Training for 'green' jobs

Shelton (WTNH) - A Shelton company is on the forefront of the emerging 'green' industry and their training classes are filling up quick.

Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) is filling two needs with one class. For one, the poor economy has put a lot of people out of work, so they need to learn new skills. It's also has people looking to save money on their bills, so they need to make their home energy efficient.

Kyle Whittaker is a student at EMC.

"Currently unemployed, and found it pretty interesting, and it's a new and growing field, I believe, the environmental field," said Whittaker said.

For years, EMC has helped commercial clients be more energy efficient. Now, the company is looking at the trend towards efficiency at home.

"People are becoming much more aware, and with oil prices going up so high, there's so much interest in making homes more energy efficient and saving money," said Susan Giordano, President, EMC.

Which is why utility companies offer home energy audits and that's what students are EMC are learning to do. It covers everything from gas leaks, to weatherization and using technology to find problems.

One way to find energy leaks is by using a high-powered fan to de-pressurize a room. By using smoke sticks, you can see where the outside air comes rushing in.

James Askew is a retired firefighter now taking the class at EMC.

"It just seemed a natural segue into being employed in an active technology that's coming up. This is the wave of what's coming," he said.

This is a class especially for unemployed and under-employed workers who want not just to work, but to make a difference.

"We're really dependent on foreign oil, and if we can become more proficient in terms of not using so much foreign oil, it helps the economy all the way around," Askew said.

After three weeks of training, students will be ready to take their test to become certified building analysts. Utility companies require at least one certified building analyst be on every team that goes out to do an energy audit.