Launchpad Connect: Year-End Reflections, Building Envelope Jobs, and Cohort 4 Wrap-up

Welcome to this month’s edition of our newsletter! Here, we’ll share what we’re reading, thinking, and doing—and help you stay informed about what other movers and shakers are doing in the green workforce development space. This newsletter is designed as a resource for you, so let us know which topics you’d like to see more of and what resources would be the most helpful!

Inside This Month’s Edition

• Message from Angela: A Heartfelt Thank You!

• The Green Workforce Brief: Mamdani's Climate Policies & NE:NY Update

• Job Spotlight: Weatherization -- Quality Control Inspector & Insulation & Air Sealing Technican

• Launchpad Lookback: Cohort 4 Wrap-up

• Launchpad Updates: Cohort 5 Waitlist Open & NYC Wraparound Services Database!

• NYCETC Conference Registration, LinkedIn Green Skills Report, and more

• We Want to Hear from You: Share Events, Resources, & Opportunities

Angela’s Year-End Reflections

As we wrap up this eventful year, I want to thank each of you who supports us—reading, sharing, and acting as our partners-in-crime.

A little over a year ago, TGL was just a concept. We saw a need for a coalition and capacity builder in the clean energy workforce space, but we couldn't have predicted the incredible solutions we’d get to build with you. To date, we’ve hosted 4 cohorts of the Accelerator & empowered 90+ workforce professionals and 40+ organizations in New York, convened major clean energy employers alongside community champions, and built a talented team dedicated to the Launchpad vision.

A far cry from when I had my head in my hands and wondering if we were building something that someone needed. 🙂 

Your confidence in us is what keeps us going. Thank you for being on this journey with us—we’re just getting started!

With gratitude,
Angela N. Son

The Green Workforce Brief

Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the next Mayor of New York City, signaling a significant shift in the city’s political landscape. His campaign centered on housing affordability, public transit investment, and economic equity—priorities that resonated with voters across all five boroughs. As Mamdani prepares to take office, his administration will begin shaping an implementation roadmap for the coming term, outlining how his policy agenda will influence everyday life for New Yorkers and the communities they call home.

Mamdani’s Climate Agenda:

Green Schools & Building Codes Anchored in NYC Climate Plan: Mayor-elect Mamdani has signaled strong alignment with the NYC Climate Plan, including a commitment to renovate 500 public schools with renewable energy systems, stormwater infrastructure, and resilience upgrades. His administration also plans to reinforce compliance with Local Law 97, accelerating emissions reductions across the city’s largest buildings.
NYC Building Decarbonization in Focus: Buildings remain New York City’s largest source of emissions, and Mamdani’s early climate platform reflects a clear focus on tackling this challenge. Plans include expanding building electrification, improving access to heat pumps and clean-energy retrofits through potential bulk-purchasing strategies, and ramping up enforcement mechanisms to meet the city’s climate deadlines.

New Efficiency: New York Program’s Workforce Plan

NE:NY Workforce Scaling in Focus: NYSERDA’s new Workforce Development Plan outlines a substantial investment of $83 million to strengthen the clean-energy talent pipeline statewide. Over the 2026-2030 period, the program aims to train 7,000 new workers, upskill 14,300 existing workers, and support employment placements for 5,500 New Yorkers in energy-efficiency and electrification roles. At least half of all new trainees will come from disadvantaged communities, underscoring NYSERDA’s commitment to equitable workforce development.

 TGL’s Clean Energy Industry Framework

Are you looking to better understand the connection between clean energy and workforce development? We’ve got you covered! Watch this short video for a breakdown of The Green Launchpad’s Clean Energy Framework.

Clean energy careers span across multiple sectors, segments, and systems—each playing a vital role in the green workforce. Our framework organizes this landscape into:

• 4 Key Sectors – Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, and Clean Transportation 

• 2 Major Verticals – Electric Systems and Thermal Systems

Each month, we’ll spotlight one key sector, segment, or system driving the clean energy transition and highlight the careers and skills shaping the future.

This Month…

We’re diving into the Energy Efficiency sector, focusing on the Building Envelope within the Thermal Efficiency segment. Building envelopes—walls, windows, insulation—play a crucial role in reducing heat loss and stabilizing indoor temperatures. Improving these systems helps buildings use less energy for heating and cooling, resulting in greater energy efficiency and more comfortable, healthier indoor environments.

2 Sample Career Pathways in Building Envelope

• Quality Control Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector)

  • Job Description: Ensures that home energy-efficiency upgrades—such as insulation, air sealing, and HVAC improvements—are installed correctly and meet federal and program standards. Inspectors conduct site visits, perform diagnostic tests like blower-door assessments, document findings, and recommend corrective actions to ensure work quality and safety. They often collaborate with weatherization crews and homeowners to improve building performance, reduce energy costs, and support healthier indoor environments.

  • Education, Certifications, and Licenses: High school diploma or equivalent; Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Certification; BPI Energy Auditor and Quality Control Inspector Certifications

  • Career Pathways: Healthy Home Evaluator, Building Performance Consultant, and Energy Efficiency Program Director

• Insulation & Air Sealing Technician (Weatherization Technician)

  • Job Description: Installs materials that reduce heat loss and prevent drafts in homes and buildings. Technicians place insulation in walls, attics, basements, and crawlspaces; seal gaps and air leaks; and use basic tools to improve a building’s comfort and energy efficiency. The role involves physical work in tight spaces and requires attention to detail, simple measuring skills, and the ability to work safely as part of a crew. Entry-level candidates are often accepted, with opportunities to grow into advanced building performance roles through additional training.

  • Education, Certifications, and Licenses: High school diploma, or equivalent; BPI Building Science Principles Certificate; Experience with hand and power tools

  • Career Pathways: Insulation Journeyperson, Building Maintenance Technician, and Real Estate Appraiser

Note: This video is not specific to the Insulation & Air Sealing Technician role, but it highlights many of the core responsibilities.

Additional Resources:
Green Buildings Career Map
Green Workforce Connect: Energy Efficiency Resource Hub

Launchpad’s Lookback

After six impactful weeks, the fourth cohort of the Accelerator for Green Workforce Developers has officially wrapped. Participants explored the realities of clean energy workforce development—from evolving New York policies and certification pathways to employer engagement, incentive programs, wraparound supports, and equity-centered training models that help job seekers succeed in a rapidly changing landscape.

Our final in-person session on November 14th was a highlight, filled with shared insights, strong connections, and celebrations of everything this group built together. We were also thrilled to welcome back several alumni who helped usher this new cohort into the growing Accelerator network.

A special thank-you to The HOPE Program for hosting us and creating a space where learning and community could thrive.

Congratulations to the Cohort 4 graduates for their commitment, curiosity, and leadership. Their work continues to strengthen New York’s clean-energy talent pipeline and expand opportunity in the green economy.

Launchpad Updates

Introducing the NYC Wraparound Services Database

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the NYC Wraparound Services Database—a first-of-its-kind, citywide tool designed to remove everyday barriers that keep New Yorkers from fully participating in training and career pathways.

Even the best workforce programs can fall short if participants can’t access childcare, housing, transportation, mental health care, or other essential supports. This new database brings all those critical resources together in one easy-to-navigate platform, giving users the power to quickly find the help they need—when and where they need it most.

Built by The Green Launchpad, in partnership with the Energy Economic Development Corp. (EEDC), the database was created to address a long-standing gap: information about support services has historically been fragmented, outdated, or difficult to locate. Now, workforce providers, community-based organizations, employers, and job seekers have a trusted, centralized resource to guide referrals, strengthen collaboration, and improve program completion rates across the city.

This tool is more than a database—it’s an equity engine. Making wraparound supports visible and accessible helps ensure that New York City’s workforce development ecosystem truly includes everyone.

👉️ Read more about it here & access the database

Launchpad Community Updates & Resources

 Call for Information

Help us keep the TGL community informed and connected! We're looking for sponsorships, resources, events, trainings, and more to feature in upcoming newsletters.

• Want to contribute to a thriving green workforce ecosystem? We're seeking corporate and philanthropic partners to help expand our impact in green workforce development. Sponsor our Accelerator to empower workforce professionals, strengthen the clean energy talent pipeline, and showcase your leadership in the green economy!

• Do you have an upcoming training, class, event, or webinar you want to share with the ecosystem in the next edition?

• Want TGL to amplify what's happening or roles you’re hiring for at your organization?

📧 Email us at [email protected] or reply to this email!