Orange County Initiative Cuts Energy Waste While Creating Pathways to Green Union Careers
by: John Pierandozzi
Published: January 12, 2026
ORANGE COUNTY...A new Orange County initiative is launching this month to help local buildings waste less energy, reduce emissions, and strengthen pathways into high-quality, union careers in the clean-energy economy.
The Mechanical Insulation Thermographic Assessment – OC (MITA-OC) Program brings together climate action and workforce development to deliver tangible benefits to the community. Using advanced thermal imaging and energy analysis, the program helps local facilities identify hidden energy loss and practical opportunities to improve building performance, reduce utility costs, and lower carbon emissions.
At the same time, the initiative creates hands-on learning opportunities for Orange County residents from communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing skilled construction and energy-efficiency careers. Training is led by experienced union instructors and emphasizes real-world skills, safety, and long-term career stability.
“This program is about investing in people and places at the same time,” said Alfonso Ruiz, Business Agent. “By reducing energy waste in our communities and opening doors to union careers, we’re delivering environmental progress that also strengthens local families and neighborhoods.”
MITA-OC prioritizes community accessibility and inclusion. Training and outreach activities are designed to b
e welcoming and supportive, with bilingual instruction and stipends that allow participants to fully engage without financial hardship. Graduates gain direct connections to union career pathways that offer family-sustaining wages, benefits, and long-term advancement.
Beyond individual buildings and participants, the program is designed to generate lasting community impact. Energy-saving recommendations help facilities operate more efficiently for years to come, while the workforce component supports a growing local pipeline of skilled workers needed to meet Orange County’s climate and infrastructure goals.
The initiative also includes public outreach events in high-need neighborhoods, offering residents information about energy efficiency, building performance, and career opportunities in the green construction sector. Organizers view the program as a model that can be replicated across Southern California to support regional climate resilience and economic opportunity.
MITA-OC is supported by Regional Catalyst funding and led in partnership with Heat and Frost Insulators Local 5, reflecting a broader commitment to climate solutions that are locally rooted, equitable, and built to last.