Got Green and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) did a demo of their plans to “recycle” an abandoned house Wednesday morning (July 21) in White Center, with 14 participants ranging in age from 19 to 55.

This project utilizes federal stimulus dollars provided through a Dept. of Labor “Pathways Out of Poverty” training grant to prepare low income communities for livable wage jobs in Green Construction industries.

Got Green is also preparing graduates to become ambassadors for home weatherization and other solutions to climate change in their own communities.

The house used for training is scheduled for demolition on the future site of the Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI) Village affordable housing development.  Program graduates (all low-income workers of color) hope to provide weatherization services to Seattle area homeowners and small businesses under the “Weatherize Every Building” project being launched by the City of Seattle this fall.

Got Green (a local grassroots organization that promotes Green Jobs, Energy Efficiency, and Racial Justice) is organizing this Home Weatherization training to promote the movement for Green Collar Jobs as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. Got Green is Seattle’s home-grown branch of the national movement for equity and opportunity in the new Green Economy.

More info on Got Green is available here.

Photographer Francis Zera was there to capture the following Photo Slideshow:

Click to Play Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow

South Seattle Community College (located nearby at 6000 16 Ave S.W.) will be offering a number of very ‘green” non-credit Electric Vehicle classes, beginning with a safety course this Saturday, Feb. 27th.

The classes, part of a partnership with the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, will be taught by a group of experienced instructors who have converted over two dozen vehicles.

Here are the details:

WHAT: A series of non-credit Electric Vehicle classes

WHERE: South Seattle Community College, located at 6000 16 Ave S.W.

WHEN: Class times vary – see details below:

• Electric Vehicle Conversion Workshop
  Instructor:  Ed Stegall
  An intensive six days hands-on learning class that teaches the basics in converting a gasoline engine to electric power.
  8 am – 5 pm     M T W Th F Sat  March 22-27     $899
• Electric Vehicle Safety Systems
  Instructor:  Roger Wright
  Learn how to keep your electric vehicle safe; how a DC system works, what parts go into it, and why you should have these parts.
  9 – 11:30 am            Sat     February 27     $35
  ** Enrollment is still open for the February 27 class. **
  6:30 – 9 pm             T       May 25  $35
• Introduction to AC Drives for Electric Vehicles
  Instructors:  Dan Bentler and Frank Jump
  Learn the advantages and disadvantages of DC and AC motors. Gain valuable insight and knowledge of how AC drives work and how to apply them to vehicles. Class will provide hands-on operating demonstrations of motors and variable-frequency drives and other motors using bench-top equipment VFDs.
  9 am – 4 pm             Sat     April 24        $65
• Electric Vehicle Component Technology for Conversion
  Instructor:  Cory Cross
  Learn about what parts go into a conversion and how they connect to each other. Strong emphasis placed on learning to read schematics and understanding why the parts are connected that way.
  6 – 9 pm                Th      May 13  $45
• Electric Vehicles – Batteries
  Instructor:  Stephen Johnsen
  Topics include: general overview of popular suitable batteries for EVs; comparison of costs and specs on various batteries available; calculating the kWhr rating of my pack; how to extend battery life; charging and recycling of batteries.
  6:30 – 9 pm             T       May 18  $45
• Electric Bicycles
  Instructor:  Ed Stegall
  Go through the process of actually converting a normal bike to electric. Class also covers bike safety, bike laws and basic maintenance and tips for doing your own conversion on your own or with a kit.
  Class fee of $99 includes two sessions.
  6 – 9 pm                Th      June 3
  9 am – 4 pm             Sat     June 5

INFO: From a press release:

The six-day workshop guides students through the complete process of converting a vehicle from a gasoline engine to electric power.  By the end of the workshop, the group will have completed one running electric car conversion capable of highway speeds, with a 30-60 mile range on one charge.

Electric Vehicle classes fill quickly and interested students are encouraged to sign up early.

REGISTER: Register online at www.LearnAtSouth.org, or call (260) 764-5339 for more information.

South Seattle Community College’s Continuing Education division offers 150 classes each quarter, ranging from computer skills to cooking to home repair. Designed to fit into busy schedules, these classes offer the lifelong learner variety and flexibility, with online and classroom instruction.

The Seattle Electric Vehicle Association was founded in 1979, with a mission to educate, demonstrate, and proliferate electric vehicles. The interests of SEVA members represent a wide spectrum of Electric Vehicle interests range from fast dragsters to NEVs, from home conversions to Teslas.  For more information, visit the website at www.seattleeva.org.

The Moontown Foundation, in association with the White Center Community Development Association and the Got Green Project are having a day of conservation, service, fun and action that’s being called the “White Center Energy Festival & Prosperity Project.”

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27th, from 8am-6pm at White Center Heights Elementary School, located at 10015 6th Avenue SW (map below).

On this national day of action, 200-300 volunteers will blanket the White Center Community and knock on over 7,800 doors in an effort to educate residents on home energy efficiency and supply them with a list of “50 simple things” they can do to conserve energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

White Center has long been challenged by economic and social hardships, with high levels of poverty, crime, and poor educational outcomes. Approximately 32,000 people live here, of which over 50% are communities of color; yet one sixth live below the poverty line, twice the countywide average, and 16% of its residents live on less than $10,000 a year.

The event is designed to educate residents on home energy efficiency, promote awareness of the emerging green job revolution, as well as raise funds for an Eco Apprentice Scholarship Fund, which is targeted at helping low-income youth and young adults acquire green trade skills and career training at local vocational and community colleges.

For more information, please visit: http://moontownfoundation.org/specialevents.php

Volunteers will also sign-up residents for FREE home energy efficiency assessments (valued at $500) performed by trained professionals. Residents maybe eligible to receive free home improvement products, as well as low-interest home loans to help finance major residential energy efficiency improvements.

There are still needs for volunteers and donations, so if you’re interested please contact Stacy @ (206) 201.2314 or info@moontownfoundation.org.

More info at http://events.greenjobsnow.com/greenforall/events/show/5211.


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