Green Collar
Tom Ochsner of St. Peters, Mo., makes a living by advising homeowners how to save money on home heating and cooling bills.
In about two hours, for $159, Ochsner shows the owner of a 2,200-square-foot home just where he or she needs to caulk and fill to plug holes. Ochsner is part of a growing cadre of “green-collar” professionals and workers in the United States who earn their living across the spectrum of designing and constructing buildings and infrastructure like highways; making and selling building products from recycled and sustainable materials; consulting and educating; wholesaling and retailing; and more.
The U.S. Green Building Council, a 7-year-old national organization with headquarters in Washington, is one of the giants of this new green-collar movement. The council operates the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development (LEED) certification for buildings and it offers training courses for professionals. All are intended to lessen the impact of buildings on the environment.
More than 38,000 professionals — architects, project managers, commercial and residential designers and consultants — across the United States have taken the necessary coursework to win LEED accreditation.
As public interest in sustainable “green” buildings grows, more consumers are seeking professionals who can show they are LEED accredited, said Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Green Building Council.
Hudson is a business reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, rhudson@post-dispatch.com, 314-340-8208.
