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Advance Your Career in Green Building

Weatherization 201

A six-week intensive program to take your skills to the next level. This program was developed with an emphasis on weatherization and home energy efficiency, with an introduction to emerging green materials and efficiency-based building practices.

Green circle with bold white text in the center that reads "Get Paid to Learn," perfect for those eager to explore opportunities in energy efficiency or weatherization.

Introduction

A six-week intensive program to take your skills to the next level! This program was developed with an emphasis on weatherization and home energy efficiency, blended with innovative green building practices

Successful applicants are looking to upskill already established hand/power tool skills and ready to explore the well-paid and growing field of weatherization and other trades whose practices are aligned with the green-energy movement. 

What You'll Learn

Weatherization: 

  • Learn the principles of home-energy efficiency and building science. Lessons will cover home heating basics, insulation, and ventilation.
  • Have hands-on practice in the weatherization techniques of air sealing, foam and cellulose insulating, proper ventilation, and moisture barrier setup.

 

A Greener Way to Build: 

  • Review natural materials used for weatherization like hempcrete, wood fiber, and lime plaster. 
  • Overview of advanced framing, double-studded wall demo. 
  • Understanding of embodied carbon that comes with the production of construction materials and lifespan. 
  • Thorough understanding and importance of continuous control layers when constructing vertical walls. 

 

Carpentry & Construction: 

The ideal candidate has already established proper safe use of construction and power tools. We will review: 

  • A variety of construction hand and power tools geared towards building and weatherization practices. 
  • Common construction and weatherization vocabulary and job-site rules. 
  • Each student will be equipped with the necessary tools and will learn to work collaboratively with others accomplishing projects. 
  • Class time will be split between seminar-style training and hands-on building and weatherization projects. 
  • Trainees will also get a chance to add OSHA-10 to their list of certifications if they have not already acquired this certificate. 

 

Professional Development: 

Working together with ReSOURCE’s employment counselor, students will: 

  • Explore careers in the weatherization and home-energy fields 
  • Develop/Update resume 
  • Build job-searching and job-retention skills 
  • Meet with hiring weatherization employers 

 

Work Experience and Job Placement: 

For the final two weeks of the program, work-ready participants will be placed in on-the-job work experience with hiring employers. The Employment Counselor works individually with students to find a job placement that meets their individual needs and professional goals. 

Workshop Outline

In this 6-week, Monday – Friday (9-4), program trainees learn key knowledge and fundamentals that will create a solid foundation for future growth.

In the beginning of the program, we will review competency and confidence with common hand tools and power tools like impact driver, hammer, tape measurer skills, table and miter saw. As a cohort we will review and complete a planned build project that is instructor-led which will be used in later components of the class. Time also allots for lecture and demonstration of natural material review and installation of materials to a small scale.  

Also, within this timeframe trainees will create/update their professional resumes which are used for an employee panel where trainees get to meet and network with hiring professionals. 

Two days will be spent obtaining the OSHA-10 certificate. The remaining is devoted to the ins and outs of weatherizing a home/space. Here you’ll complete a blower door test and practice home auditing techniques. You’ll then practice common insulation practices; including spray foam, cellulose installation, and overview of the variety of heating and cooling systems.  

Weeks 5 & 6 are when work experiences begin. Based on employers at the job fair, the trainee decides on which employer they’d like to experience a few days on the job with. We call this the try before you buy, and it is also the time when we say many job offers on the table. 

Who Should Attend

Successful applicants are looking to upskill already established hand/power tool skills and ready to explore the well-paid and growing field of weatherization 

Testimonials

Hear from our trainees to see how our programs have made a real impact on their careers and lives.

I had a great experience with the course. It was a small group, which was nice because we were really able to focus on the things that people wanted to be learning.

-Maria, Construction 101 (2018)

About ReSOURCE

ReSOURCE Training programs offer an opportunity for adults and youth who have barriers to employment to hone job skills and prepare for a successful work life as productive members of their communities

Sessions and Dates:

Februry 24th, 2025

Location

ReSOURCE Burlington

Registration & Fees

Tuition is FREE for qualifying Vermonters.

Stipends

Weekly training stipend provided to all active participants

Questions?

Contact our coordinators for more details and get all your questions answered.

Maggie Robinson

Burlington Intensives Program Manager
[email protected]

Schedule a Donation Pick-up

Thank you for thinking of ReSOURCE for donations of your furniture and large appliances! We are proud to offer pick-up services in Chittenden County and Central Vermont. 

802.857.4345

802.477.7800

802.851.8333 ext 13

FAQs

What is Career Start?

Career Start is a program designed for high school students to gain hands-on experience and technical skills in various departments at ReSOURCE’s Burlington or Barre locations.

High school students enrolled in school are eligible to participate in the Career Start program.

The program provides hands-on experience in ReSOURCE departments, technical skills training, and monthly personal and professional development classes.

There is a fee of $1500, but tuition is waived for qualifying Vermonters.

Departments include Customer Service & Retail, Office Administration, Computers and Electronics, Overlook Cafe, and Large Appliances, among others.

Yes, students earn a monthly stipend

Training covers Health and Wellness, Goal Setting and Achievement, Leadership Development, Career Planning, and Financial Literacy.

Interested individuals should contact ReSOURCE’s Training and Development Manager, Susan Uthmann, for enrollment details.

Interested?

Please contact:

Susan Uthmann
Training and Development Manager
[email protected]
802.857.4340

Partner Agency List

Our partners help us to provide $125,000 worth of goods to over 2,000 individuals/families in Chittenden, Lamoille, and Washington Counties, and the greater Vermont area.

  • Addison Community Action/CVOEO
  • Age Well
  • Agency of Human Services- Field Services Burlington District
  • Burlington Community Justice Center
  • Burlington Housing Authority
  • Chittendent Community Action/CVOEO
  • Clarina Howard Nichols Center
  • Committee On Temporary Shelter
  • Essex Community Justice Center
  • Howard Center Community Support Program
  • Howard Center Developmental Services
  • Howard Center School Service Program
  • Lamoille Family Center
  • Milton Family Community Center
  • Pathways Vermont- Housing First Program
  • Pathways Vermont -services for veterans and families rapid rehousing program
  • ReSOURCE
  • Safe Harbor Clinic
  • Spectrum Youth and Family Services
  • Steps to End Domestic Violence
  • The Janet S. Munt Family Room
  • U.S. Committee for refugees and Immigrants
  • U.S. Committee for refugees and Immigrants
  • Vermont Cares
  • Vermont Catholic Charities
  • Vermont Foundation of Recovery

 

Become a Partner Agency

For interest in joining our program please email [email protected] to learn more about the next application cycle or any availability in become a new partner agency.

We make award decisions each December for the next calendar year and notify partners so our clients can request vouchers.

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