[Greenbuilding] Take a green building class in Pittsboro!

[Kristi Jeffcoats]

CCCC Pittsboro adds 'green building' program

For immediate release

Sept. 7, 2006

 

From: Katherine McDonald

            CCCC News & Feature Writer

            (919) 718-7265

            kmcdonald at cccc.edu

 

 

CCCC Pittsboro adds 'green building' program

 

By Katherine McDonald

CCCC News & Feature Writer

 

PITTSBORO - "Green building" - classes on environmentally friendly
construction -have been added to the Continuing Education fall schedule
at Central Carolina Community College's Pittsboro Campus. 

 

The green building classes will offer techniques and skills for
energy-efficient construction and for utilizing materials that have less
impact on the environment. The classes start Sept. 12.

 

"I'm very excited about the potential this new program offers students,
the construction industry and consumers to demonstrate alternative
building techniques which can decrease the environmental impacts of our
buildings," said Harvey Harman, an instructor in the program and owner
of Earth Renewal Shelter, a green building company in Chatham County.
"With the cost of energy remaining high and the impacts of our energy
and material use on the environment and our health, green building is a
positive solution for the construction industry." 

 

The classes are all geared towards getting practical experience. Harman
said his goal is to give people job and life skills they can immediately
put to use. 

 

"With the amount of construction happening in the Triangle area, I would
like to see local people get these jobs and incorporate green building
techniques in new homes," he said.

 

CCCC and the green building program are also partnering with Chatham
County Habitat for Humanity to help build several unique
energy-efficient houses next year. 

 

The first is the Sarah Weber House, winner of the 2006 Sustainable
Design Competition sponsored by Advanced Energy Corporation, of Raleigh.
It was designed by a team of North Carolina State University students.
The house includes special features such as passive solar design,
energy-efficient construction, rainwater catchment systems and an
efficient floor plan to utilize spaces effectively.  

 

Another home to be built will use a highly energy-efficient insulated
concrete wall system designed and fabricated by International Precast,
Inc., in Siler City. 

 

"I am excited about partnering with CCCC, Advanced Energy and
International Precast," said Gabriela Rife, construction manager for
Chatham Habitat. "I believe that energy efficiency is an integral
component of affordable housing."

 

Some of the CCCC green building students will work on-site with Habitat
for hands-on experience in green building techniques. 

 

"I think these green building classes have incredible potential, and
they complement our sustainability programs on farming and biofuel
production," said Stelfanie Williams, director of Continuing Education
at the Chatham Campus. 

 

Classes beginning this fall include: "Green Building Design,"
"Fundamentals of Carpentry with Emphasis on Green Building," "Blueprint
Reading," and "Energy Efficiency for Green Building." 

 

Students taking a core curriculum of six classes with two additional
recommended classes qualify for a certificate in "Construction Carpentry
with an emphasis on Green Building." 

 

For more information on the Green Building program, call Williams at
(919) 542-6495, ext. 224. To register for a class, call (919) 542-6495,
ext. 223 or go online to <>.