UKIAH, CA, 12/8/22 — When Jose Quiñones came to Mendocino College to register his teenage daughter for classes, an Introduction to the Construction Trades class in the course catalog caught his eye. Quiñones works at a local printing and packaging company, and bought a house a couple years back. He wanted to learn how to accomplish projects around his home, specifically remodeling a shed out back into a studio for his kids.
Since August, he’s spent 15 full Saturdays at the college, learning hands-on in the free, non-credit, single-semester certification class offered by the Sustainable Construction and Energy Technology program. The program’s name may seem oxymoronic (the building and constructions sector contributed to around 39% of energy and process-related carbon dioxide emissions globally in 2018), but coordinator and instructor Noel Woodhouse aims to teach students — whether hobbyists, professionals, or somewhere in between — to be responsible and knowledgeable in the “inherently toxic” industry by avoiding waste, focusing on quality work, and exploring innovative methods.
Continue reading for FREE
We just want to make sure you’re a human! Sign in to keep reading and receive our weekday newsletter in your inbox.
Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.