MassCEC’s MassGREEN Initiative Announces 2nd Round of Weatherization Workshops

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) would like to notify you that a second round of weatherization workshops under the MassGREEN Initiative starts this month at Community Colleges around the state.

MassGREEN provides energy efficiency workforce training for individuals and contracting firms throughout the Commonwealth. Four Massachusetts Community Colleges will host the program’s second set of workforce training workshops. These workshops are designed for people with little or no background in weatherization concepts or practices, including entry-level workers and residential construction trades seeking to expand their knowledge and services in energy efficiency. Existing weatherization crews and contractors looking to refresh their skills are also encouraged to participate. Successful graduates of the course will be prepared to take the Building Performance Institute Installer exams for Air Sealing and Densepacking, which are up-to-date insulation techniques.Schools are currently accepting registrations for the new courses and seating is limited to 12 people per class. Courses consist of 26 three-hour sessions over seven to eight weeks, for a total of 78 hours of classroom and hands-on training. For more information about the class schedule visit the following websites:

Springfield Technical Community College

One Armory Square

Springfield

September 30 to December 16

Greenfield Community College

Franklin County Technical School

Turner Falls

September 30 to November 20

North Shore Community College

North Shore Technical High School

Middleton

October 4 to December 15

(Search course: CSA825)

Bristol Community College

The Green Center

Fall River

October 18 to January 24.

In July 2009, the MassCEC awarded Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) a three-year $1.87 million contract to coordinate energy efficiency workforce training programs under MassGREEN, MassCEC’s energy efficiency and building science skills initiative. Additionally, MassGREEN is funded by a $1 million federal stimulus award from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). STCC is the statewide clearinghouse for energy efficiency training activities, materials and services, and coordinates job training at regional centers based at STCC as well as Roxbury, Berkshire, Bristol, North Shore, Greenfield, and Quinsigamond Community Colleges. The first round of MassGREEN training consisted of workshops for contractors interested in starting a weatherization business or adding weatherization services to their existing business. Classes were held in spring of 2010 at five Massachusetts Community Colleges.

If you have any questions about the weatherization workshops or the MassGREEN Initiative, please contact Evan Dube at 617-315-9317 or edube@masscec.com.