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Many Happy Returns
By Peter Curtis (B.T. ’83, M.S. ’95)
It was in the late 1970s that I decided a bachelor’s degree in electromechanical computer technology would help me make the most of my passion for technology. As I write this column, I realize now that every aspect of my NYIT experience has played a role in the creation and successful management of the multi-tiered business I own today. The services my company provides directly impact clean energy, business resiliency, secure documentation, and training for specific areas of industry identified as “mission critical” engineering.
We live in a digital society that requires the 100 percent availability of electricity at any time. To achieve this, a robust technological infrastructure exists to protect critical environments, from emergency medical facilities to financial data centers that process trillions of dollars. But in today’s global marketplace, it is not enough to conduct business successfully; you must also conduct business responsibly as it relates to the environment.
Industries today require new solutions and tools for decreasing greenhouse gases while at the same time improving the energy security for both critical and non-critical infrastructures. Large and small businesses consider the continuous availability of electricity to be the foundation of their business operations and the global financial system. To build a more resilient infrastructure that promotes environmental stewardship and addresses energy security, we need to think outside of the box.
Over the years, I gained experience working for defense, electric, water, and financial companies, and in the process was made aware of the energy challenges these industries faced. Understanding this to be a crucial concern, I began my second stint at NYIT to earn a master’s degree in energy management. The skills I learned this time reinforced my ability to be part of the energy solution that we as global citizens face today and will likely continue to face in the foreseeable future.
Inexpensive fossil fuels were, until recently, the fundamental building block of our digital society and our entire economy. It is imperative that we rely much less on the oil industry as it becomes more and more difficult and expensive to extract this form of energy. Our world uses about 8,000 gigawatts of energy on a peak day, and it is predicted that there will be significant growth in future energy demand. Achieving this with inefficient fossil fuels will only further our problem with increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The good news is, businesses are now driven to become green and must influence policy makers to drive legislation that accelerates the market’s adoption of green energy products. Unfortunately, there is no one renewable energy supply that can provide 100 percent of the solution at this time. For the immediate future, natural gas, nuclear, coal, and oil need to be part of the answer. But for the long-term, we need to integrate practical green solutions, while slowly phasing out fossil fuels to minimize the impact on the economy and the workforce.
Government support will accelerate the development and implementation of green products. But it is also imperative that the U.S. educational system introduces engineering programs that support this energy market transition. Currently, there is a severe shortage of skilled engineers who design, operate, and manage various energy systems, and this urgency must be addressed.
Fortunately, NYIT is already doing its part, and the school’s dedication to helping solve the energy crisis is what made me want to return a third time as an adjunct professor. Today, I impart my knowledge and experience to students, create internship programs, and recommend graduates to colleagues (as well as hire a few of them myself.) As they embark on new careers, their enthusiasm and willingness to effect positive change renews my own dedication and brings back fond memories of what it was like holding a brand new bachelor’s degree from NYIT.
It’s funny sometimes how life comes full circle.
Peter Curtis is the president of Power Management Concepts LLC and the author of Maintaining Critical Systems in a 24/7 Environment. He may be reached at pcurtis@powermanage.com.