By Michael Mock
The greater Washington, D.C. area will continue to see the construction of major mass transit projects. This means related construction opportunities to retrofit existing buildings and construct new ones in areas surrounding the projects, and a need for sustainable building practices.
With transit projects such as the $1.2 billion, five-year next phase of the Metro Silver line, the District’s $1.2 billion, 22-mile streetcar line, and Prince George’s County Metro Red line and Marc Train stations, there will be plenty of construction activity. Building developers and owners will require energy efficient and mixed-use components to be built in mid- to high-rise buildings.
Electrical Alliance contractors are prepared for this work because of their intense training and knowledge of energy efficient systems through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). Contractors and their electricians complete thorough hands-on and classroom alternative energy system training in courses such as photovoltaic array installation, electric vehicle supply equipment, and more. This allows Electrical Alliance contractors to handle increasingly complex electrical projects in a timely, safe, and cost-effective manner.
The need for energy efficiency is made even clearer through statistics. Citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, noted architect Ed Mazria said that buildings consume over 75 percent of the energy produced in this country. He estimates that architects and engineers control over 80 percent of the potential decisions in building specifications. Government agencies as well as building developers and owners are demanding more energy efficiency in their buildings, both in new construction and in retrofits.
In addition, McGraw Hill’s “2012 Greening of Corporate America” report notes that more than 50 percent of the corporate leaders surveyed gave three major reasons to support energy efficiency: increased market differentiation, meeting current and proposed government regulations, and attracting a more qualified work force.
The Electrical Alliance develops dynamic, highly-skilled electricians qualified for even the most challenging installations, and helps them maintain and improve their skills through continuing education programs at the JATC. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council named the JATC an ISPQ Accredited Training ProgramTM, a rarely achieved credential granted by The Institute for Sustainable Power, Inc.TM, a globally recognized authority in the area of renewable energy training.
Find a highly-trained Electrical Alliance contractor for your next sustainability project at www.electricalalliance.org.
