Sustainable Living Institute Keeps Pace with Green Jobs Growth

John Bendon of Green Building LLC conducts an energy audit with SLIM students at the Fabmac Home located in Kahului. Photo courtesy of Emily Sullivan.

By Sonia Isotov

With  more than 2,500 “green” jobs on Maui, and an estimated additional 437 more jobs by 2012 coming from “green job” fields, UH Maui College’s Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) and VITEC are partnering to prepare Maui’s workforce to make the  transition.

Students like Gregg Kresge see the value in this training, “People that take classes like the Home Energy Survey Professional class will be equipped to go into the community and offer a service that will save people money.”

The Home Energy Survey Professional (HESP) class trains students in energy efficiency and building science and prepares them to take the nationally recognized Residential Energy Survey Network (RESNET) certification test.  During the HESP class, taught by John Bendon of Green Building LLC, students learned how to conduct energy audits by using high-end performance equipment.

“The class brings a nationally recognized certification program for energy auditing directly to Maui.  Students learn the basics of building science and why buildings perform the way they do in our unique climate.  Those concepts are combined with energy audit procedures to train students on effective means at reducing the energy impacts of homes.  This sort of information can add value not only to homeowners with existing homes but to those who are designing and building new homes,” said Bendon.

This summer, SLIM and OCET-VITEC located on the UH Maui College campus will be offering Entry Level and Advanced Photovoltaic classes.  Upcoming fall classes include Photovoltaic Technical Sales, Solar Hot Water, and Small Wind Turbine Design and Insulation, which all lead to nationally recognized certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

Funding is available for tuition for eligible participants through Maui Goodwill, (808) 871-4143. Visit SLIM’s website to learn more about the individual programs www.sustainablemaui.com.