Kaynor Tech provides students with hands-on learning for ‘green’ jobs as part of Connecticut Technical High School System’s E-House initiative
Waterbury, Conn. (May 19, 2015) – During a special ceremony today, the Connecticut Technical High School System in partnership with Energize Connecticut announced the opening of the state’s eighth E-House at W.F. Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury.
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 market for clean energy jobs is growing in Connecticut and around the world,” said Connecticut Technical High School System Superintendent Dr. Nivea L. Torres. “The E-House program provides our students with valuable experience, exposes them to new and innovative clean energy technology and practices, and ensures that they have the skills to meet the needs of this growing job market.”
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 Kaynor Tech also installed an HTP Versa‐Hydro Solar Water Heater, which utilizes solar thermal energy to produce domestic hot water, including hydronic heating for both the E‐House and nearby maintenance garage on campus.
The E-House project is supported by Energize Connecticut, Eversource, the United Illuminating Company (UI), and the Connecticut Green Bank, with the goal of an E-House at each of the state’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.
About Connecticut Technical High School System (CTHSS)
For over 100 years, CTHSS has provided a unique and rigorous high school learning environment for its students that (1) ensures both student academic success and trade/technology mastery; (2) prepares students for post-secondary education, including apprenticeships and immediate productive employment; and (3) responds to employers’ and industries’ current and emerging global workforce needs and expectations through business/school partnerships. For more information on CTHSS, please visit: www.cttech.org.
About Energize Connecticut
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
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