President Obama recently signed into law theFederal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010, legislation created with the support of and input from groups such as the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This bipartisan legislation will promote best practices, including water efficiency, in all federal buildings.
This legislation requires U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to categorize core competencies that federal personnel must maintain in all federal buildings. The legislation also directs GSA to work with professional societies, industry associations and apprenticeship training providers to ensure the federal government's personnel meet the required competencies.
While this legislation provides some leeway for GSA to identify core competencies, the bill does mandate six areas that GSA must include as core competencies; maintenance, energy management, sustainability, water efficiency, safety (including electrical safety) and building performance measures.
Source: IAPMO
