Nationally recognized educational initiative provides technical high school students with hands-on experience, preparing them for “Green Jobs” post-graduation
DANBURY, Conn. (December 17, 2014) – The Connecticut Technical High School System, in partnership with Energize Connecticut, today at a special ceremony announced the opening of the state’s seventh E-House at Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury. Considered the nation’s first high-school laboratories for learning “green” construction, the E-House initiative provides a clean energy and energy efficiency curriculum for the schools’ architectural, carpentry, electrical and plumbing faculty and students.
Designed and built by students and faculty, each E-House 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. The Abbott Tech E-House also features an evacuated tube drain-back solar thermal system, the first one of its kind installed by students at a Connecticut E-House.
Students have the opportunity to conduct hands-on field work and earn professional certifications in these various systems, preparing them for a “green” career after graduation. The E-House project is supported by Energize Connecticut and is jointly administered by Eversource (Eversource) and the United Illuminating Company (UI). Energize Connecticut’s goal is to support the creation of an E-House at each of the state’s technical high schools.
“The fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy are more valuable than ever, as we are witnessing a clean energy boom on the local, state and national level,” Connecticut Technical High School System Superintendent Dr. Nivea Torres said. “The E-House educational initiative ensures that Connecticut remains a national leader in green jobs creation, and that our students are equipped to fill these jobs.”
Jose Alves, a 2014 Abbott Tech graduate, worked on the construction of the E-House and was on-hand to speak about his experience.
“I am proud of the work ethic and skills I developed while building the E-House,” said Alves. “My classmates and I bonded with one another and our instructors during the project, and it makes me happy to know that we built something that will help future Abbott Tech students succeed.”
More than 650 Abbott Tech students and 20 special guests attended Wednesday’s ceremony including U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, State Representative David Arconti, State Representative Dan Carter, State Representative Bob Godfrey, David Kalafa of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Eversource Director of Energy Efficiency Matt Gibbs, and UI Manger of Residential Services Marissa Westbrook.
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 Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, 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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