At EnerCity Collaborative (ECC), we are committed to empowering BIPOC individuals to become leaders in the fight against climate change through education and job training. We're dedicated to helping new workers and minority contractors identify, understand, and pursue roles that drive us towards a sustainable, clean energy future.
Today, we're thrilled to share some exciting news and celebrate significant milestones in our journey:
Becoming a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization
We are delighted to announce that ECC has achieved official recognition as a 501c3 nonprofit organization! This milestone would not have been possible without the support of Earth Advantage (EA), who has been instrumental as our fiscal sponsor, mentor, and partner in advancing ECC’s mission and initiatives. We extend our gratitude to EA for their commitment to our growth and success.
Certified Building Performance Institute (BPI) Test Center
ECC has proudly become a certified
Building Performance Institute (BPI) Test Center. This achievement marks a significant leap forward for us, bolstering our mission to expand access to residential energy auditing,
weatherization installation techniques, and healthy homes training. As a BPI Test Center, we are now poised to enhance our impact by equipping more professionals with the skills and certifications needed to excel in the clean energy sector. In 2024, ECC completed its second and third cohorts of
BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) and
Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) training programs. These initiatives were made possible through funding from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). ECC will be offering more BA-T and BA-P training later this year. To be added to the waitlist for future classes and learn more, visit
https://www.enercitycollaborative.org/trainings.
At EnerCity Collaborative,
collaboration is what we do. We’d like to highlight and uplift the hard work of our partners at
Tahn Analytics who helped us develop culturally specific curricula for our BA-T and BA-P trainings. By combining quantitative BPI requirements with qualitative student feedback, they created a robust curriculum that meets the needs of our trainees. We also extend our gratitude to
Prosper Portland and
Energy Trust of Oregon for their financial support in making this curriculum possible.
ECC is partnering with
Heatspring and Earth Advantage to offer
BPI Healthy Home Evaluator training to equip home assessors with the skills to identify health risks and recommend improvements for safer, more energy-efficient homes. This program will train 40 assessors from community-based organizations participating in the
Oregon Community Heat Pump Deployment program. Funded by the Oregon Housing Authority, this initiative strengthens professional development while integrating healthy homes principles into housing projects across the state.
Sustainable Homes Professional (SHP) for Home Retrofits Training
Through funding from the Energy Trust of Oregon and in collaboration with Earth Advantage, ECC is nearing the completion of its first cohort of Sustainable Homes Professional (SHP) trainings with our partners
at
Professional Business Development Group (PBDG). These partnerships reinforce our commitment to supporting minority contractors to grow successful businesses that can address healthy housing needs and energy burden in the communities we serve.
Additionally, ECC, Earth Advantage, and
LatinoBuilt are wrapping up the third and final cohort of our PCEF-funded SHP training for Latinx contractors. This initiative has equipped 34 individuals from 22 Latinx-owned businesses with critical skills to expand their energy efficiency home retrofit services. This collaboration has not only strengthened contractor capacity but has also paved the way for future opportunities—including the launch of an online Spanish-language SHP training.
Building Performance Association Allied Partner Network
Lastly, ECC is now a proud member of the
Building Performance Association Allied Partner Network which brings organizations together whose missions and visions align to make America’s homes more comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient.
With Gratitude
We extend our deepest thanks to the many organizations and individuals who have supported our journey, especially Meyer Memorial Trust, Energy Trust of Oregon, Earth Advantage, Prosper Portland, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, and Coalition of Communities of Color.
Contact Us
We invite you to be part of ECC’s mission! Whether you’re interested in training opportunities, partnerships, grant writing/social media volunteering, or supporting our initiatives,
contact us today and help create a more sustainable future.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on these achievements, we are reminded of the incredible potential within our communities to lead and innovate in the field of clean energy. ECC remains steadfast in its mission to empower BIPOC individuals, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive and make a lasting impact.
James Metoyer
Executive Director
EnerCity Collaborative
