College of the Desert wins ‘Green Technology’ award

College of the Desert won the Green Leadership Award for the Desert Energy Enterprise Center (DEEC) in the Curriculum category from the publication “Green Technology” in Pasadena.

Managing Editor Racquel Palmese said, “Our Advisory Board was extremely impressed with the whole project. It’s an honor to help spread the word about your efforts in sustainability.”

John Jaramillo, Dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Business, received the award at the ceremony which took place during the Green California Schools and Community Colleges Summit on November 5 at the Pasadena Convention Center, according to the release.

Officials said College of the Desert’s Desert Energy Enterprise Center (DEEC) was established as a center for workforce and career pathway development in energy and sustainability. Over the past few years, the center has provided a leadership role in the Inland Empire and desert region for the development and offering of training programs designed to impart workforce skills needed in these emerging industries.

The Center provides training in utility-scale solar energy, solar photovoltaics for the residential and commercial markets, wind turbine maintenance, advanced lighting controls, Home Energy Rating Systems certification, and Title 24 energy efficiency implementation, according to college officials.

Working in partnership with Riverside Workforce Development, these programs have resulted in employment and new career opportunities for many unemployed workers in the region.

School officials also said the programs have served traditional students as well as those currently in the workforce.