| Energy conservation has been an issue of concern in the United States since the energy crisis of the early '70s. As a result, the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) was formed, and national and state level standards and codes for energy conservation were developed. Every state in the United States is required to adopt either the national standard---the Model Energy Code (MEC) or a state-developed code that is more than, or as stringent as the MEC standards. Apart from adopting energy codes, it is necessary to train building officials and inspectors in the updated energy standards of their states, as they are responsible for checking code compliance. Better code compliance can further lead to energy savings. Recognizing the need for energy code training, the U.S. DOE has organized various national and state level training for building officials and inspectors. But much of this training has overlooked the importance of "andragogy," which is defined as the art and science of helping adults learn. A significant amount of research in diverse fields has been conducted to find the effect of utilizing an andragogical approach on adult learners' performance. This research evaluated the effect of utilizing an andragogical approach in developing and delivering a revised Michigan energy code training curriculum for building inspectors and officials in Michigan. Most of the andragogical components incorporated in this training curriculum were found to be helpful in increasing the participants' learning. |
