UA Out Front in Building Green Houses
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As the green revolution picks up steam, more and more homeowners are either building new energy-efficient homes or retrofitting their current dwellings. The members of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) are working hard to be among the unions in the forefront of residential green building.
When a homeowner in Minneapolis wanted to build an energy-efficient home recently, he called on the journeymen and apprentices of Plumbers Local 15 and Pipe Fitters Local 539 to create a showcase, an energy efficient house complete with all the latest technology.
According to the UA Journal, the entire house uses radiant heat. The sidewalks and driveway are equipped with snow melting capability—a big help in Minnesota. Twenty-seven roof drains send water into two pipes that empty into a 5,000-gallon cistern, which irrigates the 3,000 square-foot living roof. Plumbers installed nearly 4,000 feet of piping and tubing for the house.
