http://www.heapy.com

HEAPY

Engineering Co-Op

January - April 2023 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed the projects that I got to work on. I worked for the Building Optimization Group (BOG) at HEAPY, which focuses on commissioning and energy analyses. My main passion for engineering is to be able to work in the sustainability and energy field, and this co-op already provided me an opportunity to do that. Some of the projects that I worked on included creating and testing functional tests for lighting controls, developing final reports for commissioning projects, and performing energy calculations and trend data review for an energy audit. I also really liked that site visits were made a priority. My team made sure to get me out into the field whenever a good opportunity came up. Over the course of my co-op I got see generator and air handling unit testing, as well as test VAV boxes and lighting controls myself. These were great learning opportunities that reinforced the work I did in the office. Finally, I loved the culture and work environment at HEAPY. My team was extremely supportive of my development and everyone I worked with made an effort to help me. I definitely felt like I was a valued member of the team at HEAPY.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had more consistent, long-term projects and work to do. Most of the work I did for BOG were small bursts that helped move a project from one phase to the next. The energy audit I helped with was one of the few projects I worked on from start to finish. While I recognize that this was the nature of the BOG, it still made work inconsistent and not as rewarding at times. I think that if I had more experience and knowledge I would be able to contribute to projects more and have a more steady stream of work towards a singular goal.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Commissioning and energy analysis was a side to engineering that I really had no idea about. This meant that everything I worked on was completely new to me. As a result, I was often confused and unsure of what to do. Luckily, the BOG goes out of their way to help you if you reach out. The work will be new and confusing, but good communication will ensure that you don't fall behind.
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Engineering Co-op

May - August 2022 • Kettering, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed how open everyone at the company was to answering my questions and just talking about what specifically they did. My team also made sure to tailor my experience to what I wanted. For example, I wanted to make sure to go on a few site visits and they made it happen. It was also really rewarding seeing how much autonomy I gained in my tasks as the summer progressed because they trusted in my work.

What I wish was different

I wish I had spent more time in the beginning meeting more colleagues. It has been fun interacting with them but I wish I had done it sooner. Also, it would have been nice if I took note of who to go to for what when I first met them. Like go to this person for timesheet questions, this person for access to your software, or this person for tech problems. I figured it out over time, but it is good to just have that info from the beginning.

Advice

With this and any co-op, make sure to ask lots of questions. It not only helps so you're not sitting there struggling but also shows that you're invested in your own learning experience. Take the extra time initially to figure out the why behind the work you are doing because they will keep using terms over and over again and you will be able to understand what's going on. To help make asking questions easier, get to know the people around you.
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Mechanical Engineering Intern

May - August 2020 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Heapy is a fantastic company with some of the best mentors. They are dedicated to helping the students learn and hold monthly progress meetings.

What I wish was different

This was an interesting time in history and I think Covid had a big impact on the company.

Advice

This was a great experience to have for anyone considering this position I would recommend it. This is a wonderful company where you will get the chance to socialize and meet many professionals.
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