O’ahu: Green Jobs in Construction

INDUSTRY DEFINITION: The top-green industry on O’ahu is the construction industry. The green construction sector in O’ahu 2010 2012 Average includes establishments engaged primarily in the construction and Oahu: Construction Jobs Jobs Change Salary maintenance of green buildings, solar or wind energy systems, Insulation Workers Floor erosion control, and green retrofitting of existing buildings with Ceiling and Wall 190 250 60 $25,800 features such as improved ventilation, insulation, or photovoltaic Insulation Workers and thermal systems. A recent example of green Mechanical 183 296 113 $52,850 construction in O’ahu is the 18-home Kaupuni subdivision in Environmental Science & Waianae Valley, which is the nation’s first community with a net- 182 196 14 $43,610 zero-energy use. In other words, the subdivision will use no more Protctn Techs Incl Health energy than it produces. The cost of the project is being defrayed by Solar Photovoltaic Installers 175 578 404 $45,990 a $10.1 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Hazardous Materials Act of 2009 (ARRA). Removal Workers 160 160 0 $41,050 Solar Thermal Installers and INDUSTRY STATISTICS:, Green construction on O’ahu has the Technicians 158 246 89 $45,990 following key statistics: Construction Laborers 156 156 0 $51,860  2,246 jobs Construction Carpenters 145 179 34 $65,780  33% of total green jobs Supervisors/Managers of  11% of O’ahu’s 21,382 construction jobs are green Construction & Extraction 144 191 47 $76,040  192 current vacancies Plumbers 84 84 0 $56,040  3,392 projected jobs in 2012 hot water heaters for swimming pools that require plumbing As shown in the table on this page, an estimated 373 insulation expertise for installation, but can be used for workers were employed doing green construction in 2010. This cooling as well. Solar chimneys facilitate an updraft that pulls cool includes floor, ceiling, wall, and mechanical insulation workers, exterior air into a building, and solar mass (such as stone and whose labors usually conserve energy and are therefore typed as concrete) absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night. green. Insulation workers on O’ahu are estimated (by employers) to Properly installing this equipment requires specialists who are increase to 546 by 2012. trained in solar thermal techniques, but only licensed plumbers are By their nature green, an estimated 182 Environmental Science and qualified to connect the system to potable water sources. Solar Protection Technicians (Including Health) were involved in green thermal installers are projected to increase from 158 in 2010 to 246 construction in 2010. These technicians typically perform field and in 2012 (89 new jobs). There are an estimated 84 plumbers on O’ahu laboratory tests to investigate pollution sources. Sample collection who specialized in green activities. includes soil, gas, water, plants, and other items that may show Green construction activities include the construction of Leadership evidence of pollution. In 2010 this occupation had an estimated ten in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and other energy- and vacancies. material-efficient buildings. Some local building codes in the State Solar photovoltaic installers typically install photovoltaic systems, include more stringent environmental measures than are required including panels and inverters. Only licensed electricians are by LEED. Construction carpenters and laborers who abide by some qualified to connect this solar system to the electrical power grid. set of green principles would be considered green by these criteria. Photovoltaic installers on O’ahu are projected by employers to Green construction laborers are projected at 156 for 2010, and increase from 175 in 2010 to 578 in 2012, an increase of 404 jobs. green construction carpenters are projected by employers to Employers reported an estimated 55 vacancies in the first quarter of increase from 145 in 2010 to 179 in 2012. Green construction 2010. supervisors are also likely to grow, from 144 in 2010 to an employer- estimated 191 in 2012. There were an estimated 10 vacancies for In addition to , much of the green construction industry on green construction supervisors in the first quarter of 2010. O’ahu is based on the installation of solar thermal equipment for the provision of hot water and cool air. Much of this is low-temperature

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GREEN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: In order to find green Useful training for photovoltaic and electrician positions include a construction employment opportunities on O’ahu, it will be useful to journeyman electrician’s license, community college associate’s search the latest news on green construction. The ARRA invested degree in electrical work, and up to 5 years of on-the-job training. $110 million in grants to be spent in the County of O’ahu through 2012. The top ARRA green construction projects for O’ahu County SOLAR THERMAL AND GREEN PLUMBING: Solar thermal is the use include: of the sun’s heat, as opposed to its light (), for the cooling and heating of air and water. Solar thermal work is done o $24 million for EDS Airport Baggage Check Improvements primarily by heating, air-conditioning, insulation, masonry, and o $15 million for replacement of South Punaluu Stream Bridge plumbing experts. o $9 million for Waimalu Sewer Rehabilitation /Reconstruction o $6 million for H-1 Highway Concrete Preservation Examples of companies in O’ahu doing solar thermal and green o $5 million for Puupeelua Avenue Resurfacing plumbing work include P&T Solar Company, Altres Inc, Yamadas o $5 million for Kukui Gardens Rental Project Plumbing, Delta Plumbing, Dorvin D. Leis Co., Honolulu Pool Service, Green construction job applicants in the County may apply to the Inc., Lighthouse Solar, Giant Solar, and Kai Plumbing. contractors who were or are involved in the above construction These companies have hired Solar Hot Water Systems Installers, projects, but should look more widely as well by doing research Solar Installers, Plumbers, Plumber Apprentices, Plumber online and through targeted informational interviews of persons in Journeymen, Swimming Pool Solar Heating Specialists, and the green construction, government and non-profit sectors. Engineers. Job tasks for these occupations include installation of solar hot water tanks and panels, installation of 80 and 120 gallon GREEN INSULATION: Examples of companies that do green thermal systems, replacement of plumbing fixtures with low-flow insulation on O’ahu are: Group Builders Inc., American Industrial fixtures, and installation of water-efficient plumbing, including water Insulation, Petrochem Insulation Inc., and Commercial Insulation and waste pipes. Corp. Training includes union-sponsored plumber’s license courses, Job titles include Insulator, Industrial Insulator, Plasterman, and apprenticeship training, private seminars and training, community Mechanical Insulation Technician. Job descriptions include exterior college classes, and on-the-job solar thermal training. The Plumbers insulation finish systems, fireproofing, air pollution mitigation, and and Fitters UA Local Union 675 and ABC offer extensive plumbing insulation installation (including on piping, vessels, tanks, columns, courses in Honolulu, including a 28-hour Local 675 course dedicated and mechanical equipment). to solar thermal installation. i Training requirements vary, but may include trade union GREEN CARPENTRY AND DESIGN: apprenticeship, private training courses, hazardous materials training, and an associate’s degree from a community college. Green construction companies in O’ahu include R&D Technologies, Pankow Corp, Ferraro Choi and Associates, Aluminum Shake SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC AND ELECTRICAL: Solar photovoltaic Roofing, Island Recycling, Rider Levett Bucknall, ESN Pacific, Andrew systems, including panels and inverters, are installed by trained L. Dixon, Valley Well Drilling, WTN Architecture, The Phoenician, specialists titled Solar Photovoltaic Installers. However, licensed Wiseco Development, Barker Kappelle Construction, Dumore Electricians are required to connect the to the Construction, and O’ahu Handyman. power grid. Job requirements and duties in the green construction field include Examples of companies hiring solar photovoltaic installers and green knowledge and application of sustainable practices in design and electricians include SunRun, Energy Industries, Giant Solar, P&T construction, LEED or other green building requirements, use of Solar Company, Tropical Wholesale, Commercial Electric, Adon recycled construction materials, and cooperation with other Construction, Pacific Energy Strategies, EPC Service Inc., Wikinson builders to implement low-energy measures such as venting, Shake, Hoku Scientific , Hawaiian Island Solar Photovoltaic, , photovoltaics, and solar thermal design. Green construction workers Alternate Energy Inc., and Greenpath Technologies. practice abatement, specialist trades, design and specify sustainable buildings and utilities, install energy-efficient cooling systems and Specialists in solar photovoltaics on O’ahu have job titles such as recycled construction materials such as aluminum roofs, manage Lighting Retrofit Techs, Solar Photovoltaic Systems Installer, Solar construction projects, operate excavation machines, including Photovoltaic Installer, Electrician Journeyman, Solar Technician, picking up and transporting material via a Bobcat, load shipping Electrician, Solar Fan Installer, and Photovoltaic Technician. Job containers, provide general advice for green sustainable descriptions typically involve tasks such as install and repair energy- construction, collect of soil samples and install wells, collect efficient lighting fixtures, install photovoltaic panels, install solar groundwater EPA and DOH samples, install solar water pumps, train fans, and maintain photovoltaic systems. employees on reclaiming solvents and other environmentally

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Job titles in the green construction field include construction laborers, architects, roofers, construction managers, operating engineers, earth drillers, apprentice carpenter, construction carpenters, project manager, heavy equipment operator, water well driller, foreman, and geothermal loop system driller.

For construction carpenters, green employers generally require associate’s degrees in applied sciences from a community college such as Honolulu Community College, Leeward Community College, or Kapiolani Community College, and CPR and safety certifications. More than one year of green on-the-job training is also an important part of being a green construction carpenter. Certifications required by O’ahu employers include training in CAD, REVIT, Laborers Training School, PSHA, Hazardous Materials, CPR, First Aid, Abatement, Architectural License, LEED Accreditation, certifications on various equipment, and US Green Building Council (USGBC) certification. Informal education includes on-the-job training in green alternatives, health and safety, wiring, splicing, pump setting, and drill operations.

For those interested in green architecture, drafting courses and bachelor’s degrees are available at UH Manoa. Extensive courses are available in AutoCAD and Construction Drawings, and LEED training is available online. The Hawai`i Building Industry Association (BIA) BuiltGreen certification is also useful in understanding green approaches to construction carpentry. ii

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