A Department of Energy-funded program is providing free online education and training on the safety and installation of solar, energy storage, electric vehicle supply equipment, and high-performance buildings (a group of technologies collectively called, “distributed energy resources,” or DERs). The EMPOWERED program, this initiative offers videos, guides, CEU-bearing courses, and more on two websites: CleanEnergyTraining.org and CleanEnergyClearinghouse.org.
The EMPOWERED resources are designed and vetted by a coalition of experts nationwide, focusing on creating materials that are immediately practical to contractors, code officials, electricians, and anyone else working with DERs in the building space. Popular highlights include a guide to frequently asked questions about heat pumps, a breakdown of energy storage basics, and a short course on electric vehicle charging for building owners, among many others. Over 75,000 building safety professionals across all 50 states have utilized the EMPOWERED resources.
“These resources give you the latest information on DER applications and safety, all for free,” said Matthew Harris, Senior Workforce Program Manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), one of the organizations involved in the EMPOWERED program. “They are constantly being updated and evolving to better support people working on the ground—we want to make sure we’re getting building professionals the knowledge they need!”
Explore the comprehensive resource for clean energy information and updates, and see project partners, at CleanEnergyClearinghouse.org.
The resources at CleanEnergyClearinghouse.org are available without any login or registration. The CEU-bearing courses on CleanEnergyTraining.org require that users create an account to keep track of the courses they have taken and to download relevant certificates of completion.
The EMPOWERED program is coordinated by an expert group of partners including IREC, the International Code Council (ICC), the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), Slipstream, FSEC Energy Research Center, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), New Buildings Institute (NBI), Southface Institute, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).