For Immediate Release
August 17, 2011

Free Four-Week Program Can Train You for Home Energy Retrofitting Occupations

Learn basic green building principles and create a sustainable plan to design or remodel an energy-efficient home.

The green economy is here and a new, free, four-week program from Cañada College and the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board can prepare you for careers in retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient and sustainable.

The Home Energy Retrofit Occupations (HERO) Program will help students learn and apply basic green building principles; create a sustainable/green plan to design or remodel energy-efficient homes; and design interior spaces using measures from LEED and GreenPoint Rated checklists for commercial and residential projects. Classes begin Oct. 10 and run through Nov. 4. They'll be held Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Cañada College Menlo Park Center, 1200 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park.

The course, titled "Energy-Efficient Homes, Green Remodeling & Marketing" will introduce students to green sustainable concepts, basic interior sketching, and energy-efficient homes with a focus on planning and design of energy-efficient, high-quality and healthy homes. Students will learn marketing strategies for homebuyers, owners, and remodelers. They will also learn the CALGreen Standard Code and LEED-H rating system for homes.

Students will learn the basics of green remodeling design for residential and commercial interiors using the GreenPoint Rated checklist developed by the Build it Green Organization, and LEED for Interior Design and Construction checklist developed by the United States Green Building Council.

Participants must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent, the right to work in the US, California residency for at least one year, and they must complete a Math and English assessment test.

To enroll, contact Gina Ciardella at HERO@smchsa.org. For more information or questions, call Julie Mooney at (650) 325-6936 or email mooney@smccd.edu.

The Home Energy Retrofit Occupations Program is funded by a $2.5 million Community Based Job Training Grant, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration and hosted by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency.

For more information, contact Robert Hood, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at hoodr@smccd.edu or 306-3340