We have all heard of apprentice plumbers, electricians, and heating/ air conditioning technicians. But, have you heard of an apprentice energy efficiency technician? Not many people have, but New York State does have an apprenticeship in this fast growing segment of the comfort industry, and Halco is the first contractor in New York State of to participate in the program.
Currently, three Halco employees, William Quackenbush of Rochester, Benjamin Secor of Geneva and Zachery Dube of Waterloo, are enrolled in the energy efficiency technician apprenticeship program. Each is working side-by-side with an experienced Halco technician who is certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a building analyst professional. After the apprentices have completed 2,200 hours of training, they will advance to the next step in their career – journeyman – on the way to becoming a master craftsman.
The training consists of classroom study and on-the-job training, and apprentices are tested on their field work, and also take written exams. When they complete their apprenticeships, Quackenbush, Secor and Dube will also be eligible to take the BPI building analyst certification exam.
Halco participates in four other New York State apprenticeship programs – plumbing, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and sheet metal fabricating. President Hal Smith notes that apprentices are paid, and that apprenticeship programs are strictly regulated by the New York State Department of Labor. Smith says apprenticeship programs were established centuries ago to train new people in a craft or trade by having them work side-by-side with a master craftsman or journeyman.
When they complete their apprenticeships, Quackenrush, Secor and Dube will be qualified to work as home energy technicians. Using sophisticated instruments and software programs, they will audit energy usage in customers’ homes and determine where energy is being lost to leakage and system inefficiencies. They will also be trained to present results of the audit and supervise any improvement measures.
Halco is an industry leader in the home energy performance field. In 2011, Halco completed 399 home energy audits, and was honored as the top home energy performance contractor in the state. Halco was also recognized nationally.
Smith says, “There is no charge to most homeowners for home energy audits. They are paid for by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) from funds you have already paid in your utility bill. It makes sense for everyone to take advantage of this service.”
Established in 1984, Halco provides residential and commercial property owners throughout the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier and Central New York regions with complete energy audits, as well as heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and renewable energy systems and service.
