ANSON SMITH AT 203-332-5229 OR LEIGH ROBERTS AT 203-331- 5264
NEW HAVEN WOMAN IS HCC’S “GREEN LADY”
OVERSEES WEATHERIZATION COURSE DEVELOPMENT
TRAINS WORKERS FOR GROWING FIELD
COURSES SLATED FOR FALL
BRIDGEPORT – Around Housatonic Community College, Leigh
Roberts is becoming known as the Green Lady.
The
reason is simple. The New Haven resident, who joined Housatonic in January
as workforce development coordinator, is overseeing the development of weatherization
training courses that will be created in the area thanks to the $65 million
in economic stimulus funds that’s coming to Connecticut for this purpose. Much
of the emphasis will be on helping low and moderate income families trim their
energy bills.
“Energy
conservation is a key component of any green program,” Roberts said. “Making
the most of the energy you generate is as important as finding newer, greener
sources of energy.”
“Conservation measures are far less expensive and far less environmentally
harmful than developing new sources of energy,” she said. “Weather
stripping and low wattage fluorescent light bulbs are less expensive than new
heating and cooling systems, and far less expensive than new power plants.
And its environmental impact is zero!”
There is certainly a demand for weatherization and conservation in
the Greater Bridgeport area, she said. “We estimate that there
are some 3,000 units in the area that could benefit from this,” she
said.
Not only will the program help people trim their energy bills, she
said, it will create “green collar” jobs. It is estimated
that the new program will create some 1,500 new jobs in the Bridgeport
area over the next 10 years.
One course that is being created, she said, is a weatherization auditor
course. This will train people to go into houses to identify steps
that can be taken to make the house more energy efficient, simple steps
such as installing weather-stripping, repairing or replacing drafty
windows and doors, or using low wattage bulbs.
The second course, weatherization technician, will train people to
implement the recommendations of the auditor. This type of job, she
said, will appeal to people who have a background in building science
or construction technology.
“These positions are as much job retraining as job training,” she
said. “With the slumping economy, a technicians’ job, for example,
would appeal to a carpenter who has been unable to find work as well as someone
fresh out of high school or the service.”
To help the new worker or the formerly self-employed worker whose business
has been hurt by the economy, she said, each course will include units
on job hunting, which will cover such things as resume writing, and
interviewing skills.
Housatonic, Roberts noted, will be part of the weatherization effort
in two ways. Part of the $65 million will go to community service agencies
throughout the area to help the people they serve. Those in the greater
Bridgeport area will send these people to Housatonic for training.
In addition, the Community College System itself will receive some
$1.5 million. This will be divided up among the state’s 12 community
colleges and technical high schools to offer courses to the general
public. HCC will have its courses up and running in the Fall.
Roberts, for one, is eager to get the program off the ground. “It
will help people stretch their energy dollar while, at the same time,
provide jobs and career ladders for people who need them,” she
said. “It’s truly a win-win situation.”
For more information about the weatherization courses, call Roberts at
203-332-5264.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu