HVACR Education.net:
The Leader in Distance Learning for the HVAC/R Industry

HVACR Education.net marks the future of high quality eLearning for entry-level and continuing education. In response to the critical need for comprehensive heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) training, HVAC/R Education.net (hvacreducation.net) was formed to meet the changing technologies of the industry and the growing demand for qualified and certified professionals. It provides instructional services to an industry in critical need of comprehensive, entry-level education, as well as continuing education for the existing workforce. HVAC/R systems and service needs are found in every city, town and county across the United States. 

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration is a $200-billion-a-year U.S. industry, and second only to transportation as the largest consumer of energy. HVAC/R systems are becoming increasingly complex and intricate in operations and service requirements, creating an industry that is experiencing a serious shortage of qualified technicians, and rendering working professionals continually in need of training upgrades and certifications. The current national energy situation exacerbates the dearth of qualified technicians to even more critical levels. Currently, by industry estimates, there are 60,000 unfilled positions, ranging from entry-level to senior technicians. The U.S. Dept. of Labor has projected the shortage will increase at a rate of 24 percent over the next five years. 

Within our country, virtually every citizen relies in some way on energy-efficient, cost-effective HVAC/R systems. The home, school, play, and work environments are carefully controlled by incredibly complex, sophisticated and pervasive technical systems that allow our culture to enjoy the highest standard of living on earth. A fact of American life is that 90 percent of the population spends 90 percent of the time indoors in a controlled environment. Additionally, more than 200 million tons of perishable food products are refrigerated and made available year round, along with over three billion pounds of frozen food products. Other major industries relying on HVAC/R include aerospace, electronics, medical, chemical, and communications. These complexities and advancing technologies create high demand for the small numbers of certified professionals in specific regions.

Program Description

HVAC/R Education.net was developed to meet the high demand for skilled workers using the latest developments in technological content and delivery. HVAC/R Education.net is an organization of certified, professional HVAC/R educators using proven distance learning methods and technology. Through an innovative eLearning network, HVAC/R courses, assessment, and training are offered for individuals pursuing education or certification in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. The benefits of this learning network include

• Time saving with anytime/anyplace educational access to a busy workforce; 
• Professional educators with HVAC/R industry certifications; 
• Courses built on specific competencies sanctioned by the major HVAC/R associations and organizations; and 
• Instruction, classes, assignments, student interaction, and performance ratings for certification.

As a comprehensive web-based program, HVAC/R courses are instructor guided with assignments, text support, handouts, exams and student discussions modeled after the successful elements of conventional classrooms without the obstacles of fixed time and place. Beyond theoretical training, simulation and lab experiences, HVACR Education.net offers additional assessment materials for the on-the-ground verification of workplace and task competencies.

HVAC and Refrigeration Course Summaries

The following links offer online program descriptions and previews of current HVAC/R Education.net courses and content. These content summaries also include planned content upgrades, revisions, and availability dates.

HVAC Fundamentals - Designed to explore the common aspects of HVAC/R technology, with focus on heat transfer methods, basic terminology and definitions, applied physics for HVAC/R systems, and basic safety considerations of the HVAC/R workplace. 

HVAC Electrical - Basic electrical theory such as Ohms Law, circuit schematic symbols, circuit characteristics, as applied to DC and AC circuits in the HVAC/R industry. Presentations focus on basic motor theory, common types of motors, starting components and protection devices.

HVAC Systems - An introduction to HVAC comfort systems, to include human comfort, psychometrics, basic air distribution systems, airflow measurement methods and calculations. Coursework and objectives require students to calculate heat gain and then size and design a basic cooling system.

HVAC Heating - Introduces the concept of combustion, with current direct-vent systems and traditional high-pressure gun burners. This course covers combustion basics for natural gas and propane fuels as found in residential and light commercial applications, and introduces technicians to reverse-cycle heat pumps, comparing and contrasting standard heat pumps vs. straight cooling systems.

Refrigeration - Introduces the mechanical compression refrigeration cycle and the terms and definition of necessary components. Presentations describe the application of common accessories found in a system, piping arrangements, sizing considerations and system operation.

HVAC Controls - Introduces common control concepts and methods for HVAC/R system controls, standard designs, and how they work.

Boiler Fundamentals - Introduces the concepts and terminology of heating and power boilers, focusing on commercial and industrial boilers. Includes presentation and simulations on safe and efficient boiler operation and maintenance. 

Boiler Operator - The initial course for individuals interested in obtaining an entry-level boiler operator's license; designed to review and prepare the boiler operator or maintenance technician to obtain a stationary engineer's license. The course assumes two to four years' experience working in and around boiler-room systems.

HVAC Accessories - A capstone course to assess a technician's knowledge of a complete comfort system. Topics include the common HVAC system accessories that make up a total comfort system, such as humidifiers, filtration, associated controls, installation standards and procedures. 

Hydronics - An introduction to hydronic heating systems, this course introduces the concepts and functions of hot-water heating systems. Presentations and topics covered within this course include-residential boilers, pumps and system accessories, hydronic controls, and the basics of system design. 

Program Partnerships & Implementation Models

As educators, the leadership of HVAC/R Education.net understands the obstacles and expenses involved in the development of vocational and applied technical programs. The HVAC/R industry is no exception. The annual salary for additional faculty is not easy to find within current deficit-level budgets, to say nothing of the challenge of acquiring lab space and equipment for such specialty programs. 

HVACReducation.net provides a cost-effective solution to broaden program and course offerings without capital investments. It can be implemented through a number of flexible partnership opportunities and models:

• Colleges expand program offerings and outreach to more remote student populations that might otherwise not be involved in higher education.
• Colleges supplement existing on-campus HVACR programs for students who wish to enroll but cannot attend classes weekly. 
• Colleges provide certification and training programs to local employers or associations of HVAC/R workers as part of their workforce development outreach. 
• Colleges increase student enrollment numbers and deliver HVAC/R education content as part of their distance learning program options and workforce development efforts.
• Negotiable instructional delivery terms and per student enrollment rates that allow colleges to offer services to 10 students or 10,000. 

Outsourcing courses in an area of specialty, such as HVAC/R technology, provides students access to anytime, anyplace courseware, guided by the expertise of proven industry educators. This concept models encourages partnership with local college institutions that, in turn, are able to partner with local industries and support employer needs. HVACReducation.net provides the educational catalyst. This is a winning solution for colleges, communities, employers, and the life-support mission of the HVAC/R industry.

Summary 

The HVAC/R instructors are technicians with expertise and industry certification within their areas of instruction. Through this extensive curriculum, instructional leadership, certification assessment, and ongoing work experience, HVAC/R Education.net provides educational solutions to the HVAC/R industry today and for the future. 

For more information, contact:
Chris Compton
President
HVAC/R Education.net