I would really like to encourage you or any friend of yours to read below for further education, or to contact them for any information regarding any of these topics shown below;

• East Bay Jobs Corps and look for Elena Foshay at Foshay@risingsunenergy.org or call her at at 510-665-1501 x18. That is a free training and education program designed to help youth and young adults get the skills they need to enter green careers. The 16-week bridge program can lead you to community college, vocational training programs, union apprenticeships, or employment and offers paid solar and energy efficiency internships as part of the program. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 24, live in Oakland, Berkeley, or Richmond, and meet income requirements. The first cohort takes place in Berkeley, with internships in Berkeley and Richmond. The program runs from September 6 to December 16, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

• Green Energy Training Services (GETS): Green Energy Training Services (GETS) teaches skills that will prepare you for entry-level jobs in the fast-growing Energy Efficiency and Building Performance industries. Graduates also get the benefit of job placement assistance and local job resources, as well as opportunity for further development at monthly alumni meetings. The next GETS cohort begins in January, takes place in Berkeley, and lasts 8 weeks.  To apply for GETS, you must be at least 18 years old, a Berkeley resident, and motivated to find work after training is over.

• PG&E Classes

PG&E offers a wide range of energy efficiency, renewable    energy,  and green building classes at its Stockton and San  Francisco training centers, as well as other locations around the Bay Area.  The classes are FREE, and generally last between one and three days.  Online enrollment well in advance is highly recommended, as the most popular classes fill up quickly.  To view the class schedule and sign up online, visit:

http://www.pge.com/energyclasses

http://www.pge.com/solareducation/

• Community College Programs

Community college offers many advantages, including assisting students in achieving their individual educational goals, preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions, helping students in career planning and development, and offering quality instruction, small class size, and personal attention by faculty. Community colleges also offer technical/vocational training programs for students whose goal is to fulfill education requirements to enter new job markets.

• Laney College, Oakland www.laney.peralta.edu

Laney’s Career and Technical Education Program offers education and training programs to help people launch green technical careers. At Laney, you can study water and resource conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Find out more about Laney’s green job training programs here: http://www.laney.edu/wp/green/

Degrees/certificates offered:                                                                                                                                                 

• Environmental Control Tech (HVAC&R): Students will have the opportunity to work hands on with refrigerator systems, light commercial and commercial air condition, heating equipment, boilers, chillers, hydronic HAC system and building automation controls. Laney College is preparing technicians as key agents in implementing energy efficiency and sustainability measures in residential and commercial buildings.

• The Building Performance and Energy Efficiency Certification BPEEP: Prepares students for careers in energy efficiency auditing and retrofitting, will learn to evaluate the building for opportunities to maximize energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality.

• Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification Course: Provides training in the theory and practice of building performance include training and practice using Blower door, Duct blaster, Combustion safety and other required test equipment. At the end of the course student will have the opportunity to take the BPI written and field examination to become certified as Building Analysts.

• Solar Photovoltaic Design, Sales, and Installation Certificate of Achievement: Students will learn how to design solar PV systems, assess the cost and saving for the client, design and deliver sales pitches and learn how to install solar photovoltaic systems. Students will be able to take the NABCEP Entry-Level test upon completion.  A 14-week program, please note classes start July 5^th.

http://www.laney.edu/wp/green/solar/

• Energy Efficiency Sales and Auditing: This 10-week training provides specialized training in the energy efficiency industry. Training will emphasize technology, trends and concepts in green building; customer service for the energy efficiency sector; and energy auditing. Designed for students with a passion, aptitude and/or experience in sales and customer service.

• Merritt College, Oakland http://www.merritt.edu/

The Merritt College Environmental Management and Technology Program, located at Self-Reliant House in the Oakland Hills, offers courses in many subjects including: Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management, Agroecology and Urban Farming, Alternative Energies, Ecology, Global Warming, Ecological Restoration, Food Security, Environmental Justice, Sustainable Cities, Policy and Planning, Human Ecology, Forests, Wetlands, Water Resources, Ranger/Naturalist Training, Environmental Education, Air Quality, Recycling, Pollution, Wildlife, Population, Transportation and Green Building. Courses can result in proficiency certificate, vocational certificate, or transfer to a four-year college or university. http://www.ecomerritt.org/

• Environmental Management Fundamentals: Introduces students to environmental stewardship including land management and cultural outdoor interpretation and education. Certificate of Proficiency upon completion.

• Greening the Urban Environment: Program designed to prepare students for the Green Building and Energy employment in the fields of energy management or building design and construction with an emphasis on “green” building. Certificate of Proficiency upon completion.

• Urban Agroecology: This program will help prepare students for employment in areas or urban ad, green jobs in schools and community gardens, large-scale urban farming studies in food and agriculture. Certificate of Proficiency upon completion.

• Certificate in Landscape Horticulture: Merritt College has one of the largest Landscape Horticulture Programs (with facilities to match) in northern California. The coursework prepares students for many careers, including landscape design and construction, nursery and greenhouse management, floral production and design, turf management and aboriculture, plus many more. http://www.merrittlandhort.com/

More resources and Information

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