Imagine a service learning partnership where a community college, university, the city, and the utility company collaborate to help local homeowners achieve lasting energy efficiencies while simultaneously providing marketable credentials for students.

This is happening in California, through the Chico Energy Pioneers, a pilot project of Butte College (CA), California State University-Chico, the City of Chico, and PG&E. The partnership is educating and training area contractors and other professionals to conduct home energy efficiency assessments for retrofits and energy behavioral consultations. Butte College is certifying workers as building performance analysts, CSU-Chico is providing the research components, the City of Chico and PG&E Company are providing institutional program support, and the Energy X-Change is providing program design and field mentorship. Learn how this works and how it can be adapted in your region.