What's Going On?

The students and instructors of the Construction Technologies Program at Harford Technical High School recently held a celebration event for the completion of the first-ever Green Build by this team. The event, held recently at Harford Tech High, featured remarks from Dr. William B. Seccurro, President and CEO of the Harford Chamber of Commerce and the Harford Student Trades Foundation; Mr. Frank P. Mezzanotte, Supervisor of Career and Technology Education/Magnet Program Coordinator for HCPS; and Ms. Deanna Lewis from Techniques magazine. Interim Superintendent of Schools Patricia L. Skebeck was also in attendance.

The Harford Habitat for Humanity, the Harford Student Trades Foundation, Bank of America and De Walt joined together to form a partnership that supported the building project throughout the entire duration. Harford Tech carpentry teacher, Michael Svezzese, who heads this collaboration, is working to provide his students with advanced knowledge and experience in green building.

Harford Technical High School Construction Technologies students pose in front the completed green modular home they constructed as part of a project at the school in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. They pose at the school’s event to celebrate the completion of the home on May 13th. Left to right, top row, John Brandonisio, Matt Dowell, middle row, Mike Davis, John Jacobs, lower, Patrick Trzeciak.

The team of students and instructors from Harford Tech worked together to build a green modular home for the Habitat for Humanity program in Harford County. Habitat provided the materials needed for the project, all of which meet the green building criteria. From framing to spackling drywall, Svezzese and every one of the students from the Harford Tech Construction Technologies program completed all aspects of constructing the home.

The National Green Building Standard for all residential construction work, published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), applies to construction including single family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation. The standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is the first green building rating system to be approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes.

The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how homeowners can operate and maintain their green homes. The standard requires a builder to incorporate various features such as energy, water and resource efficiency, lot and site development, indoor environmental quality and homeowner education as well as operation and maintenance.