A U.S. Department of Energy-funded program, EMPOWERED, is providing free online education and training on clean energy technologies safety and installation. The EMPOWERED program, via the websites CleanEnergyTraining and CleanEnergyClearinghouse offers videos, guides, and select CEU-bearing courses through the International Code Council (ICC), International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). The EMPOWERED resources are designed and vetted by a coalition of experts across the country, with a focus on creating materials that are immediately practical to contractors, code officials, electricians, and anyone else working with Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in the building space. Popular highlights include a checklist for building owners considering solar energy, a breakdown of energy storage basics, and a series of short courses on solar PV plan review, permitting, and inspection, among many others. “These resources give you the latest information on DER applications and safety, all for free,” said Matthew Harris, senior workforce program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), one of the organizations involved in the EMPOWERED program. “They are constantly being updated and evolving to better support people working on the ground—we want to make sure we’re getting building professionals the knowledge they need!” The resources at CleanEnergyClearinghouse.org are available without any login or registration. The select CEU-bearing courses on CleanEnergyTraining.org require that users create an account, in order to keep track of the courses they have taken and to download relevant certificates of completion. The EMPOWERED program is coordinated by an expert group of partners including IREC, FSEC Energy Research Center, the International Code Council (ICC), International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), Slipstream, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), New Buildings Institute (NBI), Southface Institute, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). As DERs continue to grow around the country, building safety resources will be all the more critical. IREC and partners will continue to add new resources so that building safety professionals stay informed and confident as the energy industry continues to transform. To visit the Clean Energy Clearinghouse, click here. To visit CleanEnergyTraining.org, click here.
