Green CareersPreparing for tomorrow… and beyond…

Today’s Panel

Chair : Jill Gaito, Green Center of Central Pa

• Bill Sutton, LEED® AP – Wohlsen Construction• Alyssa Adams, McClure Company• Matt Wilson, Secco Inc.

Panel Discussion

• General Definitions• Local Resources for Education• Green Building Design & Construction• Energy Conservation and Efficiency• Electrical/RenewableTechnologies

What are “Green” Jobs?? Jobs that create a clean-energy economy, reduce carbon emissions & improve the overall condition of our environment: • Green Building/Building retrofitting• Mass transit / Public Transportation• Energy-efficient automobiles• Renewable Energy - Wind & Solar power• Biofuels – Ethanol, Biodiesel

Source: Political Economy Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst

What’s so great about Green Jobs ? Besides benefitting the environment…

•These jobs aren’t going overseas or anywhere else – they have to be done here. • You can make a good living. • You match your skills and interest to a career and grow that career as far as you want to go.

Source: www.bluegreenalliance.org

Local Educational Resources

• Green Center of Central Pa• HACC Courses & Seminars• ACE Mentoring Program• Chamber Millennials Business Challenge• Additional resources for you to check out:

– www.economicmodeling.com– www.bluegreenalliance.com – www.greencentralpa.com– www.fastcompany.com

Green Building Overview

Main Categories:• Site Selection• Water Efficiency• Energy & Atmosphere• Materials & Resources• Indoor Air Quality

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Green Building Design

• Passive Solar• Envelope Design• Glazing Design• Comfort• Daylighting• Stormwater Retention• Urban Connection

Green Building Careers

• Architecture• Engineering• Construction Management• LEED® Professional• Various Trades

Architecture

Duties:• Responsible for building design (both form & function)• Must design the building to meet local codes and regulations (ADA)• Construction guidance and coordination

Skills:• Creativity • AutoCAD or Revit • Ingenuity

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:• HACC Architecture Program • Typically a 4 year program and testing to become AIA

Civil & Structural Engineering

Duties:• Responsible for site and structural design• Evaluate impact on the environment both physical and pollution• Evaluate structural systems and solutions

Skills:• Excellent math and science skills• AutoCAD• Knowledge of State and Local code requirements

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:• Engineer In Training• Professional Engineer Certification

Construction Manager

Duties:• Oversee construction activities (Logistics, Safety, Quality, Time, Green Aspects)• Contract writing/negotiations• Develop and manage a construction scheduling• Develop, estimate, and manage the costs for a given construction project• Purchasing and delivering of materials to the site

Skills:• Good communication skills both verbally and written• The ability to multi-task and problem solve• Blueprint reading• Engineering degree

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:• Certified Construction Manager• Green Advantage Certification• LEED® Accreditation

LEED® Professional

Duties:• Advise building owners on LEED® criteria and approach• Oversee building projects from a sustainability standpoint• Manage documentation

Skills:• Good communication skills both verbally and written

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:• LEED Green Associate and LEED Accredited Professional Certification

Various Trades

Duties:• Construct/Install building systems and components• Maintain a safe working environment (adhere to safety guidelines)• Achieve certain levels of productivity

Skills:• Craftsmanship• Blueprint Reading• Math & Measurement

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:• Apprenticeship programs• HACC Training Programs• Association of Builders & Contractors

Campus Square Building

• Registered LEED® Gold• Hybrid Geothermal

System – 46 Geothermal Wells (400 feet deep)

• Hybrid Solar System - 42 kW Solar PV Array with 6 kW Battery Backup System

Campus Square Building

Energy Conservation & Efficiency

• Performance Contracting– Guaranteed energy savings

• HVAC Retrofits– Reduce energy costs– ATC/EMS Replacement

• Auditing– Lighting retrofits & replacements– Demand controlled ventilation– Measurement and verification

• Goals– Improve the environment– Maintain aging facilities– Reduce overall operational costs

Mechanical Careers

• Mechanical Engineer• Energy Auditor• Commissioning Agent• Energy Modeler

Mechanical Engineer

Duties:• Conduct field surveys to assess existing conditions, customer needs and begin problem analysis.

• Prepare equipment or material specifications for purchasing. • Interpret submittals, architectural, structural, piping/plumbing and mechanical drawings. • Design and layout of HVAC, Plumbing/Piping systems on commercial, institutional, pharmaceutical and

healthcare projects using AutoCAD Software. • Work with internal resources to estimate project cost. • Communicate directly with field construction personnel, customers and equipment vendors.

Skills:Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Excellent organizational skills.Familiarity with the A-E design process as well as a general knowledge of the construction process. Ability to manage multiple priorities.Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and MS Project.

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical degree.

Energy Auditor

Duties:•Responsible for collecting, analyzing, and validating energy usage in the field •Preparing reports on a building or home’s total energy profile•Conduct energy audits•Test heating, ventilation, AC, water heating systems, doors, windows,•Lighting, and insulation for efficiency•Compute energy use analysis and overall building performance

Skills:Good communication skills both verbally and writtenKnowledge of how to measure and verify energy systemsKnowledge of State and Local energy efficiency requirements

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:RESNET/BPI Certification TrainingBPI Building Analyst TrainingHACC Energy Audit/Building Efficiency Certification Program

Commissioning Agent

Duties: • Develop and incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents. • Develop and implement a commissioning plan.• Verity the installation and performance of the systems to be commissioned.• Complete a summary commissioning report.

Skills:Energy systems design, installation and operation.Commissioning planning and process managementHands-on field experience with energy systems performance, interaction, start-up, balancing,

testing, troubleshooting, operation, and maintenance procedures.Energy systems automation control knowledge.

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:Bachelor of Science, Energy Engineering Technology

Energy Modeler

Duties: • Develop energy models using various energy modeling software to project building energy consumption.• Evaluate building components and features and translate this information into the energy modeling software.• Energy models of existing buildings may require field surveys to gather data, energy models of future buildings may

require assessment of construction drawings and communication with other design team professionals/building owner to determine modeling data.

Skills: Understanding of heat transfer, engineering properties of building materials, and engineering fundamentals.Familiarity with building construction.Familiarity with building operations, energy equipment contained in buildings, building schedules, occupant behaviors for

various building types.Ability to analyze energy use data.

Certifications and Local Training and Courses: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical degreeASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP)Training certificates also available from Energy Modeling Software Companies (Trane Trace, Carrier HAP, etc.)

Project Example

Step 2: Scoping Audit (no fee) - Walk-Through Buildings- Utility Bill Analysis

Step 2: Scoping Audit (no fee) - Walk-Through Buildings- Utility Bill Analysis

Step 3: Investment Grade Audit (fee based)

Step 3: Investment Grade Audit (fee based)

Step 1: Define Requirements - Conceptual Presentation

- Customer Questionnaire

Step 1: Define Requirements - Conceptual Presentation

- Customer Questionnaire

Approval to Proceed with Proposal Approval to Proceed with Proposal

Performance Contract SignedPerformance Contract Signed

Authorization to Proceed(L. O. A.)

Authorization to Proceed(L. O. A.)

Customer AcceptanceCustomer AcceptanceStep 4: Program Implementation- Implementation Completed

Step 4: Program Implementation- Implementation Completed

Step 5: Technical PartnershipOngoing Customer Support and Communication

Step 5: Technical PartnershipOngoing Customer Support and Communication

On-going PartnershipOn-going Partnership

Process Outcome

Geothermal

Electrical Careers

• Electrical Engineer • Electrician Specializing as a Solar

Technician• Building Systems Installer

Electrical Engineer

Duties: Design safe, efficient electrical systems tailored to meet a customer’s needs. Adapting systems to an Architect’s building design and the project budget.

Skills: Math, mechanical reasoning, organizational, communication, innovative.

Certifications and Local Training and Courses:B.S or Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, System/Manufacture

specific training, National Electric Code training, CAD training. Working in the field for a period of time greatly increases the quality of an engineer’s design work. Internships or seasonal employment with a contractor are good opportunities to gain this type of exposure.

Electrician Specializing as aSolar Technician

Duties:• Responsible for the construction, installation and maintenance

of solar energy systems.

Some tasks may include:• Evaluating sun radiation levels to determine best placement

opportunities to maximize efficiency• Installing solar panels on rooftops and connecting their power

source to the buildings electrical systems

Skills & Training:• Good communication with people both verbally and

written• General construction experience• Solar Installation Certification Programs

Building Systems Installer

Duties:• Combine some of the traditional skill sets of building technicians with advanced

skills in controls programming, networking, and systems integration.• Diagnose, repair and optimize complex electronic building controls systems,

requiring extensive knowledge of a variety of electronic and/or digital controls systems.

Skills:• Ability to test and write modifications in multiple languages of system software.• Ability to read and interpret detailed drawings, sequence of operations,

specifications, operating manuals and other written materials• Work closely with other skilled trades and building engineers• to trouble-shoot and resolve problems with HVAC and Building• SystemsCertifications and Local Training and Courses:

10kW PV System- Burnt Mills Veternary Clinic - Shippensburg, PA

1. Dr. Simms wants to generate clean, affordable energy.

2. Dr. Simms contacts SECCO Inc.

3. We design a PV system that fits his goals, facility, and budget.

Solar PV Installation Teams need to plan

carefully

And work carefully!

Solar Installation

requires good Team

Work in challenging

enviroments.

He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times. Friedrich von Schiller

Happiness does not come from doing easy work, but from the aferglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievment of a

difficult task that demanded our best. Theodore Isaac Rubin

Other Careers

• Environmentalists• Green Business/Entrepaneur• Biologist/Chemist

Where do you start ?? Most of these career paths require:• basic math & reading skills• good communication skills• fundamental computer skills• ability to follow directions & implement them• hands-on ability

Some require:• specialized training/certification programs• 2-year degree• 4-year degree

What do employers look for ??

• Reliability – be there every day, on time, for the entire shift• Responsibility – with company assets & policies, work ethic• Respectfulness – of employer, clients, vendors, fellow employees, yourself• Creativity – proactive, constructive suggestions• Common Sense – ability to think on your feet & solve problems• Confidence – not to be confused with arrogance