Building the next generation of industrial energy leaders across Pennsylvania

Energy Efficiency Leadership Training (E2LT)

E2LT delivers practical energy efficiency skills and funded training pathways for Pennsylvania manufacturers at every level, from the production floor to the executive suite.

The Energy Efficiency Leadership Training (E2LT) program offers training and resources to Pennsylvania manufacturing companies. Energy efficiency practices are shared with workers at all levels, job seekers, apprentices and pre-apprentices and anyone who supports manufacturing and energy across the commonwealth. Catalyst Connection manages this program with the support of many local, statewide and national organizations that support manufacturing and energy.

This project is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial System Energy Efficiency Development (ISEED) Collaborative Program. ISEED is funded by DOE’s Industrial Technologies Office.

TRAINING THAT WORKS AT EVERY LEVEL

ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR EVERYONE

Educates all employees on the role of energy in an industrial business. Participants learn about energy sources and how every person — in every role — can contribute to a peak-performing, efficient operation. Innovation and individual action work together to keep companies competitive.

Upcoming Courses:

All Employees | Flexible Delivery

THE ENERGY EFFICIENT FACTORY ACCELERATOR TRAINING

Brings together a small cross-company team for active, collaborative exercises to develop and implement a real energy efficiency strategy. This half-day, in-person session is designed for multi-company groups and delivers an immediately actionable plan for your facility.

Upcoming Courses:

Half Day | In-Person | Team Format

APPRENTICESHIP

Industrial Manufacturing Technician Program

A state-registered, earn-and-learn pathway that transforms entry-level production workers into highly capable technicians — with a focus on safety, technical competencies, and energy efficiency.

  • 3,000 Total Training Hours
  • 2,736 On-the-Job Hours
  • 264 Technical Instruction Hours
Program Structure
  • State-Registered Credential: Pennsylvania-recognized earn-and-learn pathway, blending classroom and real-world manufacturing experience over 18 months.
  • Hands-On Learning at Mill 19: Train in Catalyst Connection’s Manufacturing Learning Lab with AI simulation technologies, in partnership with CMU’s Manufacturing Futures Institute.
  • Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway: Entry-level workers can begin with the IMT Pre-Apprenticeship to build foundational skills before advancing into the full apprenticeship program.

 

TOOLS, GRANTS & TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Access toolkits, grant programs, and federal partnerships designed to accelerate energy efficiency adoption across Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector.

 

TOOLKIT
The Energy Efficiency Factory Toolkit

Determine your baseline energy usage, identify opportunities, and create a step-by-step plan to achieve your production and efficiency goals.

 

GRANT PROGRAM
RISE PA

$396 million in EPA Grants for small, medium, and large industrial facilities investing in energy waste reduction and energy upgrades across Pennsylvania.

 

 

MINI-GRANTS
Energy & Manufacturing in Appalachia (EMA)

Technical assistance and mini-grants of up to $10,000 for small and medium manufacturers seeking to expand into the energy sector or improve energy efficiency.

 

STATE PROGRAM
PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Energy Programs Office (EPO)

Guides Pennsylvania businesses through energy conservation measures, pollution prevention partnerships, and access to renewable and alternative energy solutions.

 

FEDERAL
Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories

17 national labs with over 70 years of scientific leadership — offering unique facilities, expertise, and partnership opportunities for industrial energy innovation.

 

PLATFORM
SkillMill19 @ Manufacturing Innovation Center

Provides hands-on learning and AI simulation technologies to industrial trainees in the region.

Energy Efficiency for Everyone: Reduce Energy Waste in the Factory

May 29, 2026 | Virtual

Energy is no longer just an operating expense. It’s a strategic issue that affects your bottom line, your competitiveness, and your company’s future. This hands-on training brings every member of your team up to speed on why energy management matters and exactly what they can do about it.

What We’ll Cover

From the moment energy enters your facility to the moment it drives output, we’ll trace how it flows through the systems you rely on every day: motors, HVAC, compressed air, lighting, and process heat. You’ll learn how each system drives both consumption and cost, and how to see them as an interconnected whole rather than isolated pieces.

We’ll introduce Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) as a practical framework for identifying and acting on savings opportunities, and walk through system-level thinking (TSO) to show how coordinated action across departments consistently outperforms one-off fixes. We’ll also break down how rising electricity rates are quietly compressing margins and what that means for long-term growth.

Built for Every Role

Whether you’re on the plant floor, in maintenance, or in the front office, you’ll see concrete examples of how your specific role creates an opportunity to spot waste, support innovation, and shift daily habits. Those behavioral changes alone can unlock 15 to 24 percent in energy savings with no capital investment required.

Walk Away Ready to Act

The session closes with practical, ready-to-use tools: how to report waste, which KPIs to track, how to calculate ROI on capital projects, and how to use standards like ENERGY STAR, ISO 50001, and LEED to benchmark performance and communicate results clearly to customers and investors.

You’ll leave with both the foundational knowledge and the specific next steps to start making an impact in your facility right away.

This training is virtual and all costs for manufacturing employees is paid for from a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial System Energy Efficiency Development (ISEED) Collaborative Program

 


Energy Efficiency for Everyone: Reduce Energy Waste in the Factory

June 18, 2026 | Catalyst Connection - 4501 Lytle Street, Building A, Pittsburgh, PA 15207

Energy is no longer just an operating expense. It’s a strategic issue that affects your bottom line, your competitiveness, and your company’s future. This hands-on training brings every member of your team up to speed on why energy management matters and exactly what they can do about it.

What We’ll Cover

From the moment energy enters your facility to the moment it drives output, we’ll trace how it flows through the systems you rely on every day: motors, HVAC, compressed air, lighting, and process heat. You’ll learn how each system drives both consumption and cost, and how to see them as an interconnected whole rather than isolated pieces.

We’ll introduce Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) as a practical framework for identifying and acting on savings opportunities, and walk through system-level thinking (TSO) to show how coordinated action across departments consistently outperforms one-off fixes. We’ll also break down how rising electricity rates are quietly compressing margins and what that means for long-term growth.

Built for Every Role

Whether you’re on the plant floor, in maintenance, or in the front office, you’ll see concrete examples of how your specific role creates an opportunity to spot waste, support innovation, and shift daily habits. Those behavioral changes alone can unlock 15 to 24 percent in energy savings with no capital investment required.

Walk Away Ready to Act

The session closes with practical, ready-to-use tools: how to report waste, which KPIs to track, how to calculate ROI on capital projects, and how to use standards like ENERGY STAR, ISO 50001, and LEED to benchmark performance and communicate results clearly to customers and investors.

You’ll leave with both the foundational knowledge and the specific next steps to start making an impact in your facility right away.

 

Introduction to Energy Efficiency for Manufacturing

Click Here to view the handout for this course.


Energy Efficiency for Everyone: Reduce Energy Waste in the Factory

June 24, 2026 | Virtual

Energy is no longer just an operating expense. It’s a strategic issue that affects your bottom line, your competitiveness, and your company’s future. This hands-on training brings every member of your team up to speed on why energy management matters and exactly what they can do about it.

What We’ll Cover

From the moment energy enters your facility to the moment it drives output, we’ll trace how it flows through the systems you rely on every day: motors, HVAC, compressed air, lighting, and process heat. You’ll learn how each system drives both consumption and cost, and how to see them as an interconnected whole rather than isolated pieces.

We’ll introduce Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) as a practical framework for identifying and acting on savings opportunities, and walk through system-level thinking (TSO) to show how coordinated action across departments consistently outperforms one-off fixes. We’ll also break down how rising electricity rates are quietly compressing margins and what that means for long-term growth.

Built for Every Role

Whether you’re on the plant floor, in maintenance, or in the front office, you’ll see concrete examples of how your specific role creates an opportunity to spot waste, support innovation, and shift daily habits. Those behavioral changes alone can unlock 15 to 24 percent in energy savings with no capital investment required.

Walk Away Ready to Act

The session closes with practical, ready-to-use tools: how to report waste, which KPIs to track, how to calculate ROI on capital projects, and how to use standards like ENERGY STAR, ISO 50001, and LEED to benchmark performance and communicate results clearly to customers and investors.

You’ll leave with both the foundational knowledge and the specific next steps to start making an impact in your facility right away.

This training is virtual and all costs for manufacturing employees is paid for from a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial System Energy Efficiency Development (ISEED) Collaborative Program

 


The Energy Efficient Factory Accelerator Training

June 10, 2026 | Catalyst Connection - 4501 Lytle Street, Building A, Pittsburgh, PA 15207

Unlock immediate cost savings and operational performance improvements with the Energy Efficient Factory Accelerator Training—a hands-on, half-day workshop designed to help manufacturing and operations leaders turn energy efficiency into a strategic advantage. This interactive session equips participants with practical tools, baseline assessment techniques, and actionable plans to reduce energy consumption, improve performance, and drive measurable results from day one. Whether you’re leading operations, facilities, or continuous improvement initiatives, this training provides a clear, structured path to identify opportunities, set goals, and implement energy-saving strategies that deliver lasting value.

Workshop length: Half‑day (4.5 hours)
Format: Interactive, discussion‑driven training with hands-on exercises

Training Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

  • Explain how energy efficiency strengthens operational performance and reduces costs
  • Identify opportunities to lower energy consumption within their facility
  • Establish a baseline for energy use and performance tracking
  • Develop practical energy‑efficiency goals and action plans
  • Use the toolkit’s worksheets and tools to begin implementation immediately

Who Should Attend:

  • Company Leadership
  • Operations teams
  • Facilities leaders
  • Continuous improvement leaders
  • Manufacturing engineers

Participants will:

  • Identify energy efficiency opportunities in their facility
  • Complete baseline inventory worksheets
  • Develop sample energy efficiency goals
  • Create initial action plans
  • Learn how to track and communicate progress

Participants will receive:

  • Energy Efficient Factory Toolkit
  • Toolkit worksheets and templates
  • Training presentation materials

 

By the end of the session, participants will have:

  • A clear understanding of energy efficiency implementation
  • Initial baseline and inventory information
  • Identified potential energy savings opportunities
  • Draft goals and action plan framework

Participants are encouraged to bring:

  • Recent utility bills
  • Knowledge of facility equipment and operations
  • Questions about energy use, technology, and efficiency opportunities

 

This training is in-person and all costs for manufacturing employees is paid for from a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial System Energy Efficiency Development (ISEED) Collaborative Program.