Students preparing for careers in heating and plumbing at a Colorado community college received a major boost from a local business.
What's happening?
At Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado, students have a new boiler and water heater training tool thanks to a donation from Nibco Inc. and its Webstone brand. The board first came out of the Community Over Competition Build and was later shown at the 2026 AHR Expo.
As The ACHR News reported, Impetus Media coordinated the project with Nibco serving as sponsor, bringing together HVAC and plumbing professionals, manufacturers, influencers, and other industry leaders from across the trades.
Instructor Noel Sicard received the board at the college from Impetus Media's Terence Chan. With a fully operational setup available in the lab, students can work directly with the system instead of learning about it only in theory.
Why does it matter?
Better-trained HVAC and plumbing workers can lead to better service calls, cleaner installations, and more dependable heating and hot water systems. When technicians are familiar with the equipment they will encounter in the field, they are more likely to diagnose problems correctly and help systems run efficiently.
Heating water and keeping indoor spaces comfortable are two of the biggest household energy expenses, so poor installation or maintenance can leave homeowners paying more than necessary on utility bills.
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Many skilled trades continue to face labor shortages, and schools need up-to-date equipment to prepare students for jobs effectively and without delay. Donations like this can help close the gap between classroom instruction and what employers actually need.
Investments from major brands can strengthen the pool of technicians prepared to install and service modern systems, including higher-efficiency equipment.
What's being done?
This donation is one example of an industry-backed effort to strengthen trade education through practical training. Rather than limiting support to sponsorships or product displays, the companies involved helped provide equipment that students can actively use in the lab.
That approach can create a more direct path from school to skilled work for students preparing to enter HVAC and plumbing careers. Exposure to fully operational systems can build confidence and familiarity before they ever step onto a job site.
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Consumers who want to encourage more of this kind of corporate investment can also support brands that back workforce training and other sustainability-minded efforts. The TCD Guide's page on supporting eco-friendly initiatives by mainstream brands offers more ideas for how everyday purchases can help reward responsible business decisions.
Investments in education, equipment, and collaboration can make it easier for homeowners and renters to find qualified professionals who know how to work on the systems that affect comfort, energy use, and monthly costs.
As Sicard put it, "The donation of this training equipment provides our students with valuable hands-on experience that reinforces what they learn in the classroom." He added, "This new board will allow students in our upcoming semester classes to install emitters and work with a fully operational system in our HVAC lab, giving them practical experience with the same equipment they'll encounter in the field."
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