from computers, electrical, heating and air, plus have a certain mechanical and mathematical aptitude,” says Hamilton. “Service technicians and contractors of any kind must be relatable to their customers. They can’t just depend on hard skills to get them through. They eventually work closely with customers face-to-face and that is where soft skills are most important. The future technician and contractor must be proficient in all aspects,” he adds.

In planning for the building automation service technician program, the College has been working with several local and regional automation companies.  “Distech, Siemens, and Honeywell have been most instrumental in providing us with equipment needed to get our ‘living lab’ put together,” says Qualls. “It is companies like these that help us meet our mission and we couldn’t do it without their help.”

Margo Greene

Average Annual Salary for Entry-Level Building Automation Technician in North Carolina

$51,900

Building Controls – Environmental/ATC Certificate

Building Controls – Environmental/ATC is a certificate option in the Automation Engineering Technology program and provides intermediate knowledge of the control of building automation systems with a concentration on the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in residential, commercial and industrial applications. This option is for those who seek a background in HVAC control systems and management.

All certificate courses are creditable toward the diploma or Associate degree that the College is approved to offer.

Course and Hour Requirements

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 15

Building Controls – Non-ATC Certificate

Building Controls – Non-ATC is a certificate option in the Automation Engineering Technology program and provides intermediate knowledge of the control of building automation systems with a concentration on the multimedia and security systems in residential, commercial and industrial applications. This option is for those who seek a background in systems integration for the built environment.

All certificate courses are creditable toward the diploma or Associate degree that the College is approved to offer.

Course and Hour Requirements

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 14