Wilbur Wright College Trains Workers in Building Energy Technologies

Wilbur Wright College (one of the City Colleges of Chicago) developed, accredited, and, in the fall of 2006 began offering a six-course, 21-credit hour Occupational Certificate in Building Energy Technologies (BET). During curriculum development, learning objectives and topics were suggested by a focus group of professionals in the sustainable construction sectors (architects, energy engineers, organized labor, construction contractors, etc.) The intent was to address labor market needs identified within the booming green building field in the Chicagoland area. The initial target student population was incumbent workers in the construction industry and trades. This project was funded through grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The curriculum is unique within the two-year education field in several respects:

• rather than providing skills training in specific sectors (for example, HVAC optimization or solar panel installation), the courses adopt an integrated whole-building energy systems approach;
• while renewable energy technologies are covered in the classes, the major portion of the coursework is focused on energy efficiency topics, which are of greater concern in the current building market;
• two of the 6 classes are comprised of the Building Operator Certification® courses, which provides the students with a supplemental trade certification upon completion;
• LEED®, Energy Star®, the Home Energy Rating System®, building commissioning, and other programs in use in the building construction industry are addressed;
• classes are offered at night, and are taught by a number of respected practitioners who continue to work full-time in the field; and,
• most of the classes have scheduled experiential learning opportunities for the students to see the energy efficiency, sustainable construction, and renewable energy technologies in practice.

The initial cohort of 14 students, many of whom were incumbent workers in the building construction and operation industries, graduated the program in December 2007. A preliminary survey of these students indicates that new career opportunities (including enhanced involvement in green building projects, internal promotions, etc.) are resulting from completion of the curriculum.

Job creation and placement is a challenge in this arena. Participation in the Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs is part of an effort by the college to develop a pipeline of trained individuals to middle-class, good paying jobs.

Excerpted from the forthcoming publication, Green-Collar Jobs: Guidance for Cities, by the Apollo Alliance, Green for All, Center for American Progress, and Center on Wisconsin Strategy.