Going green has earned Norwalk Community College a silver award. NCC’s B.E.S.T certificate program—an initiative to train workers in green building and renewable energy practices-- has been awarded a Silver 2010 Quality Improvement Innovation Prize from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) Partnership.
The award is America's first state level quality award using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria for performance excellence. Baldridge was a former CEO from Connecticut who served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Reagan administration.
The award recognizes companies and nonprofit organizations from Connecticut which demonstrate innovative practices leading to improved quality, performance and marketplace competitiveness.
This year, prizes in the Platinum, Gold and Silver categories were won by 22 manufacturers, 29 service companies, two healthcare organization, three educational institutions and one state agency.
NCC will receive a Silver prize on Oct. 29 at the 24th annual Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Conference on Quality and Innovation at the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, Connecticut.
The NCC Building Efficiency and Sustainable Technology (B.E.S.T.) certificate program prepares students for new “green collar” jobs in sustainable building and energy efficiency testing and assessment.
“We are thrilled that NCC and the B.E.S.T. program have been recognized for innovation. Our program is cutting-edge, bringing together building science, green building, sustainable energy and energy efficiency under one streamlined program,” said program coordinator Eric Gribin. “We are excited to be providing students with excellent training and job placement for new careers in this expanding field.”
The 30-credit B.E.S.T. program incorporates courses from NCC’s Architectural Engineering and Construction Technology associate degree programs. Students learn about systems and techniques for building energy efficient, safe buildings and homes, and about alternative and renewal energy sources. Graduates are prepared to take the Residential Energy Services Network’s Home Energy Ratings Systems (HERS) Certificate examination and the Building Performance Institute’s Building Analyst Certificate examination, two nationally recognized accreditations.
“Even in a faltering economy, Norwalk Community College has shown that forward-looking organizations bring forth new products and services,” said Sheila Carmine, founder and executive director of the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership.
The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership, Inc. is a Connecticut non-stock, not-for-profit, 501c3 corporation. The Partnership is a growing group of active business people, educators, health care executives, and government officials concerned with improving the economic vitality of our state.
