New Skill Builders, an initiative created to encourage more minorities and women to enter the construction trades in Chicago, is celebrating its first graduate to earn union journeyman status - and an award-winning journeyman at that. Kelvin Houston is a journeyman pipefitter with Local 597 in Chicago.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a conditional $275 million loan guarantee to Calisolar Inc. to commercialize its innovative solar silicon manufacturing process. Calisolar’s process is expected to produce silicon for use in solar cells at less than half the cost of traditional processes, reducing the overall cost of solar modules and panels.

CI Capital Partners LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, announced that its portfolio company American Residential Services L.L.C. (ARS), a national provider of HVAC and plumbing equipment and services, has completed an acquisition to increase its penetration in the Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan market.

EMCOR Group Inc., a leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure and facilities services, announced that its Fagan Co. subsidiary has been awarded a contract for the installation of the mechanical systems at the Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway located in Kansas City, Kan.

Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. announced that Vilter Manufacturing LLC has opened a new $2 million technology and innovation center at its Cudahy, Wis., facility. The company said the new technology center will help Vilter maintain a competitive lead in the engineering, development, and testing of more energy efficient compressors.

RMT Inc., a leading environment and energy firm, announced that it is adding four new professionals in the company’s Milwaukee office. The company said these individuals will use their technical knowledge and experience to enhance RMT’s environmental design and consulting services.

The Unified Group is hosting a Customer Service Forum at the Westin O’Hare in Chicago, Wednesday, Feb. 23 to Friday, Feb. 25. The forum is designed for service coordinators, dispatchers, billing coordinators, receptionists, and office personnel.

Ferguson Integrated Services, a division of Ferguson, announced that Adam Langhals has earned the designation of Certified Professional in Supply Management® (CPSM®) from the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM).

Contractor Steve Sinkie wants to help Twin Cities homeowners cut HVAC costs and go green. So he agreed to a starring role in a new video on the merits of zoned heating and cooling. The video, introduced by Zonefirst Inc., is designed to show homeowners and HVAC contractors how easy it is to add zoning to an existing home.

DTE Energy announced it is providing rebates to its MichCon and Detroit Edison customers who purchase and install qualifying energy-efficient furnaces, furnaces with an electronically commutated motor (ECM), and programmable thermostats for their homes. The new rebates range from $20 to $200.