July 7, 2009...

Trident Technical College (TTC) announced today a multifaceted initiative — TTC Green — that expands the college’s energy efficiency and sustainability efforts at all three campuses plus every training site.

“The goal of TTC Green is to help create a sustainable future that will positively impact the college, our community and beyond,” said Dr. Mary Thornley, TTC president. “Our efforts feed into a larger global challenge and the emerging green economy.”

Thornley and Laurel Colless, founder and director, Energy Efficiency Partnership (EEP) and head of Research Development for Sustainable Technologies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, also announced plans to jointly develop curricula that will enhance TTC’s program offerings, including green building construction, engineering technology and management curricula and certifications leading to green careers. Virginia Tech experts will also consult with TTC officials as the college develops a comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit program. 

“More attention is now being paid to growing the U.S. economy through new green jobs,” said Colless. “This is a very real goal and one to which colleges and universities like Trident Tech and Virginia Tech, with our scientific and technical expertise, can aspire: helping to educate a work force suitably prepared to meet the challenges of energy efficiency in the built environment.

“TTC and EEP hope to launch a training program with Veterans Green Jobs (VGJ) in the near future,” Colless added. “By providing veterans with green jobs education and career development in a supportive environment, we can help them make a smooth transition into civilian careers. This is just one example of the type of program we plan to offer as we develop curriculum for a green workforce.”

Dr. Yvan Beliveau, director of Myers-Lawson School of Construction and professor in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech said: “We will be working with TTC to develop green curricula for credit and continuing education programs including programs with articulation potential into four-year institutions. The educational emphasis will go well beyond energy efficiency assessments into implementations.”

Thornley also recently signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, symbolizing TTC’s intent to help minimize climate change. TTC is committed to improving energy efficiency to cut costs and to integrate sustainability throughout the curricula to provide students with the knowledge and skills to address the world’s critical energy and environmental challenges.

“We are proud to announce that TTC is the first technical college in South Carolina to sign the Presidents Climate Commitment,” said Thornley. “This is our pledge to continue and multiply efforts of reducing and ultimately neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions.”

To date, 643 college and university presidents have signed the commitment, including seven institutions in South Carolina.

In addition, TTC has been designated one of six Energy Efficiency Training Centers in South Carolina to deliver short-term energy audit, energy efficiency and weatherization training programs, funded by federal stimulus dollars. TTC will retrofit a small building on its Main Campus to meet the requirements as a “test house” for training related to weatherization.

Under the direction of Dr. Russell Darnall, TTC Green serves as an umbrella that focuses on the college’s sustainability objectives including green curricula and short-term work force training, student engagement, facilities and conservation, and public awareness. Darnall, who also serves as director of Manufacturing, Industrial and Construction Trades, will manage TTC’s energy efficiency training programs.

“TTC Green recognizes that Trident Tech has the responsibility to perpetuate green lifestyles through daily operations and knowledgeable graduates who possess the skills to support sustainability efforts. We are part of a community that thinks in terms of green initiatives, and we plan to continue to expand TTC’s role as a good community citizen,” said Darnall.

Bryan Cordell, executive director of The Sustainability Institute, plans to work closely with TTC in its efforts to create a sustainable South Carolina. "We are excited by Dr. Thornley's bold vision which will establish Trident Technical College as a leader in sustainability both through the college’s commitments to achieve efficiency goals and through the green work force training TTC will supply to our communities,” said Cordell. “This training is an important and necessary component of the effort to create the diverse infrastructure of skilled workers needed to grow our local green economy.”

TTC Green also represents a grass roots approach by involving students, faculty and staff in efforts to contribute to viable solutions that help create a sustainable future. William Landry, TTC’s dean of Science and Mathematics, chairs the TTC Green steering committee that will develop the college’s plan to comply with the Presidents Climate Commitment and coordinate other TTC Green projects.

“TTC is producing graduates who are prepared for employment in an emerging economy that depends on green technology,” Darnall said. “Together, we will provide the knowledge and the training necessary in a sustainable future.”

For more information, e-mail TTCGreen@tridenttech.edu or call Darnall at 843-574-6826.