PA Environment Digest Blog: Green Building Alliance To Provide Green Professional Operations & Maintenance Training To Pre-K To 12 School Facility Teams

A two-year, $30,000 grant from The Grable Foundation will enable the Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance to provide free training and technical assistance to Pennsylvania Pre-K to 12 schools facilities and custodial teams to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), reduce absenteeism and learning loss due to illness, improve the energy efficiency of school buildings and campuses, and reduce utility costs.

Poor IAQ can cause respiratory infections resulting from poor ventilation; allergic reactions to off-gassing from cleaning products, finishes, and other chemicals used in schools; illnesses related to the presence of mold or other contaminants; and higher rates of asthma, a major cause of absenteeism.

Led by GBA’s expert staff, Green Building Professional Operations & Maintenance for Schools training provides personalized guidance on cleaning products; chemical use; strategies for improving air flow, ventilation and air filtration; healthy products, materials, and finishes; and more.

GBA also provides technical assistance, helping facilities teams improve the energy and water efficiency of their buildings, and identify and prioritize needed improvements related to HVAC systems, building envelope (roofing, windows, doors), building operations practices, and more.

With a focus on preventative maintenance, GPRO for Schools offers best practices developed by green building facility experts.

Participants earn an industry-recognized professional certification, GPRO O+M, upon completion of the course and exam.

“Our schools facilities teams do critical work every day, and Green Building Alliance is honored to partner with schools to help them navigate the challenge of rapidly rising energy costs, tight budgets, and the need to improve indoor air quality to ensure our children’s learning environments are healthy and safe,” says GBA President & CEO Jenna Cramer. “Children spend more than 1,000 hours a year inside classrooms and school buildings. Through the generous support of The Grable Foundation, GBA is able to come alongside school maintenance teams, helping them deploy practices that protect our children, and saving taxpayer dollars through improved energy efficiency.”

Schools interested in registering their maintenance teams for GPRO for Schools training should reach out to GBA at info@gba.org or call 412-773-6000. Both in-person and virtual programs are available.

Visit the GBA School Leaders & Education Professionals Resource webpage for more information for school facilities.

The Green Building Alliance positively transforms the world through the built environment to create a sustainable, healthy, and economically vibrant future for everyone.

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