Green Building Alliance To Hold Free Virtual Green Professional Operations & Maintenance Certification Training For PreK-12 School Facilities Teams April 29 – May 1; Technical Assistance Available

On March 18, Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance announced it is offering Pennsylvania PreK-12 school facilities and custodial teams free training and technical assistance to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), reduce absenteeism and learning loss due to illness, improve the energy and water efficiency of school buildings and campuses, and reduce utility costs.

Registration is now open for Green Building Professional (GPRO) Operations + Maintenance for Schools, April 29 - May 1, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to be held via Zoom.  

Presented virtually and led by GBA expert staff, this three-day GPRO training is uniquely designed to meet the challenges and priorities of PreK-12 schools and school districts. 

The course provides personalized guidance on improving efficiency; cleaning products; chemical use; strategies for improving air flow, ventilation and air filtration; healthy products, materials, and finishes; and more. 

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.

Facilities managers, custodial teams, and educators will all benefit from the course content, which offers best practices developed by green building facility experts. 

By the end of this training, school facilities participants are able to:--

-- Evaluate building energy and water performance of their building and campus

-- Identify actionable next steps to improve energy and water efficiency

-- Understand, identify, and address the causes of poor IAQ

-- Articulate the costs and benefits of efficiency measures to school leadership

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

Click Here to register and for more information.

Technical Assistance Available

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.

Questions about GPRO for Schools training or other technical assistance available through GBA?  Reach out to GBA at info@gba.org  or call 412-773-6000.

Visit the Alliance Events webpage for information on other educational opportunities.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Green Building Alliance website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Alliance, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter and visit their YouTube Channel.  Click Here to support their work.

[Posted: March 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest