Leveraging Technology to Expand Training in New Mexico

About the Project 

When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, the Energy Smart Academy in New Mexico created new innovated tools to help train weatherization workers remotely, which also allowed them to expand their services beyond people in driving distance of their facility.  

Challenge     

Keeping training relevant and engaging is an ongoing challenge, but the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this. In New Mexico, the Energy Smart Academy at Sante Fe Community College—a Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Training Center—faced the challenge of how to effectively train WAP installers remotely.  

Solution      

The Energy Smart Academy expanded their training opportunities among WAP workers by focusing on improving their online training offerings. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, they created a variety of different online simulations and games focused on energy efficiency, which were integrated into their existing online training.  

One example is SimBuilding, which allows students to inspect a virtual home using an infrared camera to look for insulation and air sealing problems. Another example is a game called Energy 3D, which allows users to modify an existing virtual home model and see what kind of impact it has on the home. The Academy is also creating virtual and simulation tools and content related to cold-climate heat pump technologies. 

Positive Impact      

Energy Smart Academy’s new simulation tools were integrated into their existing online training, making them more engaging for students. In addition, the expansion of online offerings in general allowed Energy Smart Academy to provide training to a much broader audience across the United States. 

The resources are now available in both English and Spanish, making the trainings more accessible to larger audiences.

This story was developed using content from the National Association for State Community Services Program. View the video on YouTube.