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CET Receives $375,000 Grant to Expand Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Workforce

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — CET announced receipt of a $375,000 investment to grow Massachusetts’ clean energy workforce. The funding, a grant from E4TheFuture, will support a workforce development program that provides comprehensive training, mentorship, and career pathways for individuals entering the building energy efficiency and decarbonization sector.

The program will pursue the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program for Energy Auditors, positioning participants for nationally recognized credentials and broader career mobility.

The year-long, full-time paid positions will combine classroom learning with hands-on field experience, equipping participants with the technical expertise, industry certifications, and real-world skills needed to launch long-term careers. Graduates will be offered full-time positions at CET, advancing its mission to deliver just and resilient climate solutions.

“This partnership is about more than filling jobs — it’s about building a strong, inclusive workforce ready to take on the climate crisis,” said Ashley Muspratt, president and CEO of CET. “Thanks to E4TheFuture’s investment, we can train and hire talented individuals who may not otherwise have access to this career pathway, ensuring that all communities benefit from the clean energy transition.”

Over the next three years, CET will recruit approximately 10 participants, with a focus on candidates from underrepresented and environmental justice communities. Program graduates will help homes and businesses reduce energy use, lower costs, and improve health, safety, and resilience while contributing to the Commonwealth’s decarbonization goals.

“We are proud to support CET’s collaborative workforce development efforts, which will expand opportunity while accelerating Massachusetts’ progress toward a clean energy future,” said Pat Stanton, executive director of E4TheFuture. “Developing skilled professionals in this field is essential to meeting both climate and equity goals. CET stepping up as an inaugural employer for the Registered Apprenticeship Program in Massachusetts demonstrates their exemplary leadership.”

This investment is part of E4TheFuture’s final philanthropic distribution as the organization prepares to sunset its 501(c)(3). Nearly 50 years ago, the founders of both organizations shared a friendship and vision for clean energy, and this grant represents the passing of that mission and purpose to a new generation.

“This is an investment in people and in the future of our communities,” said David O’Connor, board chair of E4TheFuture. “By preparing more workers for clean energy careers, we can strengthen our economy while making real progress toward decarbonization.”

Bombyx Center Achieves Carbon Conscious Business Accreditation from CET

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity has been accredited Carbon Conscious, an award offered by CET, for implementing carbon-cutting measures at the performing-arts venue. This accreditation recognizes Bombyx’s dedication to combating climate change and fostering sustainability.

“With the measures we have implemented, we have reduced over 800 lifetime tons of carbon and hope to increase that number in the future,” said Cassandra Holden, executive director of Bombyx. “We need to be looking at resources and impacts. It’s inescapable. Those aspects are so interconnected that we can’t pull them apart.”

The Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity is the first organization to achieve CET’s Carbon Conscious Business Accreditation, leading the way for businesses across all sectors to integrate sustainability as a core part of their operations. Their impact of 800 lifetime tons of carbon is equivalent to the yearly carbon sequestration provided by 36,666 mature trees.

“We are thrilled to recognize Bombyx as a Carbon Conscious Business. By committing to concrete, measurable steps, Bombyx demonstrates the power of local businesses to model a future where sustainability and operational efficiency go hand-in-hand,” said Ashley Muspratt, president and CEO of CET. “Carbon Conscious businesses like Bombyx show what’s possible when organizations make climate action a priority in their operations.”

The performance venue, art exhibition space, and community gathering place is housed in a historic church. Churches are often energy-inefficient due to aging infrastructure, large open spaces, and high ceilings, which makes weatherization crucial for reducing energy costs and enhancing sustainability in these important community spaces.

CET worked closely with Bombyx to implement a range of impactful sustainability measures through both the Mass Save program and RecyclingWorks, a program CET administers for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Custom weatherization services, including pipe insulation and other energy-saving upgrades, were provided to reduce energy loss. Additional efficiency upgrades, such as duct sealing and modifications, further optimized energy use throughout the facility. To tackle waste reduction, CET helped establish a food-waste diversion program in the multi-use kitchen and supported community recycling events, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.

To qualify for the award, businesses must demonstrate a strong commitment to decarbonization through measurable actions and outcomes. The program operates on a three-star system, awarding stars for achieving 15%, 65%, and 90% of identified measures, respectively. By implementing strategies for waste reduction and energy efficiency, these improvements not only enhance organizational sustainability, but also bolster community efforts in combating climate change and promoting environmental stewardship.

CET supports businesses like Bombyx in systematically reducing their carbon output while enhancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

In Massachusetts, the commercial and industrial sectors collectively account for approximately 35% of the state’s greenhouse-gas emissions, highlighting the significant role businesses play in decarbonizing communities.

To learn more about the Carbon Conscious Business Accreditation program and how your business can benefit from personal, no-cost assistance and support, visit cetonline.org/carbon-conscious-business-accreditation or call CET at (413) 586-7350.

CET Launches New Carbon Conscious Business Accreditation

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — CET (formerly the Center for EcoTechnology) announced the launch of its Carbon Conscious Business accreditation, an initiative designed to recognize and celebrate businesses committed to reducing their carbon footprint through energy conservation, transitioning off fossil fuels, reducing waste, and other solutions. With commercial and residential buildings contributing 30% of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, decarbonizing this sector is essential to meeting CET’s climate goals.

CET notes that the latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change underscores the need for rapid, deep, and immediate greenhouse-gas emissions reductions across all sectors to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Every increment of warming exacerbates hazards such as human mortality, disease, mental-health challenges, flooding, biodiversity loss, and decreased food production. CET’s new accreditation aims to address these challenges by encouraging businesses to take actionable steps to decarbonize.

Decarbonizing offers numerous benefits: it mitigates climate change, potentially lowers operating costs and improves building comfort, and enhances reputation and brand value. Additionally, it ensures regulatory compliance, attracts purpose-driven employees, and improves public health and well-being by enhancing air and water quality.

To begin the journey toward being accredited as a Carbon Conscious Business, businesses will meet with CET energy and waste experts to identify existing and new decarbonization opportunities tailored to the business. CET will then develop a customized action plan that outlines relevant measures to reduce carbon emissions.

Throughout the implementation process, CET will support the business every step of the way, connecting it with necessary services. Once all measures have been completed, the business will be awarded a one-, two-, or three-star Carbon Conscious Business accreditation based on the extent of implementation. Regardless of the progress, CET will celebrate the participating company’s achievements with marketing opportunities, window decals, and table tents to showcase its commitment to sustainability.

CET facilitates no-cost assessments through partnerships with Mass Save, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and other entities.

The Carbon Conscious Business accreditation celebrates businesses’ efforts to combat climate change and embrace sustainability. “By fostering a community of carbon-conscious enterprises,” CET noted, “we can drive meaningful change and create a resilient, sustainable future for generations to come.”

CET is grateful to TD Bank for supporting this work. Learn more at cetonline.org/carbon-conscious-business-accreditation.

BusinessTalk with Ashley Muspratt, president and CEO of the Florence-based Center for EcoTechnology, and Emily Gaylord, the organization’s director of Communications & Relationship Development

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Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 214: May 20, 2024

Editor Joe Bednar talks with Ashley Muspratt and Emily Gaylord

Since its inception in 1976, the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) has been on the cutting edge of big issues like energy efficiency, waste reduction, and, more recently, decarbonization. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Ashley Muspratt, president and CEO of the Florence-based Center for EcoTechnology, and Emily Gaylord, the organization’s director of Communications & Relationship Development, about CET’s evolving mission and broad impact, why the organization expects to grow dramatically in the coming years, and how individuals and businesses can take steps to move toward a greener, healthier future. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.

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