Professional Women in Construction (PWC) launched its first continuing ed class of 2014 on Jan. 15 with a record-breaking attendance at “Existing Building Energy Efficiency — Ample Room for Improvement (and Savings)! LL 87 Compliance.” The course was conducted by the global engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti Inc. and presented by Senior Vice President Dan Nall and Vice President Wolfgang Werner at the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen, 20 West 44th St., NYC. Event Chair Dorothy Wasiak, director, capital planning, Matthew Adam Properties, said, “I’m glad to be able to organize a seminar on a topic that is essential for property owners and managers.”

Nall and Werner began by noting that within the 4.8 million buildings in the United States 30 percent of all energy consumed is wasted. Nationwide, buildings are responsible for 41 percent of energy consumption, yet in NYC that number jumps to 83 percent .

The new Local Law 87 requires energy audits to help building owners identify and develop energy improvements through new equipment, insulation or other technologies; retro-commissioning involves a rigorous checklist to pinpoint operating deficiencies.

The speakers pointed out the enormous market opportunities with studies showing that retrofits offer $279 billion in investment opportunities, can yield over a trillion in energy savings, avoid 600 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and can create a cumulative 3.3 million in job years. The retrofit market is potentially greater than $150 billion a year.

Whole building analyses offer potentially more than 50 percent greater energy savings than partial retrofits. An illustrative case study noted was the Rodino Federal Building in Newark, N.J., wherein Dattner Architects and WSP USA wrapped the building in glass and created a double envelope façade without vacating the site.

Said Amy Greenstein, Empire State Development, “PWC offers a great opportunity to get the word out on the state’s newest small business development programs.”

Among the many needing to gain specifics on energy compliance for their work were James Jabaily, Aggressive Energy; Deborah Bailey, Electric Fixx Inc.; LEED specialist Sara Jazayeri, Studio 360; Keely Braud, Schneider Electric; and Cybelle Kennedy, a restoration architect.

Lunch was included. Credits offered were: AIA: 1 LU/HSW; 1 GBCI CE hour for LEED credential maintenance.

For more information, visit www.pwcusa.org/ny.

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