Green Construction Skills Training

While LEED has been tremendously successful in bringing green building to design professionals, there is no program directed at people who actually construct buildings –-  building trades and contractors. As a result, the only opportunity for many building trades and contractors to learn green building construction skills is on the job. That's an impediment to more widespread adoption of green building practices, one that may also increase the cost of green construction. The issue of limited green building knowledge is particularly important for small construction projects, where contractors often undertake the design work and select both building materials and systems.

This lack of familiarity with green construction by the building trades and contractors can result in in less environmentally-friendly construction techniques, or even biases against selection of more sustainable materials. For example:

• Subcontractors in large commercial construction projects might assign a premium in their bids for unfamiliar work or materials.
  
  
• A plumber lacking experience with tankless water heaters or dual-flush toilets may discourage clients from using these products, or charge higher fees to account for the unknowns of installation and maintenance.
  
  
• Newly-designed systems, equipment and materials may not be installed as designed, thereby decreasing efficiency and reducing cost savings to builders and occupants alike.

To remedy this situation, USGBC New York, with the help of a consultant, is developing a green construction skills program for building trades and contractors.  We expect the program to be complete by Fall 2008. It will include general information sessions on the basic principles of sustainability, green building, and the LEED certification process, as well as sessions for trade-specific green construction skills.

This training will not be delivered by USGBC New York, however. Instead, sessions they will be taught by other organizations, including construction trade unions, the City University of New York, and large construction firms.