Green building: Hazards and benefits for construction workers

Green building design is “in.” Buildings, including schools, account for 40% of US energy use and 40% of atmospheric emissions, including greenhouse gases. Building green schools provides an opportunity for towns to decrease their emissions, save on energy and water costs and control moisture that affects asthma rates in staff and students. Much has been written about the benefits of green schools for those who pay for, and inhabit the schools; the energy costs that are saved by using solar panels and conserving water, the positive influence of more daylight; of using renewable, non-toxic building materials; of effective moisture control in reducing asthma symptoms, the benefits of noise control to learning and diminish stress on teachers' vocal cords.

Yet, there has been no research on the effects of building green schools on those who actually build the schools. Green schools use different materials and different technologies from traditional buildings. For example, installing solar panels, plumbing systems that recycle “gray water” and composting toilets, are just a few of the new kinds of construction tasks, that have benefits and hazards. This pilot project reports on interviews with members of different construction trades about the hazards and benefits of green construction, that will be useful for union training health and safety training programs, as well as for architects and others involved in green building.