Free Classes Could Help Reduce Your Energy Costs by 20 Percent

To help residential buildings cut their energy costs, New York City has launched a free training program for building staffs, property managers and co-op and condo board members.

The NYC Building Operator Training Program aims to extend the lifespan of building equipment; improve safety, compliance and emergency management protocols; reduce dependency on outside service providers, and better manage contracted services. The goal is to reduce buildings energy costs by up to 20 percent without requiring any major capital expenditures.

A pilot class of 15 students will complete the first 30-hour course next week, says Nora Sherman, spokeswoman for CUNY’s Building Performance Lab, one of the partners in the program. Sherman adds that new classes will begin in February, and the goal is to train 300 people by the end of the year. “It’s going well,” she says of the inaugural classes.

The program is open to any individuals – maintenance staff, property managers, handymen/women, supers, board members – in small to mid-size multifamily buildings with 5 to 50 apartment units, or between 5,000 to 50,000 square feet.

The curriculum covers: building systems, including heating, electrical, and water systems; preventive maintenance of equipment; best-practice energy efficiency measures; and safety, compliance, and emergency management. Courses will be offered in locations throughout the city.

Board members can click here to learn about applying for the program.

For more information, email opstraining@cunybpl.org or call Yasmen Khan, CUNY Building Performance Lab Training Services, at 212-652-2063.