By Denise C. Gonzales
Principal, Conduit Development

Today’s headlines greet my husband and I over coffee: unemployment levels have hit more than 11% in California. Tens of thousands of white and blue collar workers throughout the state are embarking on--or continuing--an arduous search for employment in troubling economic times.

Flash forward two hours, and we are on the job site of our firm’s latest construction project: a stunning, private home perched high above the Pacific Ocean. We at Conduit Development are grateful for this project--especially when so many of our peers are seeking work. But most importantly, we are thankful to be building for the future by employing a mix of blue and white collar workers who have joined the green workforce to create a sustainable, ICF (insulating concrete form) showcase home.

The project didn’t come to us by accident. In fact, traditional wood frame plans were all but complete when our firm entered the picture. Conduit educated the owners on the many benefits of sustainable building, and the plans were altered to accommodate ICF technology. (Without adding a dime onto construction costs.) Made of energy-saving expanded polystyrene (EPS), these igloo-like blocks are stacked like Legos, then filled with concrete to create stable, durable and sustainable walls and foundations. By using ICF instead of wood, homes require 30-50% less energy to heat and cool, feature superior sound insulation, and are wind, insect, and rodent resistant.

ICF offers significant fire protection as well, a crucial attribute given the wildfires that frequently ravage Southern California. In recent firewall tests, ICF withstood continuous exposure to intense flames and temperatures up to 2,000 degrees for as long as four hours without structural damage. Given that wood frame walls would collapse within an hour, ICF offers a smarter, safer building choice.

It’s no wonder that from families of modest means to grand estates, ICF is increasingly being recognized as a wise and practical investment. Schools are also jumping on the ICF bandwagon, citing such benefits as quicker build times, proven strength, cost-saving energy efficiency and protection against tornadoes, hurricanes and fire.

With ICF and other sustainable building practices on the rise, green collar jobs are growing dramatically. Industry experts expect US jobs in renewable and energy-efficient industries to increase to as many as 40 million by 2030. Which helps explain why so many workers are trading in their existing skills and knowledge base to go green.

For some green collar workers, the choice is a matter of ideals. They’ve had a wake up call, and want to use their professional and personal time in alignment with their convictions. For others, it’s a matter of practicality. The old ways aren’t working, and it only makes sense that the population at large is looking at eco-friendly alternatives in their homes and places of work. If this is where the jobs will be in the future, then now is the time to learn new skills.

For those who want to succeed, affordable and informative “green” training is a must. Which gives sustainable building leaders a unique opportunity to share their knowledge, insight and experience through hands-on education. Conduit, for example, offers low-cost, day-long workshops on ICF installation and construction.

At Conduit, our recent work on this ICF home reinforces the fact that new opportunities do exist--even in challenging economic times--for those with vision.  We look forward to continuing to educate and train ourselves, our crew and our peers to help build a greener, more vibrant future offering greater job security and work satisfaction.