The E-House at Goodwin Tech

Location: E. C. Goodwin Technical HS, 735 Slater Rd - New Britain, CT
Completed: September 20, 2011

Nation's First Green Construction Learning Laboratory

The E-House built on-site at at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School is the nation's first green construction learning laboratory. The E-House is part of the state's technical high school system's "green" approach to provide clean energy curriculum and hands-on experience for its architectural, carpentry, electrical and plumbing departments' faculty and students.

"The E-House initiative allows our students to move beyond the textbook to hands-on, green construction training," stated Patricia Ciccone, Superintendent, Connecticut Technical High School System. "We are proud to be the first technical high school system in the nation to construct a hands-on training curriculum to ensure that our students graduate with the valuable skills needed to become part of tomorrow’s clean energy workforce."

Designed and Built by Faculty and Students

the E-House ,which incorporates solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems and weatherization/energy efficiency labs, is funded by the state's two energy funds: the Connect Green Bank and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund. "On behalf of the Energy Efficiency Fund, we are delighted to continue our partnership with CTHSS to instill an energy-efficient ethic in tomorrow’s workforce," said Richard W. Steeves, Vice-Chairman, Energy Efficiency Fund. Bryan Garcia, President, Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority agrees. "Funding educational programs on green building allows us to establish our legacy of making the world greener—one building at a time."

In addition to the physical structure, the funding plan includes training and professional development for all CTHSS' architectural, carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing instructors. A charging station for electric plug-in vehicles was generously donated by Eversource Energy as part of its "Plug My Ride" electric vehicle grassroots awareness campaign.

Student Response Overwhelming Positive

And it's not just the electrons bouncing off the solar photovoltaics that are excited. Student response has been overwhelming positive, especially as other technical high school systems across the nation are scheduling visits to learn how to emulate the successful E-House Initiative.

"It is very important to remember that these are high school students learning hands-on techniques on how to construct a green building," stated Ciccone. "For over 100 years, Connecticut's Technical High School System has led with excellence in providing tomorrow's workforce with the skills needed for success.  Our E-House initiative allows us to continue that legacy; however, with a green foundation."

Check out the photos below of the Goodwin Tech E-House construction and grand opening ceremony!