The Bureau of Labor Statistics is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the BLS Green Technologies and Practices Survey.This is an employer survey and includes collecting the current employment for the establishment; collecting information on the use of environmentally friendly production processes within the establishment; and collecting the number, occupation, and wages paid to employees of the establishment performing environmentally friendly activities.

The report titled “Assessment of Incentives and Employment Impacts of Solar Industry Deployment,” commissioned by the Solar Energy Industry Association and published by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The report outlines a variety of benefits of solar energy, which include:

• Its ability to reduce energy costs by providing much of the nation’s electricity needs during peak usage times;
• Its potential to produce hundreds of thousands of jobs; and
• Its tremendous export potential for solar manufacturing and materials.

Download the UT Report: Solar Growing as Viable US Energy Source | Tennessee Today

In this updated version, published in December 2011 for the U.S. Department of Labor, authors Erich C. Dierdorff DePaul University and North Carolina State University; Jennifer J. Norton, Christina M. Gregory North Carolina State University; and David Rivkin, Phil Lewis National Center for O*NET Development, present the current state of the green economy, outline major workforce development challenges facing the green economy, and present updated research on green new and emerging occupations.

Download Greening of the World of Work: Revisiting Occupational Consequences

Section-by-section summary:

• Section I briefly describes the 2009 report, discussing the contributions of the occupational greening concept to the world of work and the adoption of the concept into numerous O*NET products and tools.
• Section II summarizes the 12 green sectors and presents substantial changes in green activities and technologies, comparing the occupational implications described in the 2009 report to current occupational implications.
• Section III discusses key challenges faced by the world of work due to the greening of occupations.
• Section IV summarizes the review of 24 candidate Green New and Emerging occupations, original identified in the 2009 report, for inclusion in the current O*NET-SOC taxonomy.
• Section V summarizes general conclusions on the current state of the green economy.

Seven appendices present data in Excel spreadsheet format:

Appendix A: Green Increased Demand Occupations by Sector (XLS – 61 KB)

Appendix B: Green Enhanced Skills Occupations by Sector (XLS – 70 KB)

Appendix C: Green New and Emerging Occupations by Sector (XLS – 69 KB)

Appendix D: Green Tasks for Green Enhanced Skills Occupations (XLS – 164 KB)

Appendix E: Green Tasks for Green New and Emerging Occupations (XLS – 241 KB)

Appendix F: BLS Growth Projections for Green Increased Demand Occupations (XLS – 47 KB)

Appendix G: BLS Growth Projections for Green Enhanced Skills Occupations (XLS – 54 KB)

Download Greening of the World of Work: Revisiting Occupational Consequences

April 30, 2012
By Dr. Richard Knaub
Reprinted with permission from Dr. Knaub

I’m not a gambler.  Outside of a dollar bet on the Super Bowl with members of my family, I don’t make bets.  I do make projections, which basically means I don’t have anything at risk when I try to tell what the future holds.  That doesn’t mean that other people don’t have something at risk.  It just means I’m less biased in my fortune-telling.  That might help you gamble less on your future.

So my crystal ball says you are going to meet a stranger who is going to evaluate your work and that will affect whether you make any money on the job.  OK, maybe this isn’t much of a prediction.  Most utility and weatherization programs have some kind of random QC inspection, around 5%.  So maybe one out of twenty jobs, there is some stranger evaluating your work and that affects if you make money on the job.

But there are two things that could come together in a way that might make that a more common occurrence.  First is that second to used car dealers the most consumer complaints are against contractors.  The second is that the national Home Energy Professional Quality Control Inspector certification will be introduced in June.

The first one is nothing new.  There are plenty of bad apples out there making life difficult for everyone else.  This means that when the Department of Energy funds the creation of a QC Inspector certification, there are some immediate opportunities.  Suppose some jurisdiction wants to protect consumers, increase energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality.  All politics are local and if there has been a problem in that jurisdiction with a mold problem or carbon monoxide, this message would carry some weight. Obviously, there is a campaign slogan in there somewhere.  But that jurisdiction could move to require inspections by a certified Home Energy Professional Quality Control Inspector.

Before this new certification, putting in place an inspection process would have been nearly impossible, particularly with tight budgets.  But now, this certification makes it a snap.  Just have a certified inspector, inspect.  Who can argue with protecting consumers, increasing energy efficiency and improving indoor air quality?  You might as well argue against apple pie and motherhood.

Then there are the home inspectors.  All three of the largest home inspectors groups are getting into energy education with homeowners, because that is an area homeowners are concerned about.  Between the three groups, they sit down with about 5 million new homeowners a year and spend several hours talking about their homes.

The average new homeowner will spend $8,000 in the first year on that new home.  That is $40 billion of work being influenced by the home inspectors.  Some of that may be on increased home performance.  The home inspector already has the trust of the homeowner, but the contractors…not so much.  So the home inspector has a GREAT add-on sale with a simple “I’m a certified Home Energy Professional QC inspector.  I can come back and inspect the work afterward for a small fee. “

This might not be much of a prediction, either.  It is in the home inspector’s interest to both sell home performance and the inspection afterward.  The inspector has already built trust with the homeowner who may not have a trusted contractor in the area.  That offer to do a QC inspection afterward, by a certified Home Energy Professional, might be just the thing that reassures that new homeowner.

Then there are the all of the different energy incentive programs credits.  Only two states in the country don’t have at least one kind of program for energy efficiency.  Some are a type of tax credit most are rebates, grants or loans, but needless to say in this time of budget and revenue scrutiny, these programs are all receiving careful review.  Someone is likely to suggest that the Home Energy Professional Quality Control Inspector is a way to see to it that the Government gets the energy savings it is paying for.  I won’t make a prediction here, but any talk of fiscal responsibility begs the question “how do we get what we are paying for?”

If you are paying attention to these signs, there are some opportunities that may be opening.  First, having a certified in-house inspector is a great selling point to assure clients your work is high quality.  If for no other reason than the peace of mind it gives the client, it may be worth it.  When it says in your Yellow Pages ad, “certified inspector on staff” and that isn’t in your competitor’s ad, it says something to a prospective customer.

Second, with other programs using or potentially using certified inspectors, this is another add-on for your business.  Your inspector can be inspecting other contractor’s work.  Your inspector can be doing QC for rebate programs or for IRS tax credits.  Having your company’s name on a QC report is pretty good advertising for quality work.

Then there are the home inspectors and that $40 billion dollars.  Sure their business model is to sell the QC inspection after you do the work.  But they really don’t want to have to tell the homeowner that the work wasn’t done right.  The homeowner might be glad to know that, but he or she won’t be happy.  The home inspector would rather do a QC inspection knowing that there is a 99% chance that it is going to pass, because there was an in-house inspector who looked it over first.

My crystal ball says that in a couple of years, there are going to be a lot more QC inspections of home performance work than there are now.  For the companies that do high-quality work, this is a good thing; for the others, not so much.  My crystal ball says that companies with an in-house inspector will likely get more business than those without, and that the home inspectors are going to be driving a lot of home performance work.  Finally, my crystal ball says it is going to be a lot easier to tell the good contractors from the other guys.

If you are wondering how to take advantage of these growing opportunities to distinguish your business from the other guys, then check out www.bpi.org/pilot for information about becoming a certified Home Energy Professional.  There is information about all four Home Energy Professional certifications, including QC inspector.

April 30, 2012
By Dr. Richard Knaub
Reprinted with permission from Dr. Knaub

My mother just selected a contractor to replace her front door.  The low bid was half of the medium bid and the medium bid was half the high bid.  She didn’t like any of the salesmen and the doors were pretty much the same in construction and features.  So why did she pick the medium bid?  My mother is a savvy shopper and knows when she’s getting a deal.  She is somewhat legend for her ability to get used car dealers to come down below their rock bottom price (way down below).

So why did she pick the medium bid that was twice the low bid?  Short answer: it was the installation crew.  Most successful contractors realize that their crews are the face of the company.  Online reviews of contractors usually focus on whether the crew did what the customer was expecting.  So a customer that does any online research on a company gets a pretty good idea of whether the crew knows what it’s doing.  Let’s face it, second to used car dealers, contractors have the most consumer complaints, and most of the time it’s because the crew isn’t working to the highest standard of quality.

My mother had that issue with the low bid contractor.  She’d had work done by the company before and had some issues with the crew.  The work was good quality, the crew was polite and hard working, but it didn’t go quite as she expected.  Put it down to customer expectations not being met.  She was willing to consider rehiring them, but there was no immediate trust there.

She didn’t know the other two companies from Adam.  She didn’t like either of the salesmen.  In fact the middle bid salesman did something that always ticks her off – he gave her a deadline.  My mother hates being pressured like that.  So in spite of all of that, why did she choose the middle bid?

The answer might surprise you.  It was lead safe certification.  The salesman with the middle bid talked to her about how the crew was lead safe certified.  He provided some of the EPA handouts on renovation where lead paint might be present.  Those are what she insisted on showing me.  Not the information on the door, not the bid, but those EPA fliers.  She complained about the salesmen and his pressure tactics.  She complained about paying twice as much, but she wrote the check because that crew was lead safe certified.

Both of the other two crews were lead safe certified as well; I checked.  They are both with national companies which made it a requirement for local contractors who worked with them.  Just like the company my mother chose.  So the low bid company lost out just because the salesman didn’t hand out the EPA fliers and assure my mother that their crew was as qualified as the middle bid crew.

It appears that my mother is not that unusual of a customer.  Studies on customers and their perception of certifications show that the customer perceives a certification as being important, even if they don’t know what the certification itself means.  My mother had no idea what lead safe means, nor did she actually read the handouts she was given to find out.  But she immediately perceived it as an important factor to the selection of a contractor.

The take home message to any contractor should be that if you have certifications, you should let the customer know.  The customer may not know what they mean, but words like certified, licensed and registered signify that someone is looking over your shoulder to make sure that the work you do meets a quality standard.

This is why the Home Energy Professional Crew Leader certification is such a game changer.  First, it is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded effort.  For a performance contractor, having certifications backed by DOE is a selling point for the consumer.  Who better than the Department of Energy knows about energy efficiency?

Second, this is the first crew leader certification in this industry’s history. Yes, there are energy auditor and installer certifications.  Some jurisdictions require them.  Certainly many contractors realize the value of those certifications in their marketing effort.  But the crew leader is a new edge that savvy contractors are going to jump on.

“All Crew Leaders are Certified Home Energy Professionals” is a pretty powerful statement in a print ad or flyer.  In a live pitch, there is a chance to add that the Home Energy Professional certification is part of DOE’s national guidelines and that the company therefore follows the national Guidelines for Quality Work by using certified Home Energy Professionals.

Unlike the lead safe certification, this certification is voluntary.  So there will be contractors who don’t get their crew leaders certified.  But when a competitor puts “All Crew Leaders are Certified Home Energy Professionals” in ads and flyers, consumers are eventually going to begin wondering if this is true with other contractors they interview.

There probably is some good tap dancing that can go into answering that question if the answer is no.  But even if the customer is willing to take the risk on non-certified workers, there will always be a question about quality.  The work may be just fine, and consistent with the national Guidelines for Quality Work.  But if the customer has that doubt going into the project, it may make it difficult to manage the customer’s expectations, simply because “certification” now means something in his or her mind.

“All crew leaders are certified Home Energy Professionals” is a sound bite that taps into some basic consumer behavior.  It can make the customer more receptive to finding out what a Home Energy Professional is and what other Home Energy Professionals you employ.  It opens the door to talk about the national Guidelines for Quality Work which may make the consumer feel more comfortable about the proposed work, knowing it meets DOE guidelines.  The contractors that can use it are likely to have a significant advantage over those that don’t.

More information on this new home energy certification can be found at: www.bpi.org/pilot.

30 April 2012
By Rebecca Sterling
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
Reprinted with permission from Rebecca Sterling

I wanted to share with you another great success story from our partners at the Osborne Association, Solar One, Per Scholas and the Association for Energy Affordability. I love Sean’s story because he doesn’t shy away from his past- he’s found a place where he can grow, develop and continue to advance himself. Meet Sean:

Sean is an Osborne Association Green Career Center (GCC) graduate who demonstrated great administrative skills during the course of his training, and those skills were greatly enhanced by the contextualized Excel classes and the Roots of Success: Environmental Literacy Curriculum.    Not only did he complete our training, but he completed additional professional development trainings with our partners, earning certificates and certifications.  When a position as a Program Assistant in the Green Career Center became available, the Osborne Association looked toward Sean . . . and he has been with the GCC since.  Here is what he had to say about his experience.

What fears, hesitations or barriers did you feel were in your way when you came home from prison?
After being released from prison, the biggest barrier that I felt was in my way, was the stigma of being “a felon.”  In the back of my mind, there was always the fear that I’ll be seen as a felon first, and a person second, for the rest of my life.  I knew that it would take a lot of work, and only my perseverance would show, not only to employers and society, but to myself, that I’ve changed.

What opportunity did you see for yourself by going to the Green Career Center?
I thought by going to the Green Career Center, it would be a great opportunity for me because GCC specifically dealt with ex-offenders, who are looking for employment opportunities and a new way of living.  Also I felt that this would be a place where I wouldn’t have to dodge the question of my felony conviction, so that alone gave me a great sense of confidence.

How did your vision for your career change during your time with GCC?
Initially, I thought I would enroll in GCC for the standard 6 weeks and then find some type of employment for myself.  After being enrolled there for the first week, so many opportunities were introduced to me through the various courses and trainings that I figured I’d take full advantage of everything I could.  Prior to GCC, the only thing I knew about being “green” was recycling.  I turned my 6 weeks of training into about 4 months of certificates and certifications, which has made me more marketable in the workforce.  I am proud to say that I am certified in Basic Air Sealing and Insulation, I have an Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification, a certificate from Hostos Community College for Plumbing and Electric for Green Jobs, a certificate from The Association for Energy Affordability as an Energy Efficiency Technician, a certificate from Solar One for Building Performance and Electrical Retrofitting, a certificate of completion from the Green Career Center, and I’ve recently taken the Building Analyst certification written exam with The Association for Energy Affordability and passed.  Also I am currently employed by GCC in an administrative capacity as a Program Assistant/Data Entry Clerk, which is one of the greatest opportunities that I’ve had thus far.

What struggles have you had to overcome to earn your certificates?
The biggest struggles that I’ve had to overcome in earning my certificates through the Green Career Center, were me learning new things.  I’ve never been a “hands on” type of employee.  My background has been in administrative work, so I had no experience in construction, electrical or anything that GCC was offering me.  Now, because of the training I received, I am very comfortable working with my hands.

What is next for you now?
Next for me is to take the field exam for the Building Analyst certification, continue to work at the Green Career Center and keep my options open, as I am trained and skilled in so many areas now, thanks to the Green Career Center.

If you’ve ever met Geoff Stapleton, you’re not likely to forget him.  In addition to his Australian accent and outgoing manner, Geoff’s known for handing out fuzzy little Koala Bear clips (I’ve got at least three).   Currently, Geoff is the Managing Director of Global Sustainable Energy Solutions Pty Ltd (GSES), a renewable energy engineering and training company, specializing in PV design, solar training, publishing, and PV system audits.  GSES is currently the ISPQ Licensee for the Asia/Pacific Region.

Today, there are two IREC ISPQ regional licensees:  Asia/Pacific (GSES/Australia); and North America (IREC/US).  All licensees use the IREC ISPQ Standard 01022, and are responsible for the full accreditation and certification cycle including processing applications, assigning registered auditors, awarding the credential, and maintaining all records of applicants, candidates and certificants.

Here in the U.S., the North American IREC ISPQ licensee, IREC, is the most active of all the licensees.  Applications for the IREC ISPQ credential have steadily increased since 2009.   Currently, there are 126 certificants holding the IREC ISPQ credential in the U.S.

I got in touch with Geoff to find out how the IREC ISPQ credential is working in the Asia/Pacific region. Here’s our conversation.

IREC:  Geoff, you’ve been at this for a while now. When did you first get introduced to the IREC ISPQ credential?

GS:  I met Mark Fitzgerald, the founder of the ISPQ training credential, in D.C. in 1997. We were both on the same International Energy Association (IEA) PV Committee that focused on PV in developing countries.  In 2000, I was doing training in Sri Lanka with World Bank funding.  Mark came to assess my training, and that’s when I became a Master Trainer under a draft Standard that Mark developed under a World Bank funded project.   When I renewed my credential three years later, the IREC ISPQ Standard was in place, and I was certified to that Standard.

IREC:  The entire credentialing issue was in a very nascent stage here in the U.S. at that time. We know that IREC identified the issue of accredited programs and certified instructors to intelligently build a well-prepared clean energy workforce. It was a few years in the making here in the U.S., building the infrastructure, to where it is today. What was going on in your region at that time? Were you seeing enthusiasm for the credential in other countries?

GS:  Mark and I continued to work on projects together, trying to promote ISPQ within 21 countries in APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Community), but nothing really took off.  I promoted ISPQ in the 10-countries of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), even worked to set them up as a regional licensee.  We formed technical committees, and produced 11 regional competency standards, similar to the job task analysis (JTA).  We even helped them with a business plan, but it just didn’t take hold.  What we learned was that the countries really liked the idea of ISPQ, but most felt like it was more ‘cart before the horse.’  These countries had training, but what they really needed was help with that training.  Until they had a better training program, they couldn’t even think of becoming accredited by a third party.

IREC:  Definitely ‘cart before the horse.’  Has this happened? Has there been an improvement in the development of training in these countries?

GS:    I would say yes, in both Malaysia and Singapore, but in the other countries, it has still been project- based training as opposed to establishing ongoing training programs within training institutes (i.e., technician level training).  However, a number of the Universities in the region do offer renewable Masters courses in their engineering faculties.

IREC:  Sounds like it’s been an uphill climb to get buy-in for the value of the IREC ISPQ credential in this region. 

GS:  So far, the Malaysian Government is the only certificant in our Asia/Pacific IREC ISPQ region. Not a lot to show for years of work.   I began to promote ISPQ in China, and ISP had an office there for two years.  One training institute became accredited as a pilot project.  There was interest from other training organizations, but if the government doesn’t mandate it, it won’t happen.

IREC:  So how are things in Australia? Is it better there than in other parts of the Asia/Pacific region?

GS:  In Australia, all technical colleges must be accredited. Each industry sector has a national training advisory body that develops the national training packages.  And by the way, the essential knowledge and skills for these industries are very similar to the Job Task Analyses you have  in the U.S.  In 2000, renewable energy and efficiency began to be included in these training packages. In 2004, I worked with the government to compare the ISPQ Standard to the Australian National Quality Framework.

IREC:  What’s Australia’s National Framework like? Is it similar to the IREC ISPQ Standard?

GS:  Yes, actually the IREC ISPQ standard and the National Framework standard are very similar. In Australia, training institutes apply to be a Registered Training Organization (RTO) under the National Framework.  In fact, for all technical training that awards a certificate, it’s mandatory that it must be done by an RTO. The majority of RTOs are government owned, but some, like GSES, are private.  In fact, GSES is the only private RTO that offers renewable energy training.

IREC:  So if the National Framework and IREC ISPQ Standard are similar, does that make it harder to ‘sell’ the IREC ISPQ Standard?

GS:   In that work I did for the government back in 2004, the results showed little interest by the RTOs for another credential (that they’d have to pay for), since they already met the requirements under the National Framework.

IREC:  Sounds like a barrier, and could impede the growth of the industry in the region.  What about GSES? Will you become accredited to the IREC ISPQ Standard? 

GS:  Yes. Since we believe in the IREC ISPQ Standard, and because we push this with our overseas training, it’s important for us to be IREC ISPQ accredited, and not just have me as an Independent Master Trainer.  We’ll continue to promote it in our region, and identify local organizations that could act as a licensee.

IREC:  Any new areas you’re looking to work in?

GS:  The next area is the Pacific.  In fact, we’re forming Competency Standards Committees (i.e., Job Task Analysis) now.  A number of training institutes would like to see IREC ISPQ adopted for the Pacific Islands, which includes some 22 nations, though realistically, it would be years before they would have energy efficiency and renewable energy in their national training.  Actually, some  countries already have National Training Frameworks like Australia, and in these countries, it might be easier to help them incorporate renewable energy courses within their existing framework.

IREC:  Your work in the region to promote the IREC ISPQ credential has been challenging.  What’s the game plan for marketing it in the region? Don’t countries see the correlation between a quality training program and a highly-qualified workforce?

GS: It is fair to say that many countries see the link between quality training and a high qualified workforce and have programs helping them head in that direction but this is often required across many industry sectors so RE and EE training but not always take the highest priority.

The local industry association, The Sustainable Energy industry Association of Pacific Islands (SEIAPI), is introducing a certification scheme for technicians, one similar to the Australian scheme and NABCEP.   They will be requiring training to be of a certain level.  It’s even possible they might become the ISPQ licensee for the Pacific Region.

IREC:  That sounds very promising.  Perhaps if they take the lead, others will follow.     

Possibly.   The issue is the time and money required to promote and explain the value of the Standard to various stakeholders in each of the countries.  Nevertheless, we’re committed to the Standard, and we’ll continue to promote it.

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There are three components of the Guidelines Project:

1. Guidelines for Quality Work (Standard Work Specifications for Single-Family, Multifamily, and Manufactured Housing Energy Upgrades);
2. Guidelines for Effective Training; and
3. Guidelines for professional certification.

Dr. Richard Knaub, a Project Leader in Weatherization & Workforce Development at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been actively participating in the Weatherization training and standards development both at the state and national levels for the last several years.  NREL has been leading the development of the Guidelines (no small task).  In fact, according to Knaub, some 300 stakeholders have been involved in the process.  Technicians, trainers, home performance contractors, labor, healthy homes professionals, building scientists and other experts in the building trades and retrofit industry have been at the table for this project.

Knaub tells IREC that registration is now open for the Pilot Certification part of the project.  In June, the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will make available four new home energy professional certifications for the weatherization and home performance workforce.  If you’re interested in being certified to this credential, applications are due May 1, 2012.  Information on exam pre-requisites and registration can be found here.

Dr. Pam Page Carpenter is one of those who never seems to have a shortage of energy. I should know. I get accused of that all the time, but Pam’s got me beat by miles.  She and I were talking a few months ago about her work with the K-20 community, and as if she didn’t have enough to do, volunteered to pen a series of pieces on the issue.  How fortunate for us all.  

Pam’s got some incredible street cred:  currently, she’s the Education Program Manager for the Masters of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering at the Future Renewable Electric Energy and Delivery Management (FREEDM) Center and Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University.  She has developed and led programs in renewable energy and alternative transportation with a focus on and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts at NC State University for several years.  Pam has a passion for developing programs that are relevant to today’s needs and skills in industry and learning experiences that engage and immerse students in these topics through real world application and hands-on projects.  Pam received her doctorate in Technology, Engineering, and Design in the College of Education at NC State University where she is also an adjunct associate professor.  She’s wicked smart, engaged, and a good friend (and she drives my dream car).  Here’s her first installment.  Thanks, Pam.  jp

It’s a different world when a 9th grade young man awakens his parents early on a Saturday morning to attend school, but that is what is happening in urban Detroit these days.  It’s all due to a new program started by Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), managed by Mr. Toine Murphy, project consultant.  The program provides an immersive learning environment for 9th grade boys to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and clean energy. The program is called Renewable Energy Advancement for Detroit Youth (READY).

February 25, 2012 kicked off the season for the program with 120 students:  sixty 10th graders, who began as 9th graders in February of 2011, and now 60 new 9th graders.  READY fits with Michigan’s paradigm shift with the reinvention of manufacturing jobs, retooling the jobs from the traditional automotive to technologies that address clean energy like solar, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.  The Knight Foundation provided the majority of the funding with additional funding from the Skillman Foundation.  In-kind services are provided by United Automotive Workers-General Motors (UAW-GM) that provides space and resources in their office on the river in downtown Detroit.

There are two, eight-week sessions, one in the spring and the other  in the fall, and a two-week bridge program that takes place on a university campus in the summer.  The university experience allows students to encounter an academic climate and learn about culture and life outside Detroit.    The university experience is only one feature of the program, but there are others that address critical life skills. 

The components of the program include STEM and renewable energy, but also soft skills, building students’ self-esteem and trust, and leadership skills along with peer mentoring.  The program is focused on project engineering and science courses which provides students opportunities to work on real world projects that have relevance such as fuel cell technologies and solar while seeing that math can be interesting and applicable in life.  There are other skills such as how to prepare, dress, and behave at special events in Detroit and the university setting –which fork to use, how to network and other essential skills for success in life and career.  All of these have had an impact on other areas of the READY students’ lives.

The READY program is facilitated in partnership with Exam Experts Learning Academy, UAW-GM, Michigan State University, Oakland University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Detroit, Mercy, Lawrence Tech, Michigan Tech and Wayne State University.

As the READY students’ self-esteem rises, students are becoming empowered to know there are no limitations to what they do with their lives.  This is expanding outside the home into the community.  Service projects required in schools are now becoming focused on clean energy endeavors such as recycling.

The POWER OF ONE is a theme that is about change and the impact of how one can affect many others on multiple levels.  This message is loud and clear about making a difference and will certainly be an asset to our future citizens and leaders coming out of the READY project.

You can reach Pam directly at pam_carpenter@ncsu.edu.

You are invited to be part of the fifth National Clean Energy Workforce Education Conferenceby submitting a proposal for a presentation. The Conference is the one national event that brings training leaders together and provides participants the opportunity to learn instructional strategies, curricula development, career pathways, and best practices for energy efficiency and renewable energy training. Join us at the Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference, November 13-15, 2012, in Albany, NY, and share your experience and expertise with others in your field.

Submit a 400-word proposal describing your presentation. Each proposal will be evaluated on the basis of its contribution to the Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference’s theme and goals. Proposals should be well organized and results should be clearly defined. Your proposal should outline what attendees will learn from your presentation. Along with your proposal, please provide your brief biographical paragraph (no more than 50 words). Presentations thatexceed 400 words will not be considered, nor will sales pitches for products or companies. The deadline for proposal submission is April 2, 2012.  

All proposals must be submitted online 

The Review Committee will evaluate proposals in the spring and select speakers. Decisions will be final.
The 2012 National Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference will be held at the Albany Marriott on Wolf Road in Albany, New York, a 5-minute drive from the Albany International Airport. Technical workshops will be held on November 13 and conference sessions will be on November 14 and 15. Selected presenters will receive a complimentary registration to the conference sessions, not to the technical workshops. IREC is unable to cover travel and accommodation expenses for speakers.    The 2012 primary conference sponsor is The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. is the primary organizer.

For more information about the conference, visit www.cewec.org.

Submit your proposal