Vocational Education in Green Buildings

Guest Post by Meghana Joshi, MBA in Green
Edited by Ela Sharma

Green Buildings are designed by architects and engineers and constructed by general contractors. The project’s success depends heavily on the experience and expertise of the team executing it. However, a vast knowledge gap exists between the project architect, the contractor and subcontractors who get the job consummated in the end.

The construction industry represents 20% of the U.S. economy, comprising $1.27 trillion of our gross domestic product. With such large amounts of money and influence, the construction industry is inherently risk prone. Lack of knowledge negates the opportunity for architects, contractors or developers to take risk and propose Green Building ideas to their clients. LEED is relatively new. Subcontractors, who are closest to implementing a building project, have limited or no knowledge and experience about Green Building products, often leading to inappropriate material use and loss of LEED points.

Vocational education, rather than just certifications or Associate Degrees, can change the perception of the execution team. It will better equip them to deal with the real problems arising from Green Building Construction, rather than just the theory of how it would work.

Three questions arise when we think of job training for Green Buildings:
1. What are the special skills necessary to handle Green Building projects?
2. What are the new job opportunities and what would be the income range?
3. How do we train people for these jobs?

Key areas of education in Green Building Movement are:
1. Architecture with sustainability
2. Environmental studies
3. Resource management
4. Business management with emphasis in sustainability
5. Building science
6. Ecological design
7. Energy management
8. Water management
9. Renewable energy
10. Social finance

In my opinion, some of the success criteria for Green Building Movement are:
* Inclusion of courses and questions about Sustainable construction and design to Architectural and Engineering curriculum for architects and building engineers.
* Enforcing Green building standards such as Green Globe or LEED.
* Green building technology tests to licensed professional for re-licensure.
* Community education to sub-contractors and construction personnel to educate them about the Green materials and technologies.
* Setting up one stop Green Building knowledge resource center in Building and Planning Department of every city, and ensuring that this information is readily available to all the personnel involved in such a project.
* Introducing Green Building concepts and providing job orientation to high school students who are inclined towards a career in Architecture and/or Green Buildings.

To summarize, by making all appropriate information and knowledge readily available and accessible to the consumer, Green Buildings can reach the heights of Technology in the Financial Market.

References: USGBC; CNN Money

What ACRONYM can best describe what Green is about?

Green, to me, is a metaphor for being environmentally friendly and environmentally responsible. Green needs to be socially acceptable and sustainable. Now, not everyone has the same perception and philosophy about Green. To environmentally conscientious, Green may be considering planting trees, saving energy, managing waste and much more. Then, there may be those, who consider Green as a highly commercialized and marketing term.
Let’s say, we move out of the color game, and try to convey the essence of what Green is about in an acronym. This acronym would be industry-wide, community-wide and global. The challenge is: WHAT ACRONYM CAN BEST DESCRIBE WHAT GREEN IS ABOUT? May be none but let’s give it a try. Viewers, share your ideas with us.
Here is mine :
Environmentally
Responsible
Acceptable
Sustainable
Lifestyle

How Green are you?

Green is a way of living that is environmentally friendly and advocates conservation of our natural resources and the environment. Until I took the initiative of learning and advocating about Green, I had this habit of leaving the mobile phone charger plugged into the electrical outlet. I have seriously grown out of it now. Below are few questions that highlight some of the simple ways to conserve our environment. Let’s determine where we stand collectively.

Here is what you do:
For each question you answer YES, give yourself one point. Add all your points and click that number in the poll on the side. That is where you are on a scale of 0-10 based on the criteria in this post. You have until June 30th to tell us this. Invite your friends and family too. Please share with us your opinion in the Comments section.

Do you close the tap water while you brush your teeth or shave?
Do you recycle cans if curb-side recycling or plastic recycling facility is available?
Do you take your own bags to grocery store for bagging?
Do you avoid purchasing bottled water on a regular basis?
Do you turn the computer or TV off when not in use?
Do you turn off the lights when not in use?
Do you buy energy efficient bulbs whenever possible?
Do you prefer doing your weekly shopping in one trip?
Would you carpool if you are offered the opportunity?
Would you consider heating your pool using solar panels as opposed to electric or gas heater?

Don’t forget to check on July 1st, 2009 how we perform collectively.
SHARE WITH US IN THE COMMENTS SECTION WHAT 'BEING GREEN' MEANS TO YOU AND WHICH OTHER CRITERIA YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE IN HERE.
Our next family project is to work on turning the TV off when not in use.

NOTE: This is not an official survey or questionnaire and is not a comprehensive list of Green criteria.

How Does Environmental Policy Affect Public Health?

Guest Post by Bill Hawthorne with the maacenter

There are two levels of health consequences associated with industrial pollution, both direct and indirect. The direct consequences are examples like increased asthma rates in areas with high smog indices. Chlorofluorocarbon release into the atmosphere has shown to decrease the filter of direct sunlight on the planet, resulting in more concentrated ultraviolet light reaching the surface of the earth. Perhaps, it is no surprise then that in countries with depleted atmospheric gas, skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.
The indirect health consequences are harder to see immediately, but closer examination reveals that these are, perhaps, the most hazardous. Bi-products of pollution and backwards industries, such as coal and oil processing, include cancer causing substances like asbestos and benzene. A U.K. study conducted in 2002 indicated that coal and oil industry workers are at a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma (associated with asbestos exposure) and leukemia (traced to benzene and heavy-metal exposure). Dr. David Sugarbaker among many other doctors who specialize in this area understand that these are substances that can be directly traced to antiquated pre-regulation equipment in industries whose environmental hazards are even more inherent.
Can we really afford to continue on the path we were on before? Investment in clean industry means not a healthier planet for our children and grandchildren, but also a healthier place for us to live today.

Green Living: Improving Health Today and Tomorrow

Guest Post by Bill Hawthorne with the maacenter

Much attention has been paid in recent years to what seems to be a growing environmental conscience in the United States. Going green used to be considered expensive and a luxury for those who could afford the trend. Now it appears that adopting more environmentally conscious attitudes is good for our economic situation, but also for our….health? Yes, if we dig a bit deeper we can see that industrial pollution and backwards policy is actually harming the health of the earth for our children and the health of her inhabitants today.

If LEED certification is voluntary then why opt for it?

It is an effort undertaken to project environmental friendliness and co-operation in improving the health of living beings. Over time, green practices would result in saving energy and improving air quality. Wouldn't we want to work in a place with better indoor air quality with plentiful sunlight!! Additionally, some cities and states offer incentives for compliance with LEED standards.

LEED Certification – What is LEED?

I was driving my kids to school when I noticed a construction site with a big board that read ‘Future Site of a Sustainable LEED Certified Green Building’. It is encouraging to note that green standards are finally not just ‘words’ but translated to ‘actions’.
LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a standard for measuring building sustainability and demonstrating that a construction project is truly ‘green’. The LEED green building rating system is developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a Washington D.C. based, nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders. It is designed to augment environmental performance of a building design and encourage construction practices towards sustainable design. In essence, it improves health of building occupants and reduces the negative environmental impacts of a building construction.
LEED rating system is comprised of six different criteria – water usage efficiency, energy, materials, indoor air quality, design process innovation and sustainable site. Upon completion of a building construction, representative from the Green Building Council reviews the supporting documentation and awards points.