Building the Future: Youth Engagement in Energy Efficiency Education in Rural Virginia

This summer, I had the privilege of leading a two-part energy efficiency workshop with a group of enthusiastic 10- to 13-year-olds in my hometown in southwestern Virginia. The opportunity emerged through a new partnership with Mrs. Sarah’s Ballet, which had recently launched a STEM Lab & Art Zone and put out a call for community members to contribute science and art-based activities for local youth. I responded with a hands-on energy efficiency project designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of building science—by designing, constructing, and testing model homes.

The experience was not only exhilarating but also reaffirmed my belief that early education exposure and workforce development at the grassroots level are essential to growing the energy workforce of tomorrow.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters for Workforce Development

The energy efficiency sector is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the U.S. clean energy economy. According to the 2024 Energy Efficiency Jobs in America Report:

• Nearly 2.3 million Americans were employed in energy efficiency jobs in 2023.
• These jobs exist in 99.9% of U.S. counties, making them accessible across urban and rural areas alike.
• Energy efficiency accounts for 2 in 5 energy sector jobs, underscoring its central role in the clean energy transition.

The U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) also highlights that:

• Energy efficiency added nearly 75,000 new jobs in 2023, the strongest growth since 2018.
• Energy-related construction jobs grew by 4.5%, nearly double the national average for construction.

These trends lead to a critical need: a skilled, diverse, and prepared workforce that can meet the growing demand. That’s why early exposure, especially to underserved and rural communities, is so vital.

About The NEED Project

The workshop I led was based on free lesson plans from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, a nonprofit organization that provides energy education resources to schools and communities across the U.S. NEED’s mission is to promote an energy-conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government, and community leaders. NEED offers a variety of curriculum, mini-kits, and hands-on kits to encourage teaching and learning of a wide range of energy topics.

Energy Efficiency House Challenge Overview

Session 1: Building Science Basics

We began with a brief but impactful overview of energy efficiency and its importance in the home. Students learned how energy use, building materials, and design choices affect durability, cost, health, safety, and comfort.

During this workshop, youth were introduced to the concept of the home as a system, where every component—from HVAC systems to insulation and windows—work together to determine overall energy performance.

I introduced the following terminology to support a deeper understanding.

Hands-On Construction

Based on NEED’s lesson plans, youth constructed 8x8x8 model homes following a simplified building code that had the following requirements.

• The house needs at least one door and two windows.
• The house must be a closed system with doors able to open and close.
• Windows must be transparent, but do not need to open and close.
• Insulation must be covered with poster board; it cannot be exposed.
• Specific dimensions for insulation and openings:
  • 4 cm x 4 cm windows
  • 4 cm x 8 cm doors
  • Insulation no thicker than 1 cm thick walls

The goal was to seal the building envelope. They selected a variety of insulation materials and were encouraged to think critically about how to optimize their designs for energy efficiency. The participating youth used rulers to measure their windows and doors, and to measure the materials needed for insulating their house.

Testing for Efficiency

Once construction was complete, students conducted temperature tests to evaluate their homes. They completed a baseline measurement, a cooling test, and a heating test.

The baseline measurement recorded indoor temperature using a thermometer. For the cooling test, a bag consisting of eight ice cubes (representing an air conditioning unit) was placed inside the home. After 10 minutes, the temperature was measured again. For the heating test, the same process was repeated using hand warmers (representing a heating unit).

This led to rich discussions about air leaks around doors and windows, the role of insulation, roof and wall materials, and real-world applications in home energy performance.

Session 2: Creativity Meets Science

In the second session, students decorated their homes and explored roof design options. This opened up conversations about the color of roofing for energy conservation, material and types of roofs, green roofs and plant integration, solar reflectivity and heat absorption, and roof maintenance,

Opportunities for Expansion

This activity is highly adaptable and can be expanded into a series or full unit of study. It is my hope to hold additional workshops on many of these potential extensions:

• Conducting an in-depth examination of building science and healthy housing principles, including indoor air quality, moisture control, and occupant health
• Estimating home energy bills and material costs
• Exploring career pathways in energy and construction
• Investigating renewable energy technologies
• Simulating retrofitting and remodeling scenarios
• Learning about equipment used in home performance (e.g., blower doors, infrared cameras, duct testers)
• Understanding the math behind an energy audit, including BTU calculations, R-values, and energy savings estimates
• Introducing students to the trades involved in home performance, such as HVAC technicians, electricians, insulation installers, and energy auditors

Personal Reflection

As the Workforce Development Programs Manager for the Building Performance Association, I see firsthand the importance of building strong pipelines into the energy efficiency industry. Before this role, I served as the Rural-Industrial Clean Energy Coordinator for the Virginia State Energy Office, where I led stakeholder engagement and implemented clean energy policies. My work included managing a workforce gap analysis, supporting a low to moderate income solar pilot, and coordinating partner activities for a Department of Energy grant.

Prior to that, I spent over five years in multiple roles at a local community action agency—including Human Resources Manager and Weatherization Housing Specialist. These roles gave me a deep understanding of the needs, barriers, and opportunities in energy efficiency workforce development, especially for underserved populations. This is also where my love for energy efficiency began—and my passion for youth development, well that has always been part of who I am.

To now be in a role that combines energy, workforce development, education and outreach feels like coming full circle. I’m excited about what the future holds as I continue to grow and expand the work that the Building Performance Association is committed to—supporting workforce development and advancing the energy efficiency industry.

Conclusion

Youth-led initiatives like this—especially in rural communities—highlight the transformative power of collaboration between schools, industry leaders, and community partners. They demonstrate how early exposure to energy concepts can spark lifelong interest in clean energy careers and build a foundation for future workforce development.

A special thanks to Mrs. Sarah’s Ballet for inviting community members to contribute to the her newly established STEM Lab & Art Zone. This partnership made it possible to bring energy education to local youth in a creative, engaging, and meaningful way.

This workshop was also enriched by the support of Christy Barr, a former colleague who assisted in facilitating the activities. Christy, who previously served as Finance Manager and Weatherization Housing Specialist at a local community action agency, brought extensive knowledge of weatherization measures and practices. Her expertise helped guide students through the hands-on construction and testing phases, reinforcing the real-world relevance of energy efficiency and the importance of mentorship in workforce development.

Let’s continue to invest in our youth, our communities, and our energy future through strong partnerships, hands-on learning, and one model home at a time.

Interested in sponsoring or hosting a similar event in your community? Reach out to local schools, youth organizations, or STEM programs—or connect with the Building Performance Association to explore how you can support energy education and workforce development initiatives that inspire the next generation.