PEWL Energy Training Team Lauded For Energy Smart Training in City Report

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) celebrates the publication of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) report, "Powering Change: Over 15 Years of Decarbonizing NYC Government," highlighting the Energy Management Institute (EMI) program managed by the School's Office of Professional Education and Workplace Learning (PEWL).

The Energy Management Institute (EMI) is a training program offered by DCAS Division of Energy Management (DEM) in collaboration with CUNY SPS, CUNY Building Performance Lab (BPL), and the city’s Citywide Training Center (CTC).

In a press release published on June 5th to mark the fifth anniversary of Local Law 97, enacted in spring 2019, and World Environment Day 2024, DCAS announced the Powering Change report detailing the significant progress the city has made to reduce government greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decarbonize municipal buildings.

Local Law 97 sets limits on the greenhouse gas emissions of covered buildings starting in 2024 to help New York City reach the goal of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by the year 2030 and net zero 2050.

On page 20 of the report, DCAS highlights the work of EMI training and empowering city employees to make energy-smart decisions, implement operational improvements, and advocate for energy efficiency retrofits and clean energy projects.

"The CUNY SPS Energy Training Team is very proud of the work that we have done through the Energy Management Institute (EMI) to support the DCAS Division of Energy Management’s goal and help the city meet these critical decarbonization goals," said PEWL EMI Program Director Michelle Attles. "A key component to EMI’s success is our focus on providing a learner-centric training experience that positions participants to apply what they have learned back on the job. We value our collaborative partnership with DEM and look forward to continuing our efforts to offer quality energy management training to New York City employees."  

EMI trains New York City staff in energy management best practices and helps them develop the skills they need to optimize building performance. EMI offers a broad range of trainings, certifications, and other technical support to city staff from diverse disciplines, including energy managers, energy auditors, building operators, engineers, and tradespeople. CUNY staff is also eligible to participate in these trainings.

The courses and workshops focus on improving the skills of DCAS-DEM supported agency employees responsible for implementing energy efficient measures that support the city’s major, greenhouse gas, emission reduction goals. EMI helps empower city staff to make energy-smart decisions, implement operational improvements, and advocate for energy retrofits and clean energy projects across the city’s portfolio.

Since 2009, the EMI program has trained more than 7,000 learners and empowered over 1,900 city employees to obtain energy and building operations certifications.

"I am thrilled that the work of the EMI team has been recognized in this crucial report," said Executive Director Amy Perez. "It is of paramount importance to address the real and growing threat of climate change and EMI does this every day and has done so for the past 15 years by offering a diverse set of energy management, building operations, and HVAC engineering courses that provide targeted competency-based training and national energy certifications."

The unsung heroes of reducing GHG emissions and meeting the LL97 mandates at municipal buildings are building operators, according to the report, adding that DCAS and CUNY (SPS PEWL and BPL) have created and deployed a suite of building operator-specific certification, coaching, and training offerings “to empower the city’s operator workforce with the tools necessary to optimize building performance."

The report also said that the partnership builds practical skill sets on complex building systems as well as providing building operators with tools and templates to sustain optimization beyond the class.

Established in 2006, PEWL’s mission is to enhance organizational effectiveness and elevate individual careers through the design and implementation of transformative learning programs. Perez and her team manage 14 programs in partnership with city, state and non-profit organizations with a budget of $34 million. In FY 2023, PEWL trained and served nearly 38,000 people.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.
• Managing 55 public buildings.
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.
• Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

Press Contact
Prerna Dar
CUNY SPS Chief Marketing Officer
Prerna.dar@cuny.edu