Above: The Weill Cornell Medicine Engineering & Maintenance team performs a training in their Learning Lab.
Urban Green is proud to present the Excellence in Action Award to the Weill Cornell Medicine Engineering & Maintenance department for creating an innovative hands-on training space and their continuous commitment to energy efficiency improvements.
In fall 2019, the Engineering & Maintenance department unveiled their Learning Lab, a new space to hold staff trainings and further WCM’s culture of continued learning. Created as part of Urban Green’s GPRO@Work program funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), trainings in the lab focus on professional development and meeting WCM’s energy efficiency goals. These efforts are led by WCM Energy Manager Angela Mu and Senior Director of Maintenance and Engineering Michael Murphy, along with the department’s team of supervisors.
On April 15, be sure to join us for GPRO@Work: Weill Cornell Case Study, and get a closer look at how WCM has reduced energy use and carbon emissions.
Creating the Lab
The lab was created almost entirely by a group of in-house mechanics and electricians. The staff planned out how to use the space, reused campus equipment and installed sample building systems that approximate real-life conditions. Inside the lab are computers to access two building management systems that connect to HVAC equipment in the room, a large screen for educational presentations and a fume hood that mimics the downstairs laboratory environments. The lab also contains a complex lighting system comprised of an automatic window shade and daylight and occupancy sensors.
Using the Lab
Weill Cornell Medicine staff created and led peer trainings on topics including communicating temperature standards with occupants, introductions to building management systems, how to properly use and maintain tools, and troubleshooting HVAC systems.
In anticipation of requirements related to NYC’s Local Law 97, the Engineering & Maintenance team is putting together a roadmap for improving campus carbon intensity, with an emphasis on energy-efficient operations. To that end, the institution will continue to build on the controls and green building trainings conducted in the lab and provide online technical workshops to increase staff technical expertise.
Weill Cornell Medicine Training Stats:
- 28 trainings developed internally and attended externally
- Over 700 hours spent actively in training – not including time by staff to develop in-house course materials and deliver trainings
- 11 new GPRO O&M certificate holders, in addition to 13 who were trained previously
This successful effort was made possible through NYSERDA’s Building Operations and Maintenance Training Program (PON3715), in which NYSERDA contributed $286,657 to the project.
About the Excellence in Action Award
Urban Green Council’s Excellence in Action Award honors organizations, groups, and individuals who help advance our mission to transform buildings for a sustainable future. The award celebrates those who have shown exemplary dedication to building sustainability and energy efficiency through innovation, effectiveness and leadership.
