NYC sees economic boost in ‘green building’ effort

A New York Times story indicates the federal stimulus package and the city’s ambitious "green building" initiative should provide a jobs bonanza for HVAC specialists, city officials said yesterday.

Addressing HVAC specialists at a gathering here, a senior policy adviser for Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) said plans to bolster buildings’ energy efficiency include a "green work force" package that relies on the City University of New York, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and ASHRAE to train workers.

Bloomberg’s "Greener, Greater Buildings Plan" was announced on Earth Day and focuses heavily on enhancing the energy efficiency of existing structures. City officials estimate that buildings are the source of about 80% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan is "the first comprehensive plan of any city to address energy efficiency and greenhouse gases for the existing building sector," said the Bloomberg policy adviser, Laurie Kerr.

Kerr explained the various initiatives spelled out in the mayor’s recent announcement and why they are good for ASHRAE, which sponsored the gathering yesterday. The overall goal: to cut total greenhouse gas output from city buildings by 5% by 2030, even after factoring in an additional 1 million residents that the city expects to add by then.

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