By: Shannon Hegy

HOLYOKE, Mass. (abc40) -- In a small classroom on Main street in Holyoke, doors are opening for 12 students.

"I have two young daughters and I wanted to turn my life around," said Denise Martyr.

Like Martyr, many of the students never graduated high school, but now they have the opportunity to not only further their future, but the future of our country's environment.

"What we're giving them is a background in energy efficiency, in building science, in building physics, so that they're able to take this knowledge and develop it further," said Simi Hoque, an assistant professor in the Green Building Program at UMass Amherst.

"I'm learning a lot about things that I've never known," said Angel Roque.  "Just by doing little things you can save money and help the environment."

The curriculum features four, four-week sessions.  They're aimed at improving students' people skills and job prospects in energy and environmental conservation. 

Not only do students learn in the classroom, but out in the community, in a handful of homes and apartment buildings right in their own neighborhoods.  They serve as real-life laboratories for students to practice their skills.

"It's a chance for them to have a sense of pride that they're doing something for their own community," said John Rollinson, a construction trainer with YouthBuild Holyoke.

In their first session this month, students are learning energy auditing and weatherization.  They're learning how to evaluate a building, fix air leaks that can account for 30 percent of heat loss and how to test heating and cooling systems for efficient operation."

"When they see an opportunity to do something, these guys just want to soak it up," said Rollinson.