The Clean Energy Center seems to be at the center of campus conversation lately, breaking ground and breaking news.

Although it’s not new at Pennsylvania College of Technology, having operated at the college since 1985, the Clean Energy Center is commanding the spotlight for a number of novel initiatives. 

In 2024 alone, the center announced development of a Pittsburgh training facility; broke ground on a Clean Energy House, to be constructed on Penn College’s main campus; deployed innovative career exploration programming for students in career and technical education centers; and launched an Energy Specialist Registered Apprenticeship. 

The Clean Energy Center embraces change, including the evolution occurring in the green building sector.

“As the need for skilled workers in energy efficiency and sustainable construction grows, the Clean Energy Center is in a unique position to help meet that demand,” said Jason Embick, executive director of the Clean Energy Center. “With new programs, like our K-12-based career exploration and work-based learning initiative and registered apprenticeship opportunities, we’re not just keeping up with the changes in the industry: We’re helping to shape its future by providing the innovative workforce solutions needed for an ever-evolving field.” 

Recognized as one of the top building science workforce training providers in the country, the Clean Energy Center is the premier workforce development and training partner for utility energy efficiency programs and the Weatherization Assistance Program administered through the state Department of Community & Economic Development. 

The Clean Energy Center’s core mission is to teach people how to reduce energy consumption in their communities and to improve the comfort and safety of buildings. The people trained by the center are on the front line of reducing the energy burden in communities and improving the housing stock for many low-income Pennsylvanians. 

The Clean Energy Center provides the green building sector with workforce training, nationally recognized industry certifications and workforce solutions, with a focus on energy-efficient retrofits, building science and building decarbonization. 

The center’s accredited Home Energy Professional programs teach individuals how to perform home energy assessments and installation techniques to reduce energy consumption, while ensuring the health and safety of a home.

Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, starting as the Weatherization Training Center and transforming into the National Sustainable Structures Center before adopting its current name, the Clean Energy Center has enrolled more than 22,000 trainees. In the last fiscal year, it logged over 2,800 enrollments in online and in-person courses. Those being trained are adults who are looking for employment in the energy efficiency sector or who are already employed and seek upskilling, industry certifications, and pathways to educational and career advancement.