SUWANEE, Ga. — Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, or METUS, has become the first manufacturer to receive Energy Skilled recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

METUS was recognized for its Residential Heat Pump Installation and Comfort Advising training program.

The DOE launched the workforce training recognition program to support the development of a robust building systems workforce in the U.S. Programs recognized as Energy Skilled offer training and certifications to equip workers with the knowledge and skills to support residential electrification and energy efficiency.

“Here at METUS, we are committed to leading the charge to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the spaces we live and work,” said Brent Constant, senior director of technical solutions, in a press release. “Contractors are an essential component of how we accomplish that goal. With that in mind, we are always looking for new ways to enhance and optimize our training facilities and strategies.”

HVAC contractors who have completed the METUS M&P - Series two-day, instructor-led Essentials Course since July 2019 can achieve the Energy Skilled Residential Heat Pump Installation and Comfort Advising certificate by participating in a two-hour supplemental online session. The M&P - Series Essentials Course can be completed at a METUS training center or one of the more than 100 distributor-operated, METUS-authorized training centers.

Since July 2019, more than 15,000 contractors have completed the M&P - Series Essentials Course, METUS said.

Contractors who want to complete the M&P - Series Essentials Course can achieve the Energy Skilled Residential Heat Pump Installation and Comfort Advising certificate in one of two ways: by completing the the M&P – Series Essentials Course and the two-hour online session, or by completing a longer instructional program based entirely online.

The METUS Energy Skilled designation can give contractors who complete the company’s Residential Heat Pump Installation and Comfort Advising training program confidence in their ability to help Americans make home updates that increase their comfort, METUS said.

Additionally, the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), makes $200 million available to state energy offices to train, test, and certify residential energy-efficiency and electrification contractors. Also known as the State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants, TREC will implement workforce development programs to train workers to make homes healthier and more energy efficient.

For more information about METUS training programs, visit www.mitsubishicomfort.com.