The 2008 New Jersey Energy Master Plan calls for $33 billion of investment into the NJ energy infrastructure and the creation of over 20,000 jobs between now and 2020.  Governor Jon Corzine has set an ambitious goal to provide energy retrofits for 300,000 homes each year until 2020.  These lofty goals and innovative initiatives are complemented with real momentum and financial resources to make them a reality.  NJ's energy stimulus package includes over $300 million for renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation and weatherization services for income qualified individuals. 
 
There is a tremendous amount of work to be done to implement these objectives, both in policy and on the ground.  To prepare for the demand of skilled green collar labor, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) has recently launched a Green Job Training Program (GJTP) in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Isles' Development Center for Energy and Environmental Training. Currently, there are an insufficient number of skilled green collar workers in Newark and other urban cities.  The GJTP will train and prepare local residents in the skills necessary to successfully participate and excel in the inevitable demand of these green jobs in New Jersey.  
 
The GJTP's technical training will focus on providing entry-level energy efficiency assistant in the fields of air sealing and insulation installation.  These positions are critical to complement the services of Home Energy Auditors. Participants will learn the basics of building science, including the components of a home that affect energy performance and efficiency, how to assess these areas, where and how to identify common problem areas and how to propose changes and upgrades that increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
 
"Energy conservation is the cornerstone of every green building," states LPCCD Director of Sustainability and Green Job Training Program Director, Rob Wisniewski. "We are in a position today to move beyond simply changing our light bulbs.   We can make a significant impact on our own personal and global economic and environmental well being by addressing our energy use demands and patterns at home.  We have the power to help our own pockets while simultaneously reducing our negative impacts on the earth.  Comprehensive home evaluation is essential to effectively tackle the issues of home affordability, comfort and global climate change. The goal is to make our living environments safer and more comfortable.  The Green Job Training Program prepares participants to play an integral role in the energy reduction equation."
 
LPCCD's work as a community developer focuses on designing buildings that address affordability, safety, and energy.  In addition to a myriad of green materials and technologies, Lincoln Park's first housing project, The Washington Street Mixed-Use Buildings, features energy efficient equipment that will help it earn LEED and Energy Star certification, including solar energy, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, Energy Star lighting, appliances, and windows, and high levels of insulation and air sealing to eliminate drafts.  One of the goals of LPCCD is to design affordable housing units that are sustainable, energy efficient, and replicable to urban neighborhoods.   
 
For more information about GJTP email us at info@lpccd.org.