1. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING
& CERTIFICATION OF RAC
TECHNICIANS IN TERMS OF
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
KADIR ISA, PHD, MEMBER ASHRAE
ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY - TR
The Annual Meeting of the Regional Ozone Network for Europe & Central Asia (ECA)
(ECA)
Belgrade, Serbia, 10-
Belgrade, Serbia, 10-13 May 2011

2. ‘In the “caste system”, professions or
occupations were strictly separated from each
other. At the top were the priests, or Brahmins.
They were in charge of sacred knowledge. [...] A
tiny part of the population was excluded from
any caste. They were pariahs, people who were
given the dirtiest and most unpleasant tasks.
So they became known as the “untouchables”.
They had to make sure that their shadow never
touched another person, because even that was
thought to be defiling. People can be very cruel.’
(Gombrich, 2005)

3. IN TURKEY?
Having an educated and well-trained labour force
emerges as a key factor for remaining competitive
in the global economy. Although significant
improvements have taken place, Turkey’s
population is characterised by low levels of human
capital (as measured by formal schooling).
Although development plans drafted in the 1970s
and beyond placed the emphasis on vocational
skills, and envisioned a share of 65% for the
vocational and technical component of the
secondary school system, this target was not
reached.

4. IN TURKEY?
As of 2009, only one out of three students enrolled
in secondary schools was receiving vocational
education.
By matching pre-market skills with the needs of
the labour market, vocational school education is
expected to help the graduates ease their way into
the labour market. Statistics reveal that this is not
happening – a significant majority continues with
higher education.

5. ENERGY EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Significant New Trends in the RAC Industry as We
Seek to Resolve the Issues of Increasing Energy
Demand, Decreasing Supply and Environmental
Impact.

6. BUILDINGS MEAN
17% of fresh water consumption
39% of CO2 emissions
30% of waste generation
40% of energy use
55% of natural gas use
72% of electrical energy use

7. WE EXPECT
Highly Insulated Building Envelope
Optimized use of Day lighting
Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems with Enthalpy Recovery and
Demand Control
Expanded use of Heat Pumps
Radiant Heating and Cooling Systems
High Performance Packaged DX Systems
On Going Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance

8. COMMISSIONING, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

9. PROPERLY MAINTAINED SYSTEMS
The RAC industry is a HUGE industry and
consumes more energy than any other sector with
the exception of transportation. When people
discuss energy efficiency, going green, saving
money, the answer to all of these statements is
properly sized properly installed and properly
sized, installed,
maintained RAC equipment.

10. SKILLS CHANGE
We certainly need to know more about how jobs are
changing and tasks are developing, what knowledge, skills
and competences people really have in RAC trade apart
from their specific formal qualification and which skill mix
they need to develop.
We also need to have a clearer idea of how supply and
demand match. This information is crucial to understand if
there is a risk of skill mismatches and overskilling in RAC
trade.

11. CHANGING DEMAND FOR SKILLS
Changes in the demand for skills and occupations are
widely thought to be part of the main consequences of
greening the economy. The following broad impacts can
be identified:
Some skills will become obsolete due to structural
changes in the labour market and employment shifts,
both within and across sectors, due to demands for a
greener economy.

12. CHANGING DEMAND FOR SKILLS
Demands for some new skills will be created as
new ‘green-collar occupations emerge to
green-collar’
support adaptation to and mitigation of climate
change.
The skills required for existing jobs will
have a stronger green element as existing
occupational profiles change.

13. TRAINING FIRST
Most developed countries require training,
apprenticeship and continuing education for
someone to work in the RAC industry. The RAC
industry in some countries are viewed as a
profession not just a trade.
To maintain standard of living without
paying too much for power or thermal
comfort, we must change the mindset of
building occupants and the people working
on them.

14. TRAINING FIRST
Proper education of technicians, teach
energy auditing and management,
emphasize operation and maintenance,
teach students to install and service
equipment to manufacturers specifications.
It all comes down to proper technician
training!

15. GREEN CHALLENGE
Developing a low-carbon, resource-efficient and
competitive economy will firstly require a general
up-skilling of the (potential) workforce. This will
require substantial investment in efficient
education and training.
The green challenge offers an excellent
opportunity to implement a policy that is
indispensable by all means: a good basic
education provides the best foundation for
developing one's skills throughout life.

16. GREEN CHALLENGE
In many cases, topping-up available skills with
some specific, green-oriented skills will be
sufficient to allow for the transition to a greener
job. Apart from the necessary adaptation of
training courses in the context of active labour
market policies, this calls for adequate life-long
learning and on-the-job training systems.

17. GREEN CHALLENGE
This type of learning is the responsibility of
workers, employers and authorities alike, and
calls for systems allowing for tripartite financing
of training, possibly using some kind of career
training accounts.
They should guarantee that the necessary up-
skilling remains affordable and practicable. In
addition, more emphasis is needed on training
the trainers and enabling trainers and teachers
to teach relevant new “green techniques.
green”

18. REFERENCES
Gordon V.R. Holness P.E., ASHRAE, 2011 National HVACR
Education & Trainers Conference.
Skills Supply and Demand in Europe, Medium-Term Forecast Up
to 2020, European Centre for the Development of Vocational
Training, 2010.
Towards a Greener Labour Market –The Employment Dimension
of Tackling Environmental Challenges, Final report endorsed by
EMCO, November 10, 2010.
Kadir Isa, Ismail Ekmekci, H. Riza Güven, Expectations in
Vocational and Technical Education in Turkey, Edu-World
Conference, Romania, May 2004.

19. CONTACT
Kadir iSA, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Istanbul University Faculty of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Avcilar Campus, 34320 Istanbul – TR
Campus,
T: +90 212 473 7070 / 17837
F: +90 212 473 7081
E: isa@istanbul.edu.tr
kadir.isa@gmail.com