Public Employee Press

200 Local 375 members:
Training for a green future

By JANE LaTOUR

Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 is embracing the future by educating members to be part of the coming wave of green construction. As city agencies strive to meet the goals of PlaNYC2030, introduced by the mayor in 2007, city engineers, architects, and similar workers must upgrade their knowledge and get certified in the new LEED standards for sustainable, eco-friendly structures.

The U.S. Green Building Council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system for buildings, including exams to let technical workers become LEED-accredited for their knowledge of the rating system.

Local 375 worked with the Consortium for Workers Education on the application that won Local 375 a $50,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the training program.

Union initiative

Local 375 provided matching funds, and Secretary Jon Forster collaborated on logistics with Charlie Sorrentino, the head of professional development for the local. They surveyed members to identify those interested in the classes. Introductory and advanced courses were offered, with certificates for completion.

Sartaj Singh and Sunny Singh, Associate Architects at the School Construction Authority, enrolled in the classes with the aim of taking the LEED examination. Sartaj Singh said, "Designing our schools with sustainable "green" principles will reduce the city's energy costs, diminish pollution from energy generation and benefit the children, who will now learn in a healthier environment."

The two architects quickly put to use on the job what they learned in the classroom. They have been working together on P.S. 264-K in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Sunny Singh has been involved from the beginning as Field Architect: "From demolition through design and construction, green aspects were carefully thought through. A waste management plan was created for the construction. Before waste was taken to a landfill, dumpsters collected material that could be recycled and all hazardous soils were cleaned," he said.


Designing sustainable schools

In the classrooms students get maximum daylight and occupancy sensors turn the lights off and on to save energy. The mechanical equipment exceeds the code for energy efficiency, and vibrations and noise from street and subway traffic are minimized. "Buildings consume about 60 percent of our energy, so it is imperative to cut the use of conventional energy in our buildings with better design and construction techniques," said Sunny Singh.

"The class reinforced my love of sustainable design and helped me pass my examination on the first try," said Sartaj Singh. "Our union was smart to make this important opportunity available. Now, every time I work on a school building I am looking at ways to maintain the high standards of the LEED rating system, and I am inspired to visualize school designs from a more efficient perspective regarding the use of space and the learning environment of the students."

Both architects put in a lot of studying to pass the test.

"The union offering these classes helps us all to achieve our goals," said Sunny Singh. "It helps push everyone to get their certification. It was a good learning experience about how the choices we make can make a big difference in our environment."