Changes in Environmental Regulation Are Driving Industry Growth and Shifting Opportunities From Blue to Green Collar Jobs

Cool-er Talk

In an industry that most don’t think of as synonymous with growth, employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVACR) is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. One driver of growth is how rapidly changing environmental regulation is shifting opportunities from blue to green collar jobs.

As a leader in green energy, the commercial refrigeration and HVAC industry is primed to attract new graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, jobs that support energy efficient developments are on the rise. The regulatory environment and rapidly growing popular demand for energy efficient products make it one of the fastest growing fields. New graduates want to be involved in green work, and the HVACR industry’s energy efficient projects attract young talent as much the technological draw.

The need for green collar jobs has been apparent as The Arcticom Group (TAG) expands across the U.S. Not only are new graduates focused on work involving social impact and sustainability. But consumer companies in the refrigeration and HVAC industries are facing increased scrutiny from environmental regulators, who have set their sights on the emissions and electricity consumption caused by refrigeration. Given their dependency on refrigeration to manage their business, companies are now looking to the HVACR industry to come up with solutions to this issue.

As an example of these regulations, the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Refrigerant Management Program (RMP) initially implemented in 2011, requires specific best management practices such as leak inspections, registration, and reporting to CARB to reduce greenhouse gases emissions from non-residential refrigeration systems. PMC Southwest, an operating company of TAG based in California, has made it a point to hire green collar employees to better assist consumer companies with rapidly changing environmental regulation. PMC southwest has not only improved the CARB online consumer-interface for industry professionals, but also applies CARB RMP standards across offices into Nevada.

For more information about The Arcticom Group’s green energy work please contact us at hello@arcticomgroup.com