Green Power Living

College Partners with State to Promote Job Growth and Environmental Stability

Media Contact: Earlene Dowell 301-322-0157
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Construction and Energy Institute Offers an Array of Programs

LARGO, Md.— Prince George's Community College is one of 13 two-year colleges in Maryland offering courses in weatherization and energy efficiency through an affiliation called the Construction and Energy Technologies Education Consortium (CETEC). PGCC established the Construction and Energy Institute, which is the umbrella for all construction- and energy-related courses, programs and partnerships. The Home Energy Analysis course begins October 2009.

“Movement toward energy-efficiency and sustainability is important in construction industry and has been added to the Construction and Energy Institute course syllabi,” said Daniel Mosser, vice president for workforce development and continuing education. “The Construction and Energy Institute has an advisory board as well as expert faculty to ensure students receive a high quality education,” he added.

Prince George's Community College offers new hands-on courses such as Building Energy Analyst, assessing an eligible dwelling for potential weatherization services, and Weatherization Crew Tactics, installing weatherization measures in eligible dwellings. PGCC is one of five colleges offering the course in Weatherization Tactics. The collection of offerings is provided through a number of components, including skilled trades programs, construction management, green construction, national certifications and online courses.

To learn more about the Construction and Energy Institute and energy-efficiency programs at Prince George’s Community College, please call 301-3220-0034.

CETEC is designed not only to educate workers in the construction industry on ways to build environmentally sustainable and energy efficient structures, but also to support Maryland’s workforce needs for workers with training in constructing environmentally sensitive buildings.

Prince George's Community College is a comprehensive, public, post-secondary institution that provides high quality academic instruction, workforce development and continuing education to the citizens of Prince George's County and surrounding areas. The college awards associate’s degrees, letters of recognition and program certificates. For more information, visit the college Web site at www.pgcc.edu.
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Maryland Community Colleges Offering Weatherization,

Energy Efficiency Training

For immediate release: October 6, 2009                                    Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                             Communications: (410) 260-4511

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Annapolis, MD (October 6, 2009) - Courses in weatherization and energy efficiency at Maryland’s community colleges were announced recently through a partnership called the Construction and Energy Technologies Education Consortium (CETEC). Thirteen community colleges offer a course in Home Energy Analysis beginning October, 2009 to April 2010 and five offer a course in Weatherization Tactics from October 2009 to March 2010.

“Community colleges are on the front lines when it comes to offering continuing education courses,” Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr. said. “It’s a real benefit to the State that they have partnered up to offer these courses to teach employees in the construction industry about this important and growing field that will contribute to Governor O’Malley’s efforts by putting families first through promoting job growth and environmental sustainability.”

The 13 community colleges offering the Home Energy Analysis course are Community College of Baltimore County, Frederick Community College, Howard Community College, Allegany College of Maryland, Harford Community College, Carroll Community College, Wor-Wic Community College, Anne Arundel Community College, Baltimore City Community College, Montgomery College, Cecil Community College (Harford County location), Chesapeake College and Prince George’s Community College. The Community College of Baltimore County, Prince George’s Community College, Frederick Community College, Montgomery College and Baltimore City Community College will offer the Weatherization Tactics course.

All start dates and times of each course will vary between institutions. Many other courses and programs besides these two are offered through the consortium.

CETEC is designed to not only educate workers in the construction industry about ways to build environmentally sustainable and energy efficient structures, but also to support Maryland’s workforce needs for workers with training in constructing environmentally sensitive buildings. The courses offered through CETEC carry out a recommendation from the Construction Industry Initiative Steering Committee of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board that was searching for ways to align construction-related education and training programs at all levels of Maryland’s P-20 education system to produce workers ready to address the State’s workforce needs.

For more information, contact the Weatherization Call Center at 443-840-5059.
 

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 337,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.

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Training for Careers in Weatherization and Energy Efficiency

At Maryland Community Colleges

Weatherization in the broadest sense is the practice of protecting a building -- exterior and interior-- from the elements. In the green economy, weatherization means modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency to create an environment that is safe, comfortable, and cost efficient.

These continuing education, non-credit courses can help you enter or advance in careers in energy efficiency.

Weatherization Tactics

This 35-hour course prepares participants for entry-level employment in the green economy as part of a Weatherization Crew, or for advancement to Crew Chief.

• Topics include installation of energy efficiency measures such as insulation, caulk, and heater blankets; basic knowledge of building science, weatherization materials, and ventilation rates; and calculation of area and volume. Safety procedures for both workers and residents will be stressed.
• Course price: $1395
• Successful completers of testing and hands-on components receive a certificate in Weatherization Tactics.

Home Energy Analysis

This 35-hour course puts participants on the pathway to careers as Energy Analyst Technicians, Weatherization Crew Chiefs, Energy Auditors, and other building performance workers.

• Topics include elements of an energy analysis (audit) for a single-family home; building science, safety, and calculations of space and volume; use of measuring and/or diagnostic equipment; customer relations, and analytic report preparation. Experience in construction recommended.
• Curriculum: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• Course price: $1595. Includes fees for written and field exams toward certification by the Building Performance Institute (BPI).

Maryland's Community Colleges:

Allegany College of Maryland
Anne Arundel Community College
Baltimore City Community College
Carroll Community College
Cecil Community College
Chesapeake Community College
College of Southern Maryland
Community College of Baltimore County
Frederick Community College
Garrett College
Hagerstown Community College
Harford Community College
Howard Community College
Montgomery College
Prince George's Community College
Wor-Wic Community College

For further information call The Weatherization Contact Center at: (443) 840-5059