Building-based courses & programs

Develop your career skills in the low-carbon, energy-efficient building, and resource management sector with building-based courses and programs at Douglas College.

The courses are designed to help you develop  specific management, technical, and critical thinking competencies needed to manage change and to work effectively with others in the modern building and built-environment fields.

Our programs and courses have been developed with support from Natural Resources Canada, BC Hydro, Fortis BC, the BC Housing, and MetroVancouver, and many industry individuals.

We also partner with Canada Green Building Council and Passive House Canada to deliver workshops they have developed.

Practical Energy and Advanced Knowledge - Buildings

PEAK - Buildings is our flagship certificate program comprised of seven courses:

• a prerequisite foundational knowledge course (online)
• 5 core courses (online and evening classes)
  • Envelope, Systems, Economics, Comfort and Leadership
• a capstone/practical work experience course

Time commitment for each course = 30 hours over a six-week period for each course.

The program is part-time. It will take less than 1 year to complete.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions:

• Admission to the program follows from an in-person or phone meeting with the prospective student. There are no prerequisites; we simply make an effort to make sure the program or course is a good fit with the student’s needs. Successful students have included those with technical, construction, or business backgrounds and personal interest.
• The PEAK-Buildings certificate is for professional development/continuing education (not a university transfer credit).
• Our professional network includes contacts in Natural Resources Canada, BC Hydro, BC Housing, BC Building Envelope Council, Fortis BC, lower mainland BC municipalities, and sustainable-minded businesses and organizations.
• The student has to be legally in Canada. Because it is a part-time, continuing education program, it does not usually qualify for a student visa.

Where do graduates find work?

Graduates are well positioned to go directly into the workforce in a variety of roles, depending on previous experience and qualifications. You will also be well prepared to continue your career education through further training.

The following jobs have been filled by graduates, and represent potential career destinations for graduates:

• Energy Specialist
• Energy Manager
• Energy Service Contract Consultant
• Energy Advisor
• Energy Efficient or Alternative Energy Manufacturing positions
• Marketing and Sales in Lighting, Mechanical Equipment, Renewable Technologies
• Energy and Resource Manager
• Conservation Specialist
• Public Sector Sustainability Officer
• Energy and Resource Efficiency Consultant

Related credentials of interest to current students and alumni include:

• Passive House Consultant or Designer
• Certified Energy Manager
• Certified Energy Auditor
• Business Energy Advisor
• LEED Green Associate
• Sustainability Management Award
• Certificate in Decision Making for Climate Change
• MBA (with focus on sustainability)

Skills developed by graduates have led their careers down different paths, including:

• Design and implement Energy and Resource Awareness Programs for employees and occupants
• Determine, confirm and communicate/present financial analysis of proposed projects, including payback periods, life-cycle costs to management and staff
• Perform energy and resource assessments
• Identify and prioritize energy and resource savings opportunities
• Enable increased understanding of GHG accounting, offsetting and reporting
• Contribute to developing, implementing and maintaining a Continuous Improvement Program to ensure sustainable savings and benefits to the organization

Our courses combine advanced understandings of improving building-based energy and environmental performance with energy efficiency and cost containment approaches to energy management.

Competencies developed include navigating current sensibilities concerned with energy and resources, including public and organizational policies, programs and incentives.

You will also gain a practical understanding of building systems, such as:

• HVAC
• Lighting
• Water
• Controls

Building science topics include:

• Heat flow
• Moisture management
• Indoor environmental quality
• Durability
• Envelope air testing

We believe in  helping students develop necessary technical skills and the communication skills needed for facilitating policy and organizational changes while implementing energy and resource conservation measures.

Graduates of the program take their place in the low-carbon economy, providing important contributions to a sustainable society.

Douglas College building and energy management education is recognized by the  Fortis BC Energy Specialist program.

Start dates

You can enrol in the PEAK-Buildings Foundational Knowledge course at any time. Check the current course offerings page for registration details and information about other upcoming courses.  

Courses

Courses can be taken individually, and in any sequence. Intake for courses occurs regularly. Please check the current course offerings page for upcoming courses.

Admission requirements

Please contact the program facilitator to discuss the suitability of the program based on your background, interests and experience.

Contact us

For more information, please contact us via email.