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The DCSEU Launches Fifth Year of Train Green Program for FY 2026

Washington, D.C.—The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) today announced the launch of the Fiscal Year 2026 Train Green Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Capacity Building and Pipeline Program (Train Green SEICBP), marking the program’s fifth year of advancing workforce development in the District’s rapidly growing clean energy and green building sectors.

Originally established in 2018 and first launched by the DCSEU in FY 2021, Train Green SEICBP provides District residents and contractors within Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) and CBE-eligible firms with free or low-cost access to industry-recognized training, certifications, and career-advancing technical skills. The program is designed to create a steady pipeline of qualified professionals who can support high-performance buildings, energy efficiency upgrades, decarbonization initiatives, and the District’s climate and clean energy goals.

“As we enter the fifth year of Train Green SEICBP, the DCSEU is proud to expand opportunities for residents and local businesses to build the technical skills needed for a modern, low-carbon energy workforce,” said Crystal McDonald, Director, Account Management and Workforce Development.  “This program continues to open doors for District residents and CBEs seeking to grow in high-demand fields while supporting a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable District.”

FY 2026 Course Offerings

With the FY 2026 program launch, Train Green SEICBP is introducing a robust slate of 14 instructor-led, virtual, in-person, hybrid, and self-paced courses covering building performance, energy auditing, heat pump technology, decarbonization, sustainability, and green construction fundamentals. New and returning offerings include:

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Commercial Building Energy Audits (In-Person)
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) Air Conditioning & Heat Pump (ACHP) Certification Training + Proctored Testing (Hybrid)
• BPI Building Analyst Technician (BAT) Training + Proctored Certification Testing (Single-Family) (Hybrid)
• BPI Building Multifamily Analyst Training and Certification (Hybrid)
• BPI Building Science Principles (Self-Paced)
• Building Energy Basics (Self-Paced)
• Energy Benchmarking: Energy Data, Metrics, and Analytics
• Fundamentals of Sustainability (Self-Paced)
• Green Building 101
• Introduction to Decarbonization
• Leadership in Jobsite Safety: OSHA-10 & Flagger Certification (In-Person)
• LEED Green Associate Training (In-Person)
• LEED Green Associate Training (Virtual)
• Passive House & Net-Zero Building Concepts, Techniques, and Benefits (Self-Paced)
• The Retrofit Lab: Preparing Homes for Heat Pump Upgrades

These courses provide a comprehensive pathway for those seeking to enter or advance within the clean energy workforce. Prospective participants can also access prerecorded Train Green courses on the DCSEU’s YouTube channel and the DCSEU’s “How to Train Green” guide, a step-by-step resource to help candidates get their FY 2026 access code while identifying the right courses and certifications for their career goals.

Course Provider Partners

The FY 2026 Train Green SEICBP launch is supported by a distinguished group of training providers and subject-matter experts, including two local CBEs and the following:

• Energy Shrink
• EnergyScore®
• Fulya Kocak, LLC
• PBJ Media Holdings, LLC
• Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) – Clean Energy Center
• Queens Energy Conservation, LLC
• Steven Winter Associates (SWA)
• Sustainable Design Consulting (SDC)

These partners bring decades of experience in sustainable design, energy auditing, building science, workforce development, and clean energy innovation.

Building the District’s Clean Energy Workforce

The Train Green SEICBP program has become a cornerstone of the DCSEU’s efforts to strengthen the local green workforce. Since its inception, the initiative has helped prepare hundreds of District residents to participate in energy efficiency programs, perform building performance assessments, install high-efficiency technologies, and contribute to the District’s carbon-reduction commitments.  In FY 2025 alone, program participants earned 266 credentials and certifications, more than doubling the previous fiscal year’s total, and the program had 303 registrations associated with a CBE, a 150% increase from the previous fiscal year.

About the Train Green Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Capacity Building and Pipeline Program (SEICBP)

Train Green SEICBP is established under D.C. Code to increase the participation and capacity of District CBEs and eligible firms in energy efficiency and renewable energy fields. The program, administered by the DCSEU in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), supports training, credentialing, and certification to strengthen local workforce and business readiness for sustainable energy projects.