Q: What are these green collar jobs that everyone is talking about and how can I get one?

A: “Green Collar Job” has become the buzz phrase du jour since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, often referred to as the stimulus package, which focuses on the need to reduce energy use in the United States. There are many definitions of the term, so I will not presume to know how other folks are defining it, but I can tell you what ECA is offering in terms of training for the new green economy. ECA works in residential energy efficiency, so the “Green Collar” jobs that we offer are in building science. While residences might seem like a small portion of overall energy use in this country, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) estimates that 36% of all carbon emissions come from residential buildings. This means that working to reduce energy consumption in every home in America CAN make a big difference in our home energy bills and in the effort to reduce global warming.

ECA is currently renovating our old factory building in Kensington to become the LEED Silver John S. and James L Knight Green Jobs Training Center. At the Center we will train for a variety of different “Green Collar” jobs. Although the facility is not finished, we recognize the immediate need for more trained professionals in Pennsylvania, so we are have already begun training. These are the trainings that we offer:

Entry Level Weatherization Training:

The first of these trainings will begin April 20, 2009, with a class of 20 students. The training is four weeks long and after finishing the course each student will receive a certificate of completion. The training will teach entry level skills: an introduction to residential energy efficiency, basic carpentry, air sealing, insulation, and heater maintenance. After completing this training, participants will be qualified to work for the Weatherization Assistance Program, contractors and other private companies who care about increasing energy efficiency in homes. While ECA cannot guarantee every participant a job, we plan to hire 10 students from the first class, and we have partnered with other career professionals to help place all the trainees.

BPI Training: The Building Performance Institute’s training to become a certified Building Analyst:

This one week, nationally recognized training enables the successful graduate to become a Building Analyst, or in common language an Energy Auditor. The Building Analyst inspects existing homes for energy saving opportunities, and related health and safety issues, and makes recommendations to homeowners for cost effective home improvements to increase efficiency, comfort and safety. BPI participants must pass both a written and field test before becoming certified. With the BPI certification, one can work in the national Home Performance with Energy Star Program or for a private energy auditing or contracting businesses.

RESNET certified Home Energy Rater (HERS) Training:

This course is most suited for those who want to work on energy efficiency in new construction. The course teaches students the software and skills needed to generate computer models of optimal efficiency as a house is being designed. Then, the Rater is present at several stages of construction, working closely with the architect, builder and subcontractors to make sure that the home actually achieves those efficiency levels. This is a highly technical course and is best suited to people with considerable knowledge of efficiency and building performance, or who have an architecture background.

Home Performance 101- The House as a System

This one day training is an introduction to energy efficiency for contractors. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection recently launched the KeystoneHELP program, a new residential loan and rebate program to enable homeowners to finance energy efficiency improvements in their homes. Contractors interested in working with this program must be “approved” by AFC First Financial Bank AND attend this one-day training on Home Performance. The cost of the training is $65 and contractors will be designated “trained contractors” and eligible to audit and contract for the KeystoneHELP program upon completion. Go to www.keystonehelp.com to register for a course nearby. Also check out www.energywisepa.org for more information.