January 2010
Partner for ‘Pathways Out of Poverty’ Green Job Training Award from US Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor has picked Goodwill of Greater Washington as a recipient of one of its highly-competitive Pathway Out of Poverty green jobs training awards – wit the Green Builders Council of DC as a key partner. Building on the success of the existing Green Pathway DC program (see below), the partnership will team to provide roughly 100 DC residents with job training in the areas of green building. GBCDC will focus on job placement outreach to local green business, market demand intelligence to shape the curriculum to meet the employer needs, and outreach and recruitment for residents qualified to partake in the program.
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May 2009-present
Green Pathway DC program, DC’s largest green jobs training program, managed by GBCDC and Goodwill of Greater Washington
With roughly $1 million in funding from the DC Department of Employment Services and coordination across several DC agencies, the Green Builders Council of DC has partnered with Goodwill of Greater Washington to provide the District of Columbia’s first and largest green jobs training program. During 2009, over 70 DC residents participated in the ground-breaking ‘Green Pathway DC’ program held at Goodwill’s DC-headquarters (2200 South Dakota Avenue), and over 100 more are anticipated to be the recipient of training during 2010.
Students go through a training program that is comprised of roughly three sections: a) Soft skills training, during which students are taught basic workplace literacy skills; b) Core construction training, done through the national NCCER certified curriculum, through which students learn core construction skills such as safety, power tools, rigging, etc; c) The Green Pathway DC ‘Green Elective’, which allows students the choice in advanced training in one of three green fields: sustainable building, weatherization, or smart meter installation.
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May-August 2009
Green Summer DC: GBCDC Works with DDOE to Provide Weatherization of 600 Homes with DC Youth During Summer 2009, Green Builders Council partnered with Mayor Fenty, the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), and the Green Summer program to provide mentoring and training local youth for a period of nine weeks this summer. With roughly 74 students, summer workers went through a two-week training program created by the Green Builders Council to teach the students the modes and methods of green building and weatherization. After the training, the summer youth performed an unprecedented weatherization effort – not only installing efficiency improvements, but managing logistics such as scheduling the appointments with LIHEAP eligible residents. The program was a huge success, with over 600 DC families reducing their energy bills through the realization of the weatherization program, which included CFL installation, weather-stripping, door sweep installation, caulking, and more.
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March 2009
'Green Jobs Demand Analysis' Released
In April 2008, GBCDC won a highly-competitive contract from DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), on behalf of the District government, to conduct part of the ground-breaking ''Green Collar Job Demand Analysis" with the Louis Berger Group. Now, this first-of-its-kind report has been released publicly. As Steve Moore, President of WDCEP said, "This analysis will help the District create the necessary training and policy strategies needed to bolster DC’s green collar workforce."
The Green Builders Council of DC is proud to have been a part of this study. See it by clicking on the following links:
Executive Summary | Full Report
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October 2008
Green Builders Council of DC Sponsors Community Tree Planting Events
The Green Builders Council of DC, a coalition of more than 30 local builders and developers committed to helping the District build a robust green economy, is sponsoring three community tree planting events in October being organized by DC-based Casey Trees. Thanks to the GBCDC more than 55 trees will be planted in communities around St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rock Creek, the Lowell School in Northwest, and St. John's College High School.
"The Green Builders Council of DC is proud to partner with Casey Trees and be a part of the great work they are doing in the District," said Ted Trabue, director of the Green Builders Council of DC. "Besides contributing to the beautification of our city, the tree plantings GBCDC is sponsoring will also pay environmental and economic dividends - a greener city is a more attractive destination for residents, businesses and tourists alike."
Volunteers are encouraged to participate in upcoming tree plantings at the Lowell School on Saturday, October 11 and St. John's College High School on Thursday, October 23. For exact meeting locations and times volunteers should visit the Casey Trees web site at www.caseytrees.org/programs/treeplanting or call Casey Trees at 202-833-4010.
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August 2008
Green Builders Council of DC Helps Bring Nation’s First Green Job Curriculum to D.C. Area
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Councilmember At-Large Kwame Brown joined the Green Builders Council of DC to unveil the nation’s first green collar job training curriculum for the Washington, DC area construction industry at Cardozo Senior High School on Wednesday, August 20. The curriculum, developed through the support and expertise of GBCDC, will be used to teach hundreds -- and potentially thousands -- of students and workers in D.C. public schools, area apprenticeship programs, and various local training facilities.
This ground-breaking initiative has generated considerable attention. Some selected media:
"Area Builders Bring Nation's First Green Job Curriculum to District," Reuters, August 20, 2008
"New Green Job Curriculum Lands in the District," Washington Business Journal, August 20, 2008
Click here to read the GBCDC press release in its entirety.
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May 2008
YouTube Video launches of the Green Builders Council of DC's sponsorship of GreenDCDay
The wildly successful GBCDC sponsorship of GreenDCDay -- in which thousands of Washingtonians were helped to "Go Green" -- now has an accompanying YouTube video. Watch a video of DC Department of the Environment Director George Hawkins and GBCDC's Ted Trabue by clicking here.
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April, 2008
GBCDC Is Lead Sponsor of Green DC Day; Gives Away 1000s of Efficient Light Bulbs, Eco-Bags
GBCDC donated thousands of items to promote environmental conservation and awareness as part of its wildly popular lead sponsorship of Green DC Day on April 23rd. In total, GBCDC contributions will save over 1,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. As part of its historic partnership, GBCDC donated the following to attendees of Green DC Day: a) 1,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs); these bulbs use up to 75% less energy that traditional incandescent light bulbs. Over the course of their use, the donated bulbs will save approximately 1,000,000 pounds of CO2 emissions; and b) 2,000 'eco bags.' These bags are made from recycled material and can be used for grocery shopping - in addition to other uses - in order to limit the use of plastic bags. Attendees of Green DC Day were required to trade-in their own plastic bags in order to receive an 'eco-bag;' GBCDC subsequently recycled 1,000s of plastic bags.
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April, 2008
GBCDC Wins 'Green Collar Job Analysis' Grant from Washington, DC Economic Partnership
GBCDC has won a highly-competitive contract from DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), on behalf of the District government, to conduct part of a ground-breaking study called the ''Green Collar Job Demand Analysis." The study will recommend training and policy strategies aimed at bolstering the city's green collar workforce. GBCDC's principal task will be to conduct and analyze focus groups of key business and community leaders.
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February, 2008
Turner Construction Company Highlights Extensive Green Building Experience
Turner Construction Company, GBCDC member firm,has completed 40 LEED Certified projects and has completed or is currently working on more than 65 additional projects that are registered with the U. S. Green Building Council. Further, they have completed or have under contract more than 195 projects with Green building elements. Their remarkable commitment to sustainable building is captured in a recently-produced video highlighting their green building activities.
Watch the new movie about Turner's green building
Visit Turner's website with comprehensive information about their work in sustainable building
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December, 2007
"GBCDC Members Meet with Deputy Mayor Albert, DOES Director Spencer"
Members of GBCDC met with Neil Albert, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, and Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services, to discuss a new working relationship between GBCDC and the District government. This groundbreaking partnership will help ensure our Green Economy yields both eco-conscious development and robust 'Green Collar Job' growth.
GBCDC members, with over 125,000,000 square feet in LEED-certified projects experience over the past decade, have offered their collective experience to the District of Columbia government. Through regular meetings with Deputy Mayor Albert, Director Spencer, and other officials, GBCDC members will assist the Administration with its development of the 'Green Collar Jobs' initiative, including helping to expand training programs for interested local workers.
Participants in the meeting expressed their pleasure with Mayor Fenty's strong commitment to building the District's Green Economy, and their excitement to aid the City as it charts this exciting new course.
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Summer, 2007
"HITT Contracting Inc. School Project Receives World's First 'Platinum' Rating"
HITT Contracting, Inc, a member of GBCDC, recently received the highest rating possible - Platinum - from the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process for their work on the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. It is the first K-12 school in the world to receive such a distinction.