February 13, 2009—Citing the leadership role that US mayors and municipalities have played in the efforts to reduce carbon emissions—and that buildings account for 38% of carbon emissions in the US—the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign have formed a strategic partnership to promote the development, advancement, and implementation of meaningful green building policies in 2009.
The partnership will leverage Cool Cities’ more than 400 local campaigns and USGBC’s national network of 78 chapters to empower city residents, business owners, municipal employees, and elected leadership to encourage their cities to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
In addition, the two organizations will collaborate on the development of grassroots resources including joint policy recommendations and best practice models to demonstrate the diversity and scope of policies and incentives that are currently in place across the nation.
According to USGBC, over 900 mayors, representing over 81 million Americans, have endorsed the US Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. As of December 2008, 112 cities from Albuquerque, NM and Alexandria, VA to Boston, MA and Bowie, MD are utilizing various LEED initiatives. There are currently 2,319 LEED projects registered to local governments.
Lancaster, PA, Feb. 11, 2009—Armstrong Floor Products, INSTALL and INSTALL’s curriculum provider, the Carpenters International Training Fund (CITF) are partnering to present a joint certification for commercial resilient flooring installation.
The three parties finalized an agreement to mutually recognize the CITF and Armstrong training for certification purposes.
Specifically, the CITF resilient certification test, which tests INSTALL professionals for proficiency in this skill, is now recognized as an Armstrong certification test as well.
Armstrong, as one of INSTALL’s original partners, supports the concept of a comprehensive, in-depth training program with stringent national standards.
“By promoting the INSTALL program, we hope to bring this training and expertise to an even larger contractor audience,” says Tim Rawlins, manager of new product development and installation services for Armstrong.
“In this way, we can promote and advance minimum industry standards for quality installation, which benefits our entire industry.”
These certified professionals also will have access to the INSTALL marketing program and will have earned all the benefits of the Armstrong Certified Installer Program.
As part of the arrangement, each company will continue to conduct all of its own proprietary training and educational programs as before. Only the standards for qualification and testing will be accepted by both Armstrong and INSTALL. Successful candidates can earn an INSTALL/Armstrong Commercial Resilient Flooring Installation Certification.
“Armstrong benefits from this agreement by getting its certification training into the INSTALL alliance. INSTALL contractors benefit from the plan through a workforce trained not only by the CITF, but also by Armstrong’s professional training network,” says Tim Provence, installation and technical services manager for Armstrong.
The Armstrong Installation Training Network will certify approximately 1,100 installers this year alone in the commercial resilient category.
To help ensure customer confidence, installers certified by Armstrong receive up to $2,500 in material cost for Armstrong branded linoleum and commercial sheet flooring and installation products to correct workmanship error.
“What this means is that should an Armstrong commercial flat lay flooring job fail after being installed by an INSTALL, CITF-Armstrong Certified Installer, Armstrong will provide up to $2,500 in materials to repair or replace the project, and the certified installer contractor will supply all labor,” Rawlins said.
