FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING GREEN TRAINING
“Atlanta’s Community Members become GPRO Fundamentals of Building Green Certified”
August 15, 2017
ATLANTA – On June 1, 2017, six construction students (five from Atlanta Technical College’s Construction Department and one from Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies) added the Green Professional Building Skills Training (GPRO) credential to their qualifications. GPRO is a national green building training and certificate program linking tenets of sustainability with trade-specific construction knowledge for those who build, renovate and maintain buildings. The May 20, 2017 training workshop was hosted by Atlanta Technical College. 2M Design Consultants, Inc. was sponsored by The Greening Youth Foundation, and the Heery International/H.J. Russell JV to bring GPRO training to Atlanta’s college students and low-wealth residents interested in joining the sustainable construction industry and preparing to work on local LEED construction projects.
Participants must pass a comprehensive 50 question exam to earn accreditation and use the GPRO designation. Those earning GPRO trainer certification will in-turn teach a new cadre of trade professionals to qualify to for work on green construction projects in Atlanta including projects like: The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Phase II Capital Improvement Program. This program has an opportunity to attempt a Program-Wide Innovation in Design Credit using GPRO under LEED Pilot Credit #81 to train and certify trade workers to renovate their twenty-three existing library projects that are registered under the LEED NCv3 Rating System. GPRO training and certification for college students and low wealth residents affords opportunities for on the job training and placement with design-build contractors during the construction phase to work with skilled trade workers who are also GPRO certified. GPRO certification communicates the inclusion of certified trade workers who can actually implement, in the field, best practices in constructing high performance green buildings.
2M’s implementation and management of GPRO in Georgia provides a solution that can bring economic inclusion to our nation’s young adults and residence who are serious about improving their lives and working with “green construction trades”. 2M’s goal is to even the employment playing field for low wealth residents who will get screened by local Offices of Workforce Development (OWD) so they can be trained, receive a green certification and be hired to work on high performance government construction project that are currently in progress. Achieving GPRO certification can be fast-tracked if all prime construction contractors that use local government’s OWD First Source Jobs Program train, certify and to place these residents on all government construction projects using GPRO.
Construction analysts say that over 50% of our nation’s reproducible wealth is tied to the built environment and there is a window of 7-8 years in which large numbers of workers will be needed on high performance commercial construction projects and green infrastructure projects. 2M and our partners are excited to bring GPRO Training to low wealth residents, beginning in Atlanta
We are dedicated to engaging, educating and empowering young adults by providing a shared platform to connect with collaborative and innovative experiences. To date “Urban Green Council has over 10,000 GPRO trade practitioners certified”, says Ellen Hoinstock, RA, LEED AP, Director of Education Development, and Urban Green Council.
College and University Students that achieved the status of GPRO – Fundamentals: Atlanta Tech Students: Brandon Bryant, Roshanda Jackson, Fernando Lindo, Iona McCoy and Kenton Pope; Northeastern University: Desiree Battle
Urban Green Council
Urban Green Council is the New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to advance the sustainability of urban buildings through education, advocacy and research. A non-profit organization established in 2002, Urban Green Council is a separate non-profit from the USGBC and funded by members, sponsors, and foundations. In-house experts and a dedicated network of volunteers are helping to transform the built environment in New York City with models that can be replicated in urban centers nationwide. Efficiently operated and well maintained buildings can reduce operating costs by 20-50% while improving occupancy satisfaction. Led by industry experts, GPRO provides building professionals with the critical tools to transition from conventional to sustainable construction and building operations, www.urbangreencouncil.org.
VENUE HOSTS
Atlanta Technical College’s Construction Management Program & GPRO
Atlanta Technical College’s Carpentry Diploma Program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for careers in the carpentry industry by developing academic, occupational, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes a combination of carpentry theory and practical applications necessary for program graduates’ successful employment as entry- level residential or entry-level commercial carpenters. Program graduates receive U.S. Green Building Council approved Green Professional (GPRO) training and certification, and so are qualified to work on high performance commercial construction projects. 2M works with local Offices of Workforce Development to conduct information sessions, pre- screening, and basic skills assessments to demonstrate candidates’ ability to meet entry level requirements. The program is designed to take 67 weeks to complete. Of those who completed the program in 2014-2016, 100% finished in 67 weeks. The job placement rate for those completing the program is 100%. www.atlantatech.edu. The event was also supported by Millennials Chamber of Commerce.
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