LACONIA, N.H. (AP) – A new college program aims to turn out a new generation of energy efficiency experts.

Beginning this winter, New Hampshire Community Technical College in Laconia will offer an associate’s degree program in energy efficiency consulting. Successful graduates would be trained in performing energy efficiency audits for renovation and construction projects.

With fuel costs on the rise, “people are becoming more away of the need to conserve energy and get the biggest bang for their buck as far as savings in energy modifications and purchases,” said Tom Goulette, the college’s vice president of academic affairs.

Goulette said the program would help contractors, building managers and supervisors.

Laconia’s curriculum was developed with help from the U.S. Department of Energy and is modeled on a similar program in Eugene, Ore.

The two colleges are among the only schools in the country offering such programs, Goulette said.

“It’s exciting being on the cutting edge,” he said.

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Information from: Foster’s Sunday Citizen, http://www.fosters.com

AP-ES-08-06-06 1430EDT