YouthBuild Northwest: Traverse City Site

YouthBuild Traverse City
Learns About Energy Efficiency and Audits 

A thermal imaging camera isn't the type of tool that's typically used on a home renovation project. But it was just one of things students from the Traverse City site of YouthBuild Northwest got to see when they took a field trip to learn about energy efficiency and energy audits.

"Every building is different," said T.J. Ewing, an energy auditor and the owner of Empowerment Energy Analysts. "Every material and how it's put together can affect what's going on."

The field trip was organized by the Northwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. Ewing and Trevor Williams from Brown Lumber used a home that was being remodeled so they could easily show the students some of the things that can be done to make a home more energy efficient. That can include replacing windows, adding insulation, and reducing air leaks.

"A lot of the older homes, there's so much that you can do," said Williams.

"I learned that there's very small, little things that people don't think about inside of a house that make a big difference when it comes to the heat loss and energy efficiency of a home," said Emily Parks, a YouthBuild student.

Williams and Ewing also talked about the tools and techniques energy auditors use to help home and business owners find ways to cut their energy bills.

"Part of an energy auditor is helping the building owner understand what's actually going on," said Ewing. "How is that building performing? Is it performing the way they expect it to?"

The students also found out there's expected to be a growing number of job opportunities tied to energy efficient building and energy audits.

"Economists are forecasting billions of dollars to be spent in this industry and hundreds of thousands of jobs to be created," said Williams.

"The future is green," said Tim Caputo, a YouthBuild student. "The construction industry is headed that way. If we incorporate that into our business that's going to help us make more money and be more successful."

This first project completed by students from the Traverse City site of YouthBuild Northwest became a gift to their school, a custom desk with bulletin board. Watch the video to see the desk and to learn of the enthusiasm of YouthBuild students including what they had to say about their first project.

YouthBuild Traverse City Starts
First Construction Project

Moving construction material might not seem like much of a milestone, but for students from the Traverse City site of YouthBuild Northwest it was a significant event. It was the first step in the first ever construction project for YouthBuild in Traverse City. The students will be using the material to build a shed for Habitat for Humanity.

"With every Habitat home they typically will supply a shed for the homeowner," said Terry Hughes, the Construction Coordinator for YouthBuild in Traverse City. "We may be building as many as five or six sheds over the course of this program."

The YouthBuild students split their time between learning constructions skills and working on their high school diploma or GED at Traverse City High School. Since most of the students have limited construction experience, the sheds are a good way for them to start learning some things they will be able to use on other projects.

"With our workshop we'll be able to actually do our cutting and modularized building inside and then just take it outside to make the assembly," said Hughes.

While this is the first project YouthBuild is working on for Habitat Humanity in Traverse City, it won't be the last.

"After we've started with this project we will be moving on to assisting with a couple of renovations with Habitat, as well as a new project they will be breaking ground on in April sometime," said Hughes.

YouthBuild Tours Home Depot
Watch the video to see how it will help the students in the YouthBuild program in Traverse City.