Students Use Engineering to Work Toward Sustainable Future

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   Although the change is gradual, the U.S. is gaining ground on a more sustainable future. Energy experts and environmentalists can argue it’s not occurring fast enough, but from transportation to engineering, improvements are being made. The Prius is Toyota’s third most popular car. Each year brings a new round of hybrid vehicles, making over 30 different hybrid cars at the start of 2012. Eco-friendly building options are becoming more affordable, and alternative fuels are being put to use. For instance, Green Mountain College in Vermont operates off a biomass plant that heats the entire campus using green woodchips, a local, renewable and sustainable fuel source. More city engineers are adding bike lanes and wider streets as commuter biking grows in popularity. In fact, each year the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) holds a Human Powered Vehicle Challenge where top engineering students design sleek pedal-powered vehicles capable of road use. By creating new p...
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Engineering Field Sees Low Unemployment, Higher Pay

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If you’ve ever experienced a flooded home from a busted hose on a washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator, you know the indescribable feeling of relief when a tradesman shows up at your door.
Without hesitation, skilled tradesmen work in all weather conditions and often in the most undesirable places — like a muddy basement or crawl space — to repair the faulty water line and remove damaged insulation and flooring before mold and mildew set in.
Tradesmen replace your initial panic with confidence that your largest personal investment will retain its value. Yet, why do we not openly recognize these humble and often underappreciated men and women who make it their life’s work to save and restore our homes?
Fortunately, there are individuals and companies who want to celebrate what tradesmen do to help us get back into a repaired home, and on with our comfortable lives. One such company is IRWIN Tools, who initiated National Tradesmen Day as a way to give tradesmen the public recognition they deserve.
IRWIN suggests a few ways to show contractors, carpenters, roofers, mechanics and thousands of other professional tradesmen appreciation on National Tradesmen Day.
1. Usually, we only see our mechanic when something is wrong with our vehicle. Drop by for a quick visit with coffee and a bagel and thank him/her for being there when you need help.
2. If your office or home is undergoing maintenance work, set up a surprise “thank you” party for the tradesmen or construction crew on duty to show how much you appreciate them.
3. Instead of calling your trusted HV/AC business to say your air conditioning isn’t working, call them to say thanks for their service and help over the years.
4. Drop a hand-written note of appreciation in the mail to your plumber, who is always there when you are in a bind.
America’s tradesmen are the real working hands of our nation, and it’s time to show them how much we appreciate their hard work. For more ideas and information about how to thank a tradesman, visit www.nationaltradesmenday.com.

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