GEF

Unit 10  |  Toward a Sustainable Future 228 CAREER FOCUS: GREEN SPECIALTY TRADES Education: Most of the workers in green specialty trade occupations learn their skills through formal training programs, apprenticeships, and trade schools. Craft training and apprenticeship programs usually consist of technical instruction and an additional 3 or 4 years of on-the-job training. Trainees and apprentices also must pass practical and written tests to demonstrate their knowledge of the trade. Some states require trade workers to be licensed. Median Salary (2015): $43,600. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, green specialty trade workers use their unique skill sets and utilize renewable or recycled materials to lessen a building’s environmental impact. Typical green specialty trades include: ■■ Carpenters who are trained in green techniques play an important role in reducing waste and improving building efficiency. One technique, called optimum value engineering, allows carpenters to use less lumber by increasing the amount of spacing between framing members. This technique also allows for more insulation to be added, increasing the energy efficiency of the building. ■■ Electricians can help improve a building’s energy efficiency by installing motion sensors to automatically turn off lights when no people are present. They can also recommend green products, such as smart power strips that stop plugged-in electronics from consuming unnecessary energy. ■■ HVAC Installers properly install and maintain the ventilation system. A good HVAC system is one of the most important contributors to a building’s healthy indoor air environment. ■■ Plumbers working on green buildings can recommend and install water-efficient appliances, such as dual-flush toilets or systems that reuse graywater. ■■ Roofers can recommend options for sustainable roofing. They can recommend and install cool roofs, which are made of reflective materials that deflect the sun’s heat away from the building, lowering internal temperatures. Some roofers install green roofs, which cover the top of a building with vegetation to achieve the same effect. Roofers, especially those who are also trained as electricians, also might install solar photovoltaic panels. For more information on these and other careers in Sustainability, go to bls.gov/oco/.