In response to a growing need for sustainable building education, Airtek Environmental Corp., a leading provider of environmental consulting, laboratory analysis, and construction industry training services, will introduce the only Sustainable Building Advisor (SBA) course in Queens. The firm has formed a partnership with Queens College to launch the SBA course, which is scheduled to start in September of 2010. The Need for Sustainable Building Education in New York The movement towards sustainable building design has been growing, especially in New York City. On December 2006, Mayor Bloomberg announced PlaNYC to address New York City's growing sustainability, infrastructure, and environmental problems. The plan included sustainability measures for the City's land, air, water, energy, and transportation to achieve a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Because of the City's limited space and growing population, the design and development of sustainable buildings is necessary in order to achieve the goals of PlaNYC. The Sustainable Building Advisor Course The SBA course is a 9-month training program that consists of 100 hours of combined classroom and hands-on learning for professionals working in the field of sustainability. The program includes interactive exercises and field trips to actual construction projects to provide real-life exposure to sustainable building practices. Professionals who complete the course and pass the Certified Sustainable Building Advisor (CSBA) exam receive the CSBA designation that complements other industry designations, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation. Benefits of Taking the SBA Course By taking the SBA course, working professionals will learn to identify and explain sustainable building concepts. They will also learn how to analyze the costs and benefits of implementing sustainability practices. The Certified Sustainable Building Advisor accreditation will allow them an opportunity to work with designers, architects, builders, operators and utilities managers on their projects. The professionals will learn to apply LEED guidelines and fulfill the criteria required to become eligible to take the LEED Green Associate exam. The SBA course is approved by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as a 400 Level - Mastery course and it qualifies for American Institute of Architects (AIA) approved 100 learning units. The SBA Instructor Airtek's primary SBA instructor is an expert in sustainable building practices. He holds not only the CSBA designation, but also the LEED Accredited Professional and the High-Performance Building Design Certification. The instructor is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with over thirty years of environmental industry experience. He is experienced in teaching the SBA course and has particular expertise in buildings design, operations and management for environmental quality, including LEED processes for new construction. Airtek's SBA instructor is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Sustainable Building Advisor Program (NaSBAP), the organization that administers and oversees the SBA courses nationwide. Airtek Environmental Corp. is a leading provider of environmental consulting, laboratory analysis, and construction industry training services. The firm has over 20 years of industry experience and has completed over $75 million worth of continuous environmental work. For more information about Airtek Environmental Corp., visit the company web site at www.airtekenv.com Mike Zouak is the president of Airtek Environmental Corp., Long Island City, N.Y.