Energy Efficiency Project to Lower Consumption, Create Jobs
Contact: Jess Kamm, 412-562-2446, jkamm@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that infrastructure upgrades at its international headquarters will drastically reduce the building’s energy requirements and generate an estimated 20,000 hours of green, union work.
“Renovations like these are not only good for the environment,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “They also create jobs. Major energy efficiency projects create work in the building and manufacturing industries, lower energy costs and make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. Everyone benefits when we do the right thing.”
The USW will be working with The Efficiency Network (TEN), a Pittsburgh-based company that specializes in energy efficiency. Renovations will include the installation of solar water heating, upgrades to lighting, air conditioning and elevator systems and boiler replacements.
All the subcontracted work will be done using union labor, and whenever possible, all materials and equipment will be union-made in the United States.
When the renovations are complete, they will save the USW an estimated $200,000 in annual energy costs. This includes reducing electricity consumption by 36 percent, natural gas consumption by 47 percent and water consumption by 42 percent.
The upgrades will help the USW meet common efficiency standards set out by the non-profit Green Building Alliance, a local coalition that aims to lower the operating costs and reduce the environmental consequences of doing business in Western Pennsylvania.
“I’m really excited to see that the United Steelworkers are not only talking the talk, but walking the walk,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “This organization’s desire to see environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient buildings applies to their own home as well. We’re thrilled to see this project and hope that we’ll soon be bragging about another building with LEED certification in our region.”
The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries.
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