In response to the growing demand for green buildings—and knowledgeable people to run them—Community College of Allegheny County is partnering with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 95 to provide training for stationary engineers who want to qualify for a Green Building Sustainability License.

A sustainable building is healthy and comfortable for its occupants, as well as economical to operate. It conserves resources, such as energy, water, raw materials and land. It is also designed to operate with minimal generation of toxic materials or waste.

The 30-hour training course will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. beginning September 20 at the Local 95 facility, 300 Saline St, Greenfield. It is geared to facility managers, contractors, maintenance engineers and others in the building industry.

Developed by Local 95 experts, the coursework will cover topics such as: sustainable materials, indoor air quality, renewable energy sources, effective energy and water management, and the recycling of lighting and building materials, etc.

In a related effort, the college and Local 95 will offer 30 hours of training in Solar Panel Installation, from 8 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, beginning October 17 at Local 95 headquarters.

Solar energy is a viable, renewable energy source, even in the Pittsburgh area where people have been known to complain about the cloudy weather. The course work will include information on site location, system sizing, mounting options, system components and configurations and mechanical and electrical integration.

According to William T. Cagney, business manager/financial secretary of Local 95, “this educational partnership will serve our members and our community and will help the county achieve economic stability through green building practices.”

“With Pittsburgh rated No. 3 in the nation in the number of LEED-certified buildings, this initiative is most relevant; we are pleased to be a part of this effort for the region,” said Peggy Williams-Betlyn, CCAC senior vice president for workforce development and CEO of North Campus.

The latest benchmarking analysis by the nonprofit Green Building Alliance ranks Pittsburgh, with its 21 buildings that qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, just under Portland, Oregon (25) and Seattle, Washington (27).

For more details or to register for either of the training courses, contact Debbie Dellamalva, Local 95, at 412.422.4702.

8/24/2007