“Efficiency is Efficient” ~ Creating and Advocating for Responsible Reliable Resilient Reachable Energy Policy.

EFA 2021 Workforce Celebration, Friday September 17th, 2021

Hosted by the Committee on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO)

Welcome- by Leticia Colon de Mejias -Chair, Efficiency For All

Steven Hernandez CWCSEO, State of CT
Kellie Marie Vallerie, OWS – State of CT
Yolanda Rivera – Capital Workforce Partners
John Mitchell – Building Performance Institute -Trainer

Closing comments Leticia Colon de Mejias -Chair, Efficiency For All

Efficiency Is Efficient: Achieving Our Shared Energy & Economic Prosperity Goals

Demand Reduction affects our health, economics, and Connecticut’s Clean Energy Strategy. Energy Efficiency is the “workhorse” of our clean energy strategy. It provides career opportunities and raises our equity efforts. Let’s come together to support our shared energy, health, environmental and economic goals, as we tear down walls, and build bridges to economic prosperity in our state.

EFA CT Workforce Program Outline

Program Participants will gain the following certificates through the Efficiency For All CT workforce development program. Certificates are required to work in the state of CT EnergizeCT program as a lead tech.

Efficiency For All’s Green jobs EE workforce training program, is a state of Connecticut supported Energy Efficiency workforce development program.

This program is a 12 week program, inclusive of a 6-week classroom training and hands-on training, and a 6-week Paid Work Experience internship program.

Classes and Certifications Overview

Welcome to your New Energy Career Opportunity

Goals and Planning
Identifying Barriers to Success
We all Learn Differently
Learn and Share What You Learn
Intro to Building Science

Building Performance Institute Classes and Certifications

BPI Building Analyst – Learn how to perform comprehensive, whole-home assessments, identify problems at their root cause, and prescribe and prioritize solutions based on building science.
BPI Envelope Professional – Learn to prescribe improvements to tighten the building envelope (shell), stop uncontrolled air leakage, and optimize comfort, durability, and HVAC performance.
Infiltration and Duct Leakage – Gain the skills needed to offer duct leakage and blower door tests, in compliance with IECC codes for new home construction or existing home remodels.
Healthy Home Evaluator – Healthy Home Evaluators assess home-based environmental health and safety hazards and provide a prioritized list of recommendations to address those hazards.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – OSHA 10 teaches basic safety and health information to entry-level workers in construction and general industry. It is part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program, which explains serious workplace hazards, workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file an OSHA complaint.
Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) – EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) Rule requires that firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978 be certified by EPA (or an EPA-authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices.

What is Energy?

Energy and Climate Connections
Energy and Health Connections
Energy and Water Connections
Energy and Wealth Connections
Energy Equity GC3 Course

Your job is a Career Path

Energy Efficiency Programs in CT
Career Opportunities – Review of CT Energy jobs and EnergizeCT Contractor Lists
Intro to Participating Companies Offering Paid Internships

Customer Service & Problem Solving

The Four T’s for Success: Time, Talent, Tenacity, and Teamwork
Writing Emails 101
Organizational and Planning Skills
Note Taking and List Making for Success

On the Job Training with Participating Contractors

Paid Work Experience Internship Program Outline

Trainees will be placed with EnergizeCT and CT Weatherization Assistance Program contractors.
Trainees will have background checks completed prior to assignment to contractors.
Contractors will assign trainee interns a mentor-lead tech and monitor progress.
Contractors will Not be required to hire the Paid Work Experience trainee, but can offer them a job at the end of the training period.
Trainees will be placed and tracked to gather data on growth and pay increases.

Participating contractors may vary depending on placement opportunities. This session’s (9/20/21 – 10/25/21) participating contractors are listed below:

Company	City
EES Go Green	Windsor & Hartford
Bright Solutions	Windsor
Home Comfort Practice	Stratford
New England Smart Energy (NESE)	Fairfield
CMC Energy Services	Wallingford
Taliento Energy	Bridgeport
Energy Management Authority (EMA)	Milford

Participating Contractors

Supporting Entities/ Partners

Office of Workforce Strategy, State of Connecticut
Department of Energy and Environmental Protections (DEEP,) State of Connecticut
United Illuminating
Eversource Energy
Capital Workforce Partners

Program Entry Requirements

H.S. Diploma or GED
Driver License
Over 18 years of age.
Display a willingness to learn and work.
Attend 99% of classes.
Sign agreement to complete all training courses and Paid Work Experience training.
Be able to lift 40 pounds, climb ladders safely, and be able to enter attics, basements, and crawl spaces in homes and buildings.

Interested in Signing Up or Need More Information – Contact Us

Background

EFA is a nonprofit located in Connecticut. We collect and reflect energy policy and planning reports and information to keep stakeholders and leaders informed. We advocate for the stabilization and expansion of local and national Energy Efficiency programs which protect human health and the environment, provide local jobs, increase positive economic outcomes, and reduce short term and long term energy costs.

Building Bridges as we tear down walls, paving the way to equity and prosperity. 

Connecticut and our nation as a whole are facing a lack of qualified workers for available energy efficiency jobs and clean energy jobs. These Energy Efficiency (EE) career paths include entry level and building science certified insulation, energy auditors, EE support techs, insulation installers and insulation support techs, office administrators, window installers, electricians, heat pump installers, ALM/ mold remediators, customer service representatives, and office billers. This lack of qualified workers is exacerbated by the need to develop certified efficiency for workers to support the expanded federal and local investments in efficiency and clean energy jobs to meet our new state and federal climate and energy goals. As the nation and our new federal administration begins to reinvest in the energy efficiency industry and clean energy industry, this workforce gap continues to widen both locally and nationally. Energy efficiency is still the most cost effective way to lower energy costs, and energy related pollution, while closing the energy affordability gap, and addressing the connections between health and housing. The energy we don’t waste is the cheapest and cleanest source of energy for all people.

Many job seekers are unaware of the growing energy efficiency and clean energy career industries. While others lack the proper skill sets needed to apply for the local and growing energy efficiency roles in our great state. This is our fast-track solution.

This project directly connects incoming applicants with the required certifications such as: BPI, Lead RRP, as well as core soft skills required for any customer service career. Programs will directly connect the trainees to Connecticut jobs and track the entire process to demonstrate success and track any attrition. Core skills will also include an overview of the Connecticut energy programs, roles in these programs, how to prepare for the roles, overview and preparation for certificate training, interview practice, field training, and job placement for those who complete the courses.