Program nationally-recognized as first “green” construction learning laboratory
for high school students
Middletown, Conn. - October 24, 2017 – During a special ceremony today, the Connecticut Technical High School System, in partnership with Energize Connecticut, Eversource, the United Illuminating Company (UI) and the Connecticut Green Bank, announced the opening of the state’s ninth E-House at Vinal Technical High School in Middletown.
The E-House initiative provides a clean energy and energy efficiency curriculum for Connecticut’s Technical High School’s architectural, carpentry, electrical and plumbing faculty and students. Students have the opportunity to conduct hands-on field work in the E-House and earn professional certifications, preparing them for a “green” career after graduation. The program is nationally-recognized as the first “green” construction learning laboratory for high school students.
“The E-House program allows our faculty to fully engage our students with current and future clean energy technology,” said Connecticut Technical High School System Interim Superintendent Jeffrey Wihbey. “We are excited for the future of our students, who we know will be well-equipped to enter the clean energy job market as it grows in Connecticut, the country and around the world.”
Each E-House is designed and built by the students and faculty of the school and incorporates weatherization and energy efficiency labs, solar photovoltaic, and solar thermal systems in the design of the project. Some of the state-of-the-art technology includes thin-film solar photovoltaic panels, a Wi-Fi smart thermostat, and energy efficient heating, lighting and insulation. Students at Vinal Tech also installed a gas-fired fireplace, the first installed by Connecticut Technical High School System students for the E-House program.
“Initiatives like the E-House program ensure that the state’s future green workforce has the best education and skillset possible,” said Connecticut Department of Labor Commissioner Scott Jackson. “The green energy job market numbers 34,000 in Connecticut alone and we look forward to having these students join us once they graduate and enter the workforce.”
The E-House project has a goal of one E-House at each of Connecticut’s 17 technical high schools.
The state’s first E-House was opened in September 2011 at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain. For more information on the E-House program, please visit www.cttech.org.