Training Providers
PG&E
The San Francisco Pacific Energy Center offers classes and seminars, design tools and resources and a tool-lending library to support energy efficiency in buildings. PG&E also offers energy efficiency classes at other locations throughout the Bay Area, including the Peninsula.
Advanced Vocational Institute (AVi)
AVi offers training in a variety of green job skills which include solar, wind, residential and electric vehicles. Classes are Monday through Friday for 12 weeks.
Build It Green
Build It Green is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. Build It Green trains and certifies residential building professionals to build and verify green homes according to the Green Point Rated program specified by most Green Building Ordinances, including those in San Mateo County.
California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA)
CBPCA's Building Science Academy provides classroom and field training for participating in the Energy Upgrade California program, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR training for BPI Certification and HERS (Home Energy Rating System). Curriculum focuses on applying building science concepts for increasing the energy efficiency, year round comfort, and indoor air quality of residential homes. Start with 12 days of training in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 then get BPI Certifications. Advanced training topics classes include 5 to 6 days of hard skills, on the job training.
Cañada College
Cañada College's Interior Design Program offers a Green/Sustainable Design Certificate (19 semester units) that prepares students with the concepts, knowledge, and skills of green/sustainable design to apply to residential and commercial design projects and provides the background needed for students to work on projects requiring this expertise.
City College of San Francisco
Courses include solar installer training leading to NABCEP entry level exam (Course CNST 101), solar thermal training, hybrid and EV training (Auto 57), as well as training in alternative fuels.
De Anza College
De Anza College's Environmental Studies Department offers certificates and a degree in Energy Management Technology (EMT). Core energy management classes are offered in the SEMP Lab at the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies. Courses may also be taken via mediated learning (videostream, DVD or videotape) through the Stewardship Resource Center. In fall 2011, De Anza will open a PV Demonstration Plaza, a state-of-the-art solar technology training center for students interested in careers in renewable energy.
Energy Upgrade California
The Energy Upgrade California's Subsidized Contractors Training Program (SCTP) provides contractors and building performance professionals with subsidized Building Performance Institute Building Analyst training and California Energy Commission's (CEC) HERS II Whole-House Home Energy Ratings Certifications subsidies to teach contractors and home improvement professionals about energy assessments and energy retrofitting.
Rising Sun Energy Center
Rising Sun's "Green Energy Training Services" (GETS) program prepares individuals with barriers to employment for entry-level and advanced jobs in the residential energy efficiency industry.
Swords to Plowshares
The Swords to Plowshares Veterans Green Career Pathways program provides free job training, transition support, and career counseling for qualified military veterans. Swords to Plowshares wants veterans to succeed and build a lasting career in the green industry. Participants in the Job Training Program work one-on-one with counselors to transition military job skills to civilian green industry jobs. Swords to Plowshares works with colleges and conservation partners to offer short-term specialized training programs in energy efficiency, solar thermal energy, and water conservation.
U.S. Green Building Council - Northern California Chapter (USGBC-NCC)
USGBC-NCC is a non-profit organization committed to a sustainable future. Students learn about a wide range of topics, from the basics of green building to advanced topics. Training includes hour-long events up to full-day classes, and is offered in locations throughout Northern California and online.