Go Green, Texas! WEATHERIZATION Training Digital Workforce Academy (DWA) is creating a weatherization training program in southeast Texas. The site will be located in Beaumont. The purpose will be to train people to conduct home performance contracting work (i.e., attic insulation, duct sealing, installing solar screens, a/c and heating systems). The purpose of the GTEC Building Performance Training Program will be to train people to work in the residential and commercial home repair and energy efficiency industry. There is a large and growing demand in Texas for experienced laborers in the home performance and commercial energy efficiency industry. In the U.S. only 25% of the new construction market is built to Energy Star standards. Homes in the Port Arthur/Beaumont area sustained damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008 and are in need of repair. This also presents an opportunity for homeowners to increase the efficiency of their homes with new materials, insulation and air ducts. Southeast Texas will receive $7.7 million for weatherizing approximately 1150 homes. Prior to the financial crisis, there had been a shortage of skilled resident and commercial builders and remodelers in Jefferson County. With the improvement in the economy, projects that were on hold are expected to resume. There is an increased emphasis on weatherization and building performance in new construction and retrofitting for energy savings.

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