By Roger Nomer

rnomer@joplinglobe.com

NEOSHO, Mo. — A new partnership between Crowder College and Empire District Electric Co. will provide what officials of both say will mean green jobs for the area and benefits for homeowners as well.

On Tuesday morning at Crowder, Empire officials announced that the company will offer monetary incentives to home builders who incorporate Energy Star standards in the construction of their houses. Home-energy auditors, like those currently being trained via Crowder’s Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology program, will be retained by Empire to certify the homes regarding energy efficiency.

Empire decided to offer the incentives now because of the anticipated increased availability of trained auditors coming out of Crowder this year.

“It’s important that we have enough auditors,” said Kelly Walters, vice president of regulatory and general services for Empire. “Currently, there’s only one or two in the region. It would be impossible for Empire to offer these incentives if it weren’t for the training at Crowder. These programs go hand in hand.”

Empire’s incentive program has two parts, detailed by Sherry McCormack, energy- efficiency coordinator for the Joplin company. To certify that a home meets Energy Star standards, a home auditor must approve the building plans or visit the construction site during the work to look at the structure’s technology. Then the auditor must test the home for a list of energy-efficiency details, such as air infiltration. After these steps have been determined by the auditor, Empire will pay the auditor $400 for the services.

After the structure has been designated as energy-efficient, the second part of the incentive plan kicks in. McCormack said Empire will pay $800 to the builder to help offset the green-construction costs.

Interest in the home-energy-auditing training at Crowder has been high, said Dan Eberle, interim director of the MARET program. “The moment the class opened, it was filled like that,” he said with a snap of his fingers.

Crowder has about 20 students in the home-auditing program, which was first offered during the current semester. Eberle estimated that the training takes a full week of eight-hour days to prepare for three tests in the field, which act as sample audits.

“I’ve been in alternate energy while here at Crowder, and this really tied into my degree and career path,” said Genevieve Williams, who is enrolled in the training this semester. “I like how it cuts costs across the board, and the possibility to tie it in with low-income housing. This is something we can bring to every person.”

“The appeal of using our energy resources responsibly takes this partnership with Empire beyond a dollars-and-cents issue,” said Eberle. “Whether it’s big things like home construction or measures on a smaller scale, all conservation actions deserve support.

“Being conscious of energy use is what’s right for the community and our future. Almost anyone who takes this class goes out of it turning off the light switch as they leave.”