The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) has been the facilitator of Building Operator Certification® (BOC) training in the Midwest for over 20 years. Now responsible for facilitating the training in 15 states, MEEA is committed to educating building operators and maintenance personnel and promoting building energy efficiency across the Midwest. BOC emphasizes the importance of upskilling and career development of those who already have experience working in building operations and maintenance, but MEEA also understands the need to educate the next generation of building operators.

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is happy to announce that the Building Operator Certification® (BOC) Level I and Level II courses were recently approved as official TechCred credentials. Consequently, residents of Ohio may be eligible for full tuition reimbursement upon successful completion of a BOC training thanks to funding from Ohio’s TechCred program, which aims to help Ohioans learn new skills, improve knowledge and make themselves more indispensable to the Ohio workforce.  

In June, more than 100 MEEA members gathered in St. Louis, MO for a workforce development workshop led by Quinn Parker, Founder and CEO, Encolor and Paul Douglas, President, JPI Group.

Each year hundreds of people work their way through the Building Operator Certification (BOC) training. Amongst those students, one earned the esteemed title of 2023 BOC Operator of the Year: Malachi Rein, Director of the Building Energy Exchange St. Louis!

The Smart Building Center (SBC) and BOC take nominations every year for former students from across the country who are using their education to its fullest extent, improving energy efficiency as well as the way their work environment operates. Malachi is an incredible example of this and is beyond deserving of this award!

Where are we with training a new workforce?

Building and energy codes are improving with each edition published so that occupants of new buildings have an increasingly healthier, safer environment, and a reduction in energy consumption and carbon impact. Highlighted in conversations with building officials and builders across the Midwest is the fact that skilled workers are retiring. Young people looking for a career path, or those looking for a career change, are not aware of the career possibilities in the construction industry that support healthier buildings. How many high schoolers say they want a career as a building inspector or as a HERS rater?

A lot has changed since MEEA began administering the Building Operator Certification program (BOC) 20 years ago - just think about all the changes in technology in your everyday life, not to mention changes in corporate policies and goals, fuel sources and more.  Thanks to our dedicated instructors and coordinators who continually impress us with their knowledge and expertise, BOC has adapted and grown immensely in our region since we started. 

We are excited to highlight this year’s BOC Building Operator of the Year: Matthew Wardell! Matthew is a Building Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Kentwood, Michigan.

The Project

St. Louis’s Lambert International Airport, servicing more than 250 flights per day, recently underwent a significant boiler replacement project for its operations building. The project was spearheaded by operations staff in efforts to not only modernize the equipment, but also save energy and lower costs. As a result of its success, along with skills and knowledge attained through BOC training, the airport’s operations staff strives to achieve energy efficiency while decreasing energy costs.

It’s that time of year to begin preparing your building for winter weather. We spoke with our BOC instructors from across the Midwest about adjusting your building for the changing seasons. Follow these tips to make sure your building is running as efficiently as possible this season. 

Minimize outside air 

Every cubic foot of air that is brought in from the outside must be conditioned. In summer it needs to be cooled and dehumidified, and in winter it needs to be heated. Therefore, every cubic foot that leaves the building that has been heated is now wasted energy. Minimize the uncontrolled air leakage and use CO2 levels to determine the controlled air exchange.

Here at MEEA, we think our Building Operator Certification instructors are everyday rock stars. They are at the frontlines, teaching building operators how to cut costs and energy usage in their facilities. Our amazing pool of facility and energy managers are why BOC has the reach and impact it does in the Midwest.

We sat down with one BOC instructor who has gone above and beyond this year. Doug Lafever has been an instructor since 2014 and continually impresses us. This year alone, he has instructed eight classes in four states: Indiana, Kansas, Michigan and Nebraska.