MARQUETTE — There are still open seats available at the Upper Peninsula’s first-ever Building Operator Certification training program, designed to provide participants with the knowledge of how to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy waste.

The training program begins Aug. 10 and will be held in Marquette at Northern Michigan University.

Since 2010, when the training was first offered in Michigan, around 350 program graduates have implemented an average of $10,800 in electric savings annually at their workplaces, according to program sponsor Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

The training is being offered for the first time in the U.P. because of the area’s potential to reduce energy waste, a top priority of Michigan’s new energy laws, according to a press release from the Michigan Agency for Energy.

“The potential for reducing energy waste in the U.P. is so great that the Michigan Energy Office (within the MAE) is offering a $400 discount off the tuition for public building operators to get certified with the training program,” Valerie Brader, MAE executive director, said in the release. “When (program) graduates make improvements at their buildings, the savings are immediate and continue well into the future. Facilities with (program) graduates are proven to save energy, have lower energy bills and offer improved comfort for occupants.”

The program is also open to private sector facilities managers.

Training includes nearly 74 hours of classroom and project work, and typically occurs in one- or two-day courses once every other week.

Tuition is $1,695 and covers the cost of class materials, breakfast, lunch and a certificate upon completion of the training.

Those interested in the tuition discounts are asked to email Haley Keegan at hkeegan@mwalliance.org.

For more information, visit boccentral.org.

Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 270. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal .net.