Nevada Green Construction Program Produces First Graduate

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Nevada construction industry enters a new phase as the College of Southern Nevada graduates its first student from the new Sustainable Construction Technology program, the first of its kind emphasizing green construction.

Drew Levy became the program’s first graduate in late May of this year. The Sustainable Construction Technology program, located at the college's Western High Tech Center, has 43 students learning how to make projects more environmentally friendly as well as gaining the traditional skills needed to work as construction project managers.

Levy graduated from one of three programs at CSN that include sustainable construction and renewable energy courses, according to program head Doug Nelson. Students earn a Certificate of Achievement and an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Technology, Sustainable Construction Technology, or Building Trades, with specializations in Photovoltaic (solar) and Weatherization (energy audit). The programs bring important new capabilities to the construction industry in southern Nevada and a new quality of life for residential and commercial occupants.

The program is one of a number of green building initiatives that promise to transform the quality of buildings in Nevada, bringing higher energy efficiency, healthier indoor environments, more durable buildings, and greater satisfaction for homeowners and building occupants. Other movements toward sustainability include new building codes that require higher performance of buildings and systems, and greater use of rating systems, such as LEED for commercial buildings, and Environments For Living for homes, that verify the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings.

Levy, a veteran who joined the Coast Guard in the wake of 9/11, saw the degree as a way to combine his love of construction with his desire to promote a sustainable environment. Levy has already established a career in green construction as a residential energy auditor at Energy Conservation Group, verifying construction quality for new ENERGY STAR homes and analyzing existing homes to improve energy performance. As an officer of Efficiency First Nevada, the professional association of home energy practitioners, Levy is active in promoting energy efficiency and comfort improvements for owners of existing homes.

Green construction helps replace lost jobs

The once-booming construction industry in southern Nevada came to a halt with the recession, losing more than half its jobs. With less demand for new construction, builders are turning to green techniques to attract buyers, emphasizing quality, comfort and reduced energy costs. Green, or sustainable, construction emphasizes environmentally friendly concepts such as energy efficiency, low toxicity materials, amenities that encourage resource-saving behavior such as recycling, and use of natural daylight instead of artificial light.

High-tech materials are sometimes used, but equal emphasis is put on careful building design and meticulous installation. The work requires higher worker skills in areas such as calibrating newly installed heating and cooling equipment, sealing ducts and building penetrations, and installing insulation properly. Buildings built to a higher standard will remain cost effective to operate, more durable, and more comfortable for occupants throughout their life.

With less demand for new buildings, many now look toward improving existing buildings as a source of construction jobs. The CSN program teaches students how to find the problem areas in older homes and buildings, and how to improve buildings so that they function better than new. Unlike large construction projects where resources are spent more on materials or heavy equipment, the main resource needed in home improvement jobs is the individual construction worker. Building upgrades therefore create employment that cannot be outsourced.