Plumber's Silver LEED Facility Shines

Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 5 showed off its new Silver LEED facility in Prince George’s County this week as they hosted the regional annual Apprentice Competition, the winners of which go on to national and international competitions with apprentices from the U.S., Canada, Australia and Ireland.  LEED -- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide. Dedicated last fall, the building, which also houses training space for Sprinkler Fitters 669, boasts a large meeting room, conference room, classrooms with state-of-the art computer and virtual technologies, and labs for hands-on training with all aspects of the trade including gas and electric heaters, piping and plumbing, furnaces and boilers, as well as a wide range of appliances and equipment.  “We are very proud of our Silver LEED certification,” said Training Director Tim Haley, “which means the design and operation of our building is environmentally safe and uses energy efficiently.  Not only do we re-use rainwater for our sanitary and training needs, but the building allows us to train our apprentices in skills needed for future building technologies, so new jobs can be done by union members.  It’s a win-win for all!”
Photo: Haley showing off Local 5's new facility's state-of-the-art rainwater re-use system to MWC Executive Director Carlos Jimenez and former MWC President Jos Williams. Report/photo by Kathleen McKirchy 

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