Rising to the Clean Energy Workforce Challenge in the Washington Metropolitan Area

April 6, 11:15 am to 12:15 pm

Online

Approved for 1.0 general GBCI CE & 1.0 AIA LU

 

Speakers

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Mark Bryan, Community Impact Manager, DC Sustainable Energy Utility

Gleniss Brown Wade, Workforce Development Manager, DC Sustainable Energy Utility

 

Description

 

The COVID Pandemic has flipped the script on the Washington Metropolitan Area’s building industry, pairing record labor shortages with soaring demand for services driven by new climate and energy policies in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County. As owners struggle to find capable consultants and contractors, organizations like the DCSEU are ramping up existing programs to ensure their staff have the certifications, skills, and knowledge to serve the market. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about existing programs enabling them to acquire new skills and find new talent that will enable building owners to reduce costs, energy consumption, and carbon emissions while complying with benchmarking and building energy performance standards. 

 

The DCSEU will present our innovative program design and resulting impact of our efforts to grow local clean energy capacity and meet labor demands through the Workforce Development and the Train Green Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Capacity Building and Pipeline Programs. Through our Workforce Development program, residents develop skills through on-the-job experience and professional development training (including LEED Green Associate exams) to launch a green career. Train Green is DCSEU’s training, credentialing, and certification program designed to assist the Washington Metropolitan Area’s contracting base, especially Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) and DC-based companies, in acquiring new or enhanced skills and knowledge around energy efficiency and renewable energy design, construction, inspection, and maintenance. The program, which began in 2020, is delivered in partnership with the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). 
 
Q&A will follow presentation, including a 5-to-10-minute discussion with attendees to capture audience perspective on what they see as the greatest need for clean energy and climate-related training and workforce development in Montgomery County and the Washington Metropolitan Area.

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Learning Objectives

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1. Understand how local building clean energy training/credentialing programs, including LEED Green Associate and LEED Accredited Professional, can enable your staff and contractors to comply with benchmarking and building energy performance standards in the District and Montgomery County.

2. Learn how to meet organizational Environment, Social and Governance, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals through training and workforce development programs.

3. Learn about the program structure and impact of energy-related mentorship and externship opportunities in the District and Montgomery County.

4. Engage in a focused discussion around building owner’s future training and employment needs to inform future program development.

5. Identify new opportunities to find or promote new talent capable of meeting building owner’s growing need for climate and energy services.

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