Programs That Can Lead to Green Careers

• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Management and Engineering Technology
• School of Applied Technology

A green-collar worker is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, or in the agricultural sector. Environmental green-collar workers satisfy the demand for green development. Generally, they implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability. Formal environmental regulations as well as informal social expectations are pushing many firms to seek professionals with expertise with environmental, energy efficiency, and clean renewable energy issues. They often seek to make their output more sustainable, and thus more favorable to public opinion, governmental regulation, and the Earth's ecology.

Green-collar workers include professionals such as conservation movement workers, environmental consultants, environmental or biological systems engineers, green building architects, holistic passive solar building designers, solar energy and wind energy engineers, nuclear engineers, green vehicle engineers, organic farmers, environmental lawyers, ecology educators, and ecotechnology workers. They also include vocational or trade-level employment: electricians who install solar panels, plumbers who install solar water heaters, and construction workers who build energy-efficient green buildings, wind power farms, or other clean, renewable, sustainable future energy development workers could all be considered green jobs.

Alfred State offers the following programs that can lead to green-collar jobs.  Click the program title below to learn more.

School of Arts and Sciences

• Agricultural Business graduates are qualified to manage businesses across the broad spectrum of agricultural enterprises. This includes the large number of ventures which help to satisfy the growing demand for organic and sustainable farm products.
• Agricultural Technology graduates are trained to work in farm-related jobs involving both plants and animals. Many of these jobs are associated with the growing organic and sustainable agriculture movement.
• Biological Science graduates are qualified to fill technician-level jobs in alternative fuel production and use, water treatment, waste-water treatment, solid-waste disposal, environmental conservation in support of sustainable agriculture, and environmental health and safety departments in industry and municipalities.
• Landscape Design & Construction students are trained to design, install, and maintain indoor and outdoor plantscapes. Plants in the environment contribute to cleaner air, help the soil to retain water, and reduce soil erosion, in addition to reducing stress for humans in their surroundings.
• Pre-Environmental Science & Forestry students are qualified to transfer and enroll in bachelors' programs at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. All programs at ESF are focused on producing graduates who contribute to a cleaner and greener environment.

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School of Management and Engineering Technology

• Architectural Engineering Technology core technical courses provide the student with a basic understanding of sustainable construction materials and systems.  Graduates are qualified to fill technician-level positions in a variety of disciplines throughout the construction industry.
• Architectural Technology - A course in sustainable building design reinforces previously introduced concepts and provides focus for the application and integration of green technology in the design studio.  Graduates are qualified to fill intern-level positions in architectural firms and, with further study, pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
• Electrical Engineering Technology (AAS) & Electrical Engineering Technology (BS) - courses focus on many aspects of alternative energies.  Students learn the concepts of electrical power system design, control, distribution, and storage.  These skills are required for the implementation of emerging technologies such as photovoltaics and wind turbines.
• Engineering Science - students obtain the fundamental knowledge of an engineering degree which can transfer into multiple disciplines including electrical and mechanical engineering.  Students gain valuable "hands-on" instruction with actual components and energy systems.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology (AAS) & Mechanical Engineering Technology (BS) - MET is a broad technical field covering the fundamental aspects of energy.  These principles serve as the basis for understanding, implementing, and designing sustainable systems and new technologies.

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School of Applied Technology

• Alfred State College has currently embedded both wind and photovoltaic electrical systems into its course and lab work. We have five working photovoltaic systems on the Wellsville Campus: a Xantrex DR 1.5 kw stand-alone system which is supplying the power for all the electrical needs of a faculty member's office, a SunnyBoy 1.5 kw system which is installed in our freshman lab for hands-on work by the students, an Outback 3.6 Grid intertie with battery back up, also installed in our freshman lab for use by our students, and a student-installed system which is providing the power to light up our campus sign by the main entrance. Our students also use this system as a working lab, and a 5 kw grid intertie system, which is supplying approximately 40 % of the energy used by our campus library.
• Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician - wind turbine electrical generation technology has been embedded into this program. There are three working systems on the Wellsville campus, including a 1 kw muti-voltage Wisper turbine, which is installed on a 100-foot MET tilt-up tower, powering a Web cam mounted on the top of the tower and a data acquisition system. The data acquisition system transmits wind speed, direction, and other weather data which is recorded and displayed in our facility and is available on the World Wide Web.
• Robotic & Computerized Control Technician - students enrolled in this curriculum designed, built, and placed into operation a biodiesel reactor. This biodiesel reactor is using the grease products produced by our culinary arts program and Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services, producing a biodiesel fuel which is used in our campus buses.
• All of these systems, biodiesel, wind, & photovoltaic are available for students to test, maintain, and learn installation procedures on. We are also proud to say that they are also helping Alfred State College do its part to save resources and reduce its carbon footprint.
• Air Conditioning and HeatingTechnology - This program instructs students in a wide variety of fuel and energy sources, installing and servicing the most energy-efficient heating systems, and alternative heating systems, including geo-thermal and solar. Heat loss and heat gain are used to determine the most efficient heating or cooling system to install in a building. They also learn about water conservation and work with water- reducing fixtures and faucets. Students will be working on geothermal installations starting in 2009-10 academic year.
• Building Trades-Building Construction -  Students are instructed in Energy Start and other building systems for new and remodeled homes. They are currently building a home that will meet the requirements in order to be certified as an Energy Star Home, i.e., the home will exceed the New York energy code requirements by 30%. Students learn about home insulation and building techniques that will make the building envelope as energy efficient as possible, along with energy-efficient doors and windows to reduce heat loss and heat gain.

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