PREPARING HOOSIERS IVY TECH IS FOR THE with support from the Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program HVAC BOOM INDUSTRY
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is booming significantly. Employment of HVAC and refrigeration technicians is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, accord- ing to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s the fastest growth average of all occupations. HVAC is an integral part of our lives, ensuring a comfortable environment regardless of prevailing weather conditions. With the increasing demand for energy-efficient systems, coupled with the growth of both commercial and residential construction and infrastructural development, the industry has seen a steady rise in its revenue. Human life expectancy is steadily increasing and will create a constant de- mand for replacement parts and services for older HVAC systems. Plus, there is the inevitable need to replace our most senior generation of the work- force, soon to retire. “The HVAC industry is lucrative and diverse in skillset. Everybody thinks you’re just installing air conditioners, but that’s far from the case. Skilled HVAC workers actually do less of that than anything else,” Jerry Alderman, chair of Ivy Tech Indianapo- lis’ HVAC program, said. Alderman has worked in the HVAC industry for 27 years. For 10 of those years, he’s been part of Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ HVAC program as faculty and is now the HVAC program chair. Alderman says folks with an HVAC skillset and en- hanced knowledge will increasingly work with smart homes. According to a report from Bloomberg, the global smart home automation market is estimat- ed to be valued at $444.98 billion by 2030. Thus, as the smart home automation market continues to grow, so will the skilled trades industry, which is needed for the maintenance of every facet of a home.
“Part of creating smart homes means installing sensors that can detect when no one is in the home, and the air or heat automatically shuts off to pre- serve energy,” Alderman said, providing an exam- ple. “These HVAC systems can also be controlled directly from your phone. For instance, let’s say you get off of work early and you want to turn the heat on now so by the time you get home, it’s comfort- able; you can do that from an app with the click of a button.” Ivy Tech, with the help of the Lowe’s Foundation, is preparing Hoosiers to meet the demand for skilled HVAC technicians. Ivy Tech was one of 11 com- munity and technical colleges selected to receive the Lowe’s Foundation’s first-ever Gable Grants to recruit, train and employ future skilled trades work- ers in the U.S. This partnership is part of the Lowe’s Foundation’s larger 5-year, $50 million commitment to train 50,000 job-ready skilled tradespeople. Ivy Tech formally received the $700,000 Gable Grant in October, and the Indianapolis campus’ ESCO Excellence-accredited skilled trade labs is one of the seven campuses receiving grant money. Ivy Tech is specifically dedicating the money to developing a short-term HVAC skills training pilot program for entry-level technicians and providing unique training opportunities for justice-involved individuals. “I’m excited for this opportunity to expand the pro- gram,” Alderman said. “As program chair and a fac- ulty member, I can assure you that one of the things we love most about our jobs is helping people. The Lowe’s grant will help increase students’ scholarship opportunities and build awareness for the lucrative and viable nature of an HVAC career.”
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