FRESH Energy

FRESH Energy is a social enterprise of Vermont Works for Women that launched in October of 2010. It is Vermont’s first, and currently only, official Weatherization Apprenticeship Program. The standards of apprenticeship were formulated for Vermont Works for Women in cooperation with the Vermont Department of Labor Apprenticeship Division, the VT State Apprenticeship Training Council and the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. The crew has followed very specific training guidelines within their apprenticeships and not only has on the job skills, but also classroom hours to enhance their understanding of energy efficiency and sustainable design.

FRESH Energy is a BPI certified contractor affiliated with Efficiency Vermont that performs energy audits on residential and small commercial facilities within Chittenden County. Our crew develops work scopes based on the findings of the audit, works with the client to identify incentives and finally performs the weatherization work on the property.

In addition to working as an independent contractor, our crew has partnered with many local companies, such as J.A. Morrissey, AllEarth Renewables, Champlain Housing Trust, and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity to perform weatherization work and to install solar trackers throughout the state.

There will be a considerable number of new jobs created by increased building efficiency retrofit activity in the coming years. Based on Vermont Energy Investment Corporation’s estimates, the field will require nearly 1,000 new workers to meet emerging demand over the next ten years – over half of whom will be trained as weatherization technicians. VWW and FRESH Energy plan to ensure that as many women as possible are ready to step into this growing field as trained and experienced workers.

Video by Jean Luc Dushime, for Vermont Green.

• Check out Vermont Green’s Profile of FRESH Energy team member, Devon Dougall.
• Vermont Green profiles FRESH Energy team member, Judy Reynolds.

To hire FRESH Energy for expert residential or commercial weatherization services, contact Jim Paquette at (802) 655-8900, x506 or jpaquette@vtworksforwomen.org.

Funding from the Business and Professional Women Foundation, Great Bay Foundation, US Department of Labor Women’s Bureau and Vermont Department of Labor make this program possible.  Thank you!