Connecticut’s Eight E-House Opens in Waterbury
June 1, 2015
The grand opening of the new E-House at Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury, Connecticut was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
An assembly was first held in the school gym. David Telesca, Principal of Kaynor Tech, welcomed everyone and expressed his great pride in his students and staff in completing the project. Speaking at the ceremony were Dr. Nivea L. Torres, Superintendent, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, Commissioner Rob Klee, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bryan Garcia, Connecticut Green Bank President and CEO, and Matthew Gibbs, Eversource Director of Energy Efficiency Implementation.
The Kaynor Tech E-House was indeed a joint effort by the Connecticut Technical High Schools. Kaynor Tech’s Carpentry program built the structure, the Kaynor Tech Plumbing and Heating program along with students from the O’Brien Tech HVAC program installed all of the state-of-the-cooling and heating systems. The Abbott Tech Electrical students installed the electrical system and the Bullard-Havens Tech Masonry programs worked on the exterior surroundings of the building.
Considered the nation’s first “green” construction learning laboratories for high school students, the E-House initiative provides a clean energy and energy efficiency curriculum and training for Connecticut’s Technical High School’s architectural, carpentry, electrical and plumbing students and faculty. Designed and built by students and faculty, each E-House incorporates solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, weatherization and energy efficiency labs in the design of the project. The E-House gives students the opportunity to conduct hands-on field work in these various labs, preparing them for a “green” career after graduation. Many students have obtained jobs or internships, or continued their studies in a relevant field as a result of their experience.
The state’s first E-House was opened in September 2011 at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain. The E-House initiative is jointly funded by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and the Connecticut Green Bank, with the goal of an E-House at each of the state’s 17 technical high schools. Eversource and United Illuminating administer the program.
