ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Mechanical Contractors Association of America's (MCAA's) Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) has allocated funds to underwrite the National Foundation for Energy Education's (NFEE's) HVAC&R Professionals in the Classroom program. The program provides free science curriculum, materials, and methodologies related to the operation of HVACR systems to middle school and high school teachers.

According to MCERF, teachers and industry professionals can use the kits the program will provide to help them demonstrate various aspects of HVACR science to students. Each kit will include a video featuring "Mr. Energy," otherwise known as NFEE President Gerard Katz. A series of kits is planned for release in September, and it is anticipated that more than 500 teachers and 150,000 students will participate in the program during fall 2004.

One kit will focus on Plumbing Physics-The Practical Applications of Fluid Dynamics. This kit will educate students about plumbing's role in shaping our society and available career opportunities.

According to MCERF President Robert W. FitzGerald, of FitzGerald Contractors Inc., Shreveport, La., "These education programs truly complement the foundation's efforts to develop and shape the human resources our industry will need in the not-so-distant future."

For more information about MCERF, contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@mcaa.org.

Publication date: 08/02/2004