Federal Facilities Required to Have Green Building Manager Training

In December, President Obama signed into law legislation requiring federal building managers and contractors to participate in green building training so they can better manage sustainable government buildings. Under the 2010 Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act, the General Services Administration has 18 months to choose or develop certification courses about building performance measures— including energy management, sustainability, water efficiency, and electrical safety—and hire a contractor to teach the courses. According to the bill, private industry, trade groups, and other stakeholders will inform standards development. The bill, which did not include funding, aims to improve energy savings in federal buildings, thus providing taxpayer savings.