Like Water, For Roughnecks

Week four of Green Construction and Energy training began a bit differently today.  I was introduced to water auditing.

Water conservation is quickly becoming a hot topic, both in Denver and around the country.  Most of us are aware of the restrictions placed on us during the droughts of the past few years. However, few people realize that conserving water in and around the home can not only be painless, but also beneficial.  Consider this:  the average person uses 211 gallons of water PER DAY.  By reducing consumption to 165 gallons per day, the average homeowner can save close to 30% on their water bill.  A water audit will identify where improvements can be made throughout a home or business.

Around 9 AM, we were driven to the offices of Rebuilding Together Metro Denver, where we spent the morning learning the nuances of water auditing.  After lunch, we split up into two teams to begin the installation of water saving appliances in the homes of elderly homeowners.  As most elderly homeowners are living on fixed incomes, RTMD and Denver Water provide the audits and the upgrades at no cost.  My team installed new aerators, a new efficient shower head and an ADA approved, energy efficient toilet. 

What impressed me most was the reaction of the homeowner.  She was genuinely pleased to receive the upgrades, and didn't seem to mind all the strangers traipsing through her home to complete the installation.  i could very easily see my gramma, or my mother, sitting in the same spot.  Just looking around the home at all the projects that needed to be completed made me appreciate the both the necessity of reaching out to our older homeowners and the opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of my fellow citizens.

Wednesday, we will be spending the day working with Habitat for Humanity.  If it proves to be as rewarding as today, I just may have to revise my long term goals to include more altruistic uses for my new skills.

What a week! Being a Diva has its drawbacks, one of which is that you have to maintain your Divatude.

With that in mind, and despite having the flu, I went off this week to apply for Green Energy & Construction training at Mi Casa Resource Center in Lakewood, CO. This 10 week, intensive, hand-on program trains Coloradans in Solar Panel Installation, Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency. Considering my long term goals, it would have been a travesty not to apply.  So me, my flu germs and Bessie (my '95 Ford Escort wagon, complete with stick shift) jumped on I-70 and headed towards our future.

I was pleasantly surprised at the length and the detail of the application. For me, it demonstrated the level of commitment Mi Casa expects from the program participants. I feel this is important. Being a lady roughneck is hard; being a roughneck diva will be even more challenging.  I want, and expect, real training, not just lip service to the idea of women in construction.  The Center itself has been recognized by then-First Lady, now Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for their work with the un- and under-employed in the Denver area. The woman I interviewed with, Jill, greeted me warmly and treated me with dignity and respect.  In turn, she seemed impressed with the thoughtfulness and detail of my 5 year plan. At the end of the interview, I was invited back to an orientation and testing meeting later this month.  Both Jill and I feel very confident I will make the cut.

Next class starts April 10th, spring weather!!

The Beginning

After many years and countless hours of watching HGTV and DIY Network, I finally admitted to myself I had a secret desire to handle power tools.  I also realized that I wanted to create beautiful places for folks to live; calm, colorful refuges from the raging recession outside.  When I heard about a free program that offered basic training and certifications in the construction industry, I took a deep breath and enrolled.

It is estimated that about 6% of all construction jobs are held down by women.  However, that number is expected to increase significantly as the economy recovers and more stimulus funds for roads and green jobs becomes available.

As I traverse the male dominiated world of construction, I invite you to stop by from time to time. I hope to bring a new and insightful look into the murky world of power tools and heavy equipment.