New York’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has long been a vital resource for communities across the state, helping low-income households improve energy efficiency while creating job opportunities. A new initiative led by the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) is stepping in to fill those gaps. Through a unique fellowship and strong partnerships with the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, the state is building a pipeline for the next generation of energy-efficiency professionals.
Challenge
New York’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), administered by the NYSHCR, has faced workforce challenges similar to the national weatherization network and other similar industries. Budget constraints and program restrictions have made it difficult to promote talented staff without leaving other key positions unfilled. This has created gaps in workforce capacity, especially among the community action agencies who provide weatherization services. While demand for weatherization work was high (many homes are ready to be weatherized) the workforce lacked the necessary training to meet the growing demand.
Additionally, the State Energy Office (NYSERDA) and WAP Grantee (NYSHCR) operate separately, creating a need for WAP-specific, hands-on training. NY WAP also wanted to ensure its inclusion in broader funding streams, such as the Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) programs. To accomplish this, additional training was needed for the WAP workforce.
Solution
In response to these workforce and training gaps, a comprehensive training initiative was introduced through the New York Center for Energy and Carbon Management Training (E-CMT), supported by NYSHCR. This program provides a combination of classroom/lab training, hands-on training in the field, and professional certifications to build a skilled workforce prepared to meet the demands of NY Weatherization and other energy programs.
E-CMT targets a wide audience, including new workers such as college students, high school graduates, adults re-entering the labor market, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The program also supports current workers seeking additional specialization in energy-related fields.
The goal is for at least 50% of participants to come from disadvantaged communities, creating a more inclusive and equitable workforce. To further support diverse and non-traditional students, E-CMT offers stipends, transportation assistance, childcare subsidies, and career planning services.
Spanning over 300 hours, the training provides participants with flexibility to engage part-time, making it accessible for working professionals and students. The hands-on approach is reinforced by real-world experience through traineeships with the Weatherization Assistance Program’s sub-grantee network, equipping participants for successful careers in building performance industries and weatherization. Graduates of the program are eligible to earn industry-recognized certifications, including those from the Building Performance Institute (BPI), positioning them for success in the growing energy workforce.
The curriculum is structured into multiple phases to provide both foundational and advanced training. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:
- Energy Technician Certificate (90 hours + OSHA 40): A six-credit, two-course sequence focusing on the “Fundamentals of Building Science” and “Building Systems”.
- Mastery Badge (90 hours + workshops): Another six-credit sequence focusing on “Retrofit Technologies” and “Construction Practices”.
- In-Service Specialization Certificate (90 hours): Planned for year two of the program, this certificate will offer advanced specialization in building performance and energy efficiency.
In addition to these core components, the program offers workshops designed to sharpen practical skills:
- Construction Math (15 hours)
- Tools (3 hours)
- Workplace Behavior (6 hours)
- Career Paths (3 hours)
Impact
While it is still early to measure the full outcomes in terms of funding spent or homes weatherized, early indicators are promising. Several students have already expressed interest in traineeships, with six placements already completed. While the program focuses on placing trainees with WAP subgrantees, in the case where there are more trainees than available openings within the WAP network, NYSHCR is working to provide placement at alternative partner employers. The program is making meaningful strides in addressing gaps in the weatherization workforce and beyond by tapping into existing networks and providing real-world hands-on experience.
Enrollment is also on the rise. The program has enrolled 152 students already, with additional enrollments expected across other institutions. The second cohort of participants is now being recruited, with partnerships spanning CUNY and SUNY campuses statewide. Enrollment is projected to total more than 340 students across both matriculated and continuing education tracks.
