North Branch Works to Partner with Priority Energy to Provide Grant-Funded Energy Auditor Training for North Chicago Residents
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 15, 2013 -- North Branch Works, a long-standing Chicago economic and workforce development organization, is teaming up with Priority Energy to provide unemployed and disadvantaged Chicago residents the opportunity to earn the Building Performance Institute’s (BPI)Building Analyst certification. As a grantee of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Employment Opportunity’s Urban Weatherization Initiative (UWI), North Branch Works will provide certification training and testing, and job placement services to qualifying Chicago residents. The Building Analyst credential, valued at approximately $2,500, is fundamental to becoming a Home Energy Auditor.
BPI is one of the most nationally recognized energy auditing standards and credentialing organizations in the country. Their board of industry professionals sets the standards and performance testing guidelines by which most all energy efficiency programs are based. "A BPI designation will make students eligible for employment with builders, contractors, architectural firms, and utility companies or to work as independent auditors," says Robert Schildgen, owner and CEO of Priority Energy. "We all want the students to succeed and together we can give them the knowledge and confidence to make it happen."
As the Chicago-area leader in energy efficiency services and energy auditor training, Priority Energy will lead four of the eight scheduled training sessions scheduled to begin in September. These sessions will have Priority providing the “fast-track” classes for the more industry-experienced students. In addition, Priority will be using their newly built state-of-the-art training and testing facilities to provide the highest level of training possible.
Tom Opper, Chief Program Officer stated, “In this growing field of Green professionals, we are absolutely excited to be working with a top-notch organization like Priority Energy. As one of the fastest growing energy efficiency companies in the Midwest, we feel fortunate to have secured their services for this program."
About North Branch Works, Inc.
North Branch Works, founded in 1982 as an affiliate of the New City YMCA, as the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Council, became an independent not-for-profit community development corporation in 2001. As a delegate agency of the Chicago Department of Housing & Economic Development, we serve businesses in the North River and Addison Industrial Corridors and provide skills training and job placement solutions for the State of Illinois and Chicago’s workforce development challenges. Differentiated by our combined economic and workforce development capabilities, North Branch Works brings an advanced set of skills and knowledge to each challenge.
About Priority Energy, LLC
Priority Energy has performed HERS ratings, energy audits and retrofit work for countless builders, private homes, childcare centers, schools, universities, theatres, and museums throughout the Midwest. Their certified consultants have backgrounds in engineering, building sciences and nearly 100 years of industry experience. An accredited RESNET and BPI training center, Priority Energy offers certification and continuing education courses, plus guest speaker events. Check the website for an event schedule. Their additional services include Aeroseal® duct sealing, EnviroDri® weatherization, indoor air quality services and IECC verifications.
For those Chicago residents interested in learning more about this program and certification, please contact Ebony McLaurin, Client Services Coordinator at 773-929-552 ext. 228 or ebony(at)northbranchworks(dot)org.
Barb Isaac, Priority Energy, http://priorityenergy.com, 800-737-2299, [email protected]
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