RRC Polytech micro-credential focuses on energy efficient homes

As Canada races toward a net-zero emissions target of 2050, Emmanuel Abba is preparing for eco-conscious students. How many cohorts of students, he’s not sure.

“We’ll be running as many as we can,” the Red River College Polytechnic business development manager said.

Red River College Polytechnic is one of 15 post-secondaries to receive federal funding with a goal of training people on energy efficient home builds and renovations.

Funding to each college in the coalition, called the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, is dependent on training numbers and outcomes, Abba said. Ottawa is funnelling $11.3 million to the overall initiative.

As a result, RRC Polytech is launching its “Building Science for the Retrofit Sector” micro-credential course in November, which Abba co-designed. Heat transfer, moisture control and other topics pertinent to energy efficient homes will be covered.

Twenty students will be accepted per cohort. The goal is to “upskill as many people as possible” through the three-day course, which is slated to run until March 2028, Abba said.

The 24-hour program will likely attract construction workers, including full-time employees. It might be adjusted and spread out over a week, Abba relayed: “At the end of the day, we’re catering to industry.”

Provincial and federal governments are pushing for home retrofits and energy-efficient builds. Efficiency Manitoba has a slew of incentives available, including rebates on windows and doors.

Labour force gaps have been an issue affecting the movement, noted Jack Winram, president of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association.

The MEIA has worked with RRC Polytech in the past to address needed skills upgrades. The incoming “Building Science for the Retrofit Sector” is a “fantastic” option, Winram stated.

The course won’t have pre-requisites; anyone can apply online, Abba said. It’s valued at $900 per person. However, it will cost $90 because of federal funding, Abba said.

Seats will be reserved for “equity deserving” pupils including women, First Nations members and new immigrants, Abba continued.

“This feels like something that everyone is paying attention to — the need for reducing energy consumption in general,” Abba said.

RRC Polytech will release more details on the program, including start dates, as November approaches. There isn’t a webpage to apply yet.

The course is Manitoba-focused. Other members of the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery will have their own region-specific offerings, Abba said.

RRC Polytech received $200,000 from the feds to increase research capacity at its Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre earlier this year. The upcoming micro-credential will be taught in the centre, which has been home to green construction research.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com