In 2009, MassCEC and Commonwealth Corporation awarded six grants totaling $1 million to develop comprehensive workforce development programs for the clean energy industry. The six grantees produced more than 30 lesson plans, certificates and training programs for high school and college students, at-risk youth and low-income populations, building and trade professionals, and clean energy employers. Topics range from solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installation, energy efficiency practices and best practices in developing train-the-trainer programs for construction trade programs for vocational schools, to programs for university level undergraduate and graduate students that address the engineering, business, politics and economics of clean energy.
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High School Students/ABE/ESL
Energy Efficiency Weatherization & Green Roofs
By Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional Training School District
These lessons are assembled to give a rounded explanation of green building, the structure of a basic house, how the house performs as a thermal envelope, the importance and science of air quality and some methodology on the advances in home testing that will expose energy loss in a finished house.
Energy Efficiency Science Course
By Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional Training School District
This curriculum provides 3 energy efficiency lessons and 4 green roofs lessons to be integrated into high school science courses.
ESL for Renewable Energy Technology
By Nuestras Raices & Holyoke Community College
Pre-preparation for non-English speaking students who wish to enter the renewable energy workforce.
Photovoltaic Training Curriculum
By Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional Training School District
The photovoltaic curriculum will prepare participants for the complete installation under the guidance fo a qualified instructor of a grid-tied photovoltaic system. Students will learn basic series and parallel wiring and series/parallel circuits, as well as component requirements, and collector siting.
ABE Clean Energy Ambassadors Curriculum Resource Guide
By World Education, Inc.
The Clean Energy Ambassadors Curriculum Resource Guide is a collection of materials, lessons, and activities that adult educators can use to integrate clean energy concepts into their curricula. The ABE Clean Energy Ambassadors project was designed to strengthen the on-ramp to clean energy occupations for Massachusetts Adult Basic Education (ABE) students by increasing the expertise of ABE teachers and counselors who work with ABE learners.
Freshman HVAC Solar Thermal Curriculum
By Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School
This lesson (unit) is designed to teach the students the history of clean energy, the importance of solar energy and the need to reduce our use of fossil fuels. They will also learn how to apply this method to our trade areas. This lesson will also cover all components of the system and installation.
Senior HVAC Solar Thermal Curriculum
By Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School
These lessons are designed to teach the students the history/industry trends, installation, and startup of Solar Thermal Systems
Educators/Workforce
Energy Efficiency Technician Apprenticeship Program (EETAP) Curriculum
By Asian American Civic Association
The Energy Efficiency Technician Apprenticeship Program (EETAP) is an apprenticeship program developed by the Asian American Civic Association to train certified energy efficiency professionals. The main component of the program is a one-year apprenticeship that combines 2,200 hours of on-the-job training with approximately 182.5 hours of classroom instruction.
Green Energy Design & Building Online Modules
By Bristol Community College
This twelve-module on-line course is designed to update construction industry professionals, high school / vocational educators and consumers about the status of emerging energy systems and the recent evolution of building and infrastructure design.
Roots Up Training Program
By Nuestras Raices & Co-Op Power
Roots Up Green Job Training is a 21 week program to prepare participants to work as entry level assistants to a solar hot water installation crew or weatherization crew. It can also be used as a sustainable energy introduction for students who are interested in related careers.
Solar Thermal Train-the-Trainer
By Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional Training School District
This course introduces high school instructors to the fundamentals of instructing the installation of solar domestic hot water systems. Course topics include: system types and components; site assessments; installing solar collectors; water heaters and storage tanks; mechanical/plumbing equipment; piping/pipe insulation; electrical control systems; system checkout; and identifying cause and failure.
College
Holyoke Community College Clean Energy Certificate Program
By Nuestras Raices & Holyoke Community College
These five courses were developed by Holyoke Community College to create a Renewable Energy Technology Certificate Program.
UMass Boston Clean Energy Certificate Programs
By University Massachusetts Boston
These seven courses were developed by UMass Boston to equip “green and white collar” professionals, policymakers, and business managers for the transition to a clean energy economy. Designed for both students and professionals, these new offerings blend up-to-date expertise, theory and practice to meet the demands of a transition to a sustainable world, where innovation and leadership are paramount.
Western New England University Green Engineering Concentration
By Western New England University
These seven courses were developed by Western New England University to integrate green engineering theory and practice into their Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The Mechanical Engineering concentration prepares individuals to develop new and efficient ways to collect energy from renewable sources. The Electrical Engineering Green Concentration prepares individuals to convert energy from renewable sources into useable electricity.