Creating opportunities and implementing inclusive programs to help enrich communities is what drives DTE Energy. Many homes across Michigan are in dire need of energy-efficient upgrades to help withstand weather ailments and lower energy bills. In Detroit, nearly 40,000 owner and renter-occupied households suffer from inadequate housing conditions according to a study released by the University of Michigan.
To address this growing demand, DTE partnered with Walker-Miller Energy Services to launch the Energy Efficiency Academy. The eight-week paid training program will include both classroom and on-the-job experience, allowing participants to earn Building Analyst and Home Evaluator certifications through the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Participants will also receive professional guidance in energy career development and be placed into a recruitment network for entry-level clean energy jobs with starting wages at or above $18 per hour, including benefits, driven by today’s competitive job market. Career pathways in electric, HVAC, insulation, and home performance skilled trades will be accessible for participants who complete the program.
Nationwide, 2.2M additional skilled-trade hires are needed now through 2024 to keep up with labor demand and combat the weakened housing supply, according to the Home Builders Institute. This training program will work to narrow the gap in job demand and provide opportunities to Detroiters who are interested in the energy efficiency industry but are unaware of how to jumpstart their careers. By focusing on education and upskilling, this training program will provide participants with the resources needed to achieve home repair satisfaction while implementing cost-saving measures and reducing energy use.
The Energy Efficiency Academy is the newest in a number of workforce development training programs to attract new talent in the clean energy industry. Our other notable training programs include the Detroit-based Tree-Trimming Academy and Parnell Prison Tree-Trim training, Power and Trades Pathways Program with Henry Ford College, and our Detroit Summer Youth Internship Program.
The Energy Efficiency Academy will kick off its 2023 program year this Spring, hosted at the Walker-Miller Energy Services headquarters in Detroit’s New Center area. For more information about the Energy Efficiency Academy, email Walker-Miller Energy Services at workforce@wmenergy.com. To learn more about DTE’s energy-saving programs, visit www.dte-energy.com/saveenergy.
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