Xylem’s Bell & Gossett brand released a new online course on waterside economization during the 2016 AHR Expo.
“An important part of B&G’s legacy is to deliver the best hydronic system design training in the industry,” said Mark Handzel, Xylem vice president, product regulatory affairs, and director, HVAC & Commercial Buildings Business Unit Americas.
“In the 1940s, B&G distributed things like technical manuals that were used by the government and educational institutions for training and procurement. Today, we’ve adapted our educational offerings to reach an online global audience through our Online Little Red Schoolhouse,” Handzel said.
The Online Little Red Schoolhouse was launched at AHR 2015 and is a complement to the hands-on training that more than 60,000 engineers, contractors and installers have experienced since 1954 at the B&G Little Red Schoolhouse, a state-of-the-art facility in Morton Grove, Illinois. There, HVAC professionals learn the proper design, installation and maintenance of hydronic systems, as well as the latest technologies and regulations that affect the industry. A second Little Red Schoolhouse opened in 2013 in Nanjing, China.
“With investment in the commercial building sector expected to be close to a trillion dollars in the coming years to integrate sustainable and efficient systems, there is a tremendous opportunity in the HVAC industry to lead the way,” Handzel said. “Knowing how to design systems to achieve stringent energy goals begins with a firm understanding of centrifugal pump fundamentals. Concepts such as waterside economization are being applied in the most energy-efficient buildings of our time.”
The new Online Little Red Schoolhouse course will consist of four modules on waterside economization systems. As with all Online Little Red Schoolhouse courses, the course is free to engineers, designers, contractors, building operators and students, and qualifies for continuing education unit credits.
The Online Little Red Schoolhouse curriculum consists of 22 modules on centrifugal pump and piping system basics. Online courses are accessible through a dedicated learning app on a computer, tablet or any mobile device.
“The online courses are interactive and self-paced and appropriate for engineers new to the hydronics field or for those already in the industry who are seeking a refresher course,” Handzel said.