Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2022

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Arkansas HVACR Programs Receive Recognition To recognize the important role of two year colleges in providing education and opportunities for the HVACR industry, the Arkansas HVACR Association provided banners of support to 12 of the 17 programs. These programs are participating in the Instructor’s Council, a voluntary organization of HVACR instructors dedicated to improving their programs by sharing ideas with the other members. The goal is to provide skill based, competency assessed instruction for the students and a well- qualified applicant for the contractor. Without the Instructor’s Council, instructors and programs operate in silos, frequently feeling they are all alone. Even though they work along- side of other technical trades, the HVACR industry is unique requiring a knowledge of high and low voltage, psychometrics’ , refrigerant pressures, plumbing, air flow, gas furnaces, heat pumps, building design for load calculation, duct design, and indoor air quality. It is a complex field and being able to vet and share ideas is very helpful. The Council members share ideas and successes. No need to

reinvent the wheel. Just learn and share with others. Eleven of the programs are participating in the Association’s “Residential Commissioning : The Arkansas Model ” with classes offered to their regular students as well as local contractors. The goal is to help designers, installers, and techs verify the equipment as installed is operating to manufacturer’s stated capacity and efficiency. Not all systems as installed operate to maximum capacity. It is a matter of taking the extra steps to test, assess, adjust, and verify. It provides greater comfort and lower utility bills. This is an extension of the “Train the Trainer” program sponsored in part by the Occupational Skills Development and the Energy Office in October. According to Hunt, Executive Director of the Association, “W e welcome the cooperation and partnership with the Instructor’s Council and their programs. We’ll have a better trained student and applicant and the consumer will benefit from greater comfort, lower utility bills, and safe operating systems.