GPRO Operations & Maintenance Essentials
4-Part Course on September 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th each at 9:00am-12:00pm
About the Training
What is GPRO?
Green Professional (GPRO) is a certificate program that teaches the people who build, renovate, and maintain buildings the tools to integrate high-performance construction and maintenance practices into their everyday work.
Taught by industry experts with localized experience, each course identifies actionable strategies to improve building performance and prepares the workforce to thrive in a green economy.
GPRO Operations & Maintenance Essentials
This 12-hour GPRO Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Essentials training, delivered live in a virtual setting over 4 consecutive weeks, provides a practical introduction to high-performance building operations and maintenance, equipping participants with the knowledge to improve building performance, reduce operating costs, and support climate and sustainability goals.
Through a whole-building approach, attendees will explore core topics including energy, water, HVAC systems, building envelopes, indoor air quality, lighting, waste reduction, resilience, commissioning, and building performance metrics, while learning how day-to-day operational decisions impact efficiency, occupant health, and environmental outcomes.
The course concludes with the development of a prioritized action plan, empowering participants to identify immediate opportunities for improvement and effectively communicate the value of high-performance operations within their organizations.
Please note: GPRO Fundamentals of Building Green is integrated into this course, so you do not need to take both classes separately.
This training is eligible for 11 AIA LU | HSW, 11 GBCI and 11 PDH continuing education credits.
Chris Schaffner has more than 36 years of experience designing high-performance, energy-efficient building systems. A nationally recognized leader in sustainable design, he has trained over 10,000 building professionals on the LEED Rating System and has held numerous leadership roles with the U.S. Green Building Council, including the LEED Steering Committee and Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group. Chris lectures at Northeastern University and has taught at leading institutions including Harvard, MIT, and Boston Architectural College. He has contributed to more than 225 LEED-certified projects and holds multiple credentials, including LEED AP, WELL AP, Living Future Accreditation, and ASHRAE Certifications.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the principles of high-performing buildings and the costs and benefits of efficiency measures.
2. Confidently evaluate the performance of existing buildings.
3. Be able to apply best practices for operating and maintaining building systems to improve the health and efficiency of your building.
4. Develop a practical action plan that prioritizes high-performance building practices, and supports long-term sustainability and resilience goals.
Who is this training for?
This 12-hour training is geared toward facilities, maintenance, and operations teams looking to integrate high-performance building practices into their everyday work. This training is ideal for property managers and building staff involved in the operations and maintenance of both residential and commercial buildings, including:
• Building superintendents and operators
• Facility and property managers
• Operating and stationary engineers
• Porters
• Handypeople
Course Agenda
Chapter 1: What is High Performance Building?
• The definitions of sustainability and high performance building.
• The value proposition for green buildings and the potential for green jobs.
Chapter 2: Connection Between Buildings & Climate
• The connection between building energy and climate change.
• The effects of climate change and the consequences of not taking immediate action.
Chapter 3: Working Towards Solutions
• Environmental solutions that the US and partner countries have implemented.
• The difference between mitigation and adaptation as responses to climate change.
• The definition and importance of environmental justice.
Chapter 4: Integrated Systems are Key
• The holistic strategies required for the Whole Building Approach and Integrated Project Delivery.
• The eight strategies for high performance buildings that are the basis of the rest of the O&M course.
Chapter 5: Operations & Maintenance in Green Buildings
• How simple practices like the 4Ms, keeping logbooks, and asking probing questions are the backbone of green building operations.
Chapter 6: Performance Metrics
• The common metrics and tools used in measuring building performance, and the operator’s role in monitoring building performance and evaluating which information is important.
• The ways building operations can impact utility costs and consumption.
Chapter 7: The Building Envelope
• The building science concepts that explain how heat flows, how air moves in buildings and simple ways to prevent heat loss/gain through the envelope.
• How to identify and manage moisture to prevent mold and indoor air quality issues.
• No- and low-cost opportunities to save energy and improve comfort by reducing movement of air and heat and fixing common sources of air and moisture leakage.
Chapter 8: Water Use
• Sources of water leakage and straightforward conservation solutions.
• The largest end uses of water in Residential and Commercial buildings, and how to implement common improvements to conserve water.
Chapter 9: Heating, Cooling & Hot Water
• Overview of a variety of heating and cooling systems and the most common configurations of HVAC systems.
• How to incorporate best practices into schedules and checklists for daily rounds and regular maintenance.
• Common areas of inefficient operation, tips for troubleshooting and repair, and strategies to optimize the performance of building systems.
Chapter 10: IAQ
• How to measure IAQ and recognize the common causes of poor IAQ.
• The relationship between good IAQ and improved occupant health and performance.
• How to implement IAQ best practices.
Chapter 11: Lighting
• Key terminology used in the lighting industry, including key performance outputs of lighting.
• How to select appropriate lamps and controls for common applications and take advantage of enormous advances in lighting.
• How to develop an implementation plan for energy-saving lighting strategies and calculate the cost effectiveness of a simple lighting retrofit.
Chapter 12: Waste Reduction
• The most common waste streams found in buildings and which ones have financial value.
• How to conduct a building waste audit and use the results to reduce waste.
Chapter 13: Resilience
• The environmental threats that buildings may face due to climate change.
• Steps to lessen the impact of catastrophes like heavy storms, flooding, and blackouts.
Chapter 14: Commissioning Existing Buildings
• The differences and similarities between an energy audit and existing building commissioning, as well as the Operator’s role in each.
• The financial paybacks of energy conservation measures included in an energy audit and their operational implications.
Chapter 15: Action Plan
• Opportunity for students to finish assembling a comprehensive list of action items.
• How to prioritize and select three action items to accomplish immediately.
• How to convince others of the benefits of implementing these action items.
Pricing Tiers
Community Access Scholarship Tier: $50
This ticket type is available for:
• Equity audiences including MWBE-owned companies and building owners/operators serving communities of and residents living in EJ neighborhoods
• Small portfolio (fewer than 4 properties) and affordable housing owners/operators
• Students
Civic Workforce Tier: $100
This ticket type is available for:
• Municipal employees, including facilities staff, public school facilities teams, etc.
Mission-Aligned Institutional Tier: $250
This ticket type is available for:
• Higher education institutions, associations, and nonprofits
• Other organizations that would benefit from reduced-cost participation, upon request
General Admission: $1,050
If you don’t fit into one of the above categories, please choose a marker rate ticket. BE+ Individual Members receive 15% off all ticket types which can be applied using the code MEMBER15.
If you are unsure which ticket type applies to you and your organization, please reach out to education@builtenvironmentplus.org for clarification.
Funding Grants Available: Submit by August 18th, 2026
The Express Grant is designed to help businesses respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID#: C-14370
Course Provider: Built Environment Plus
Course Cost: $45 per course per trainee
Express Grant Eligibility
Employers with 100 or fewer Massachusetts, W-2 employees are eligible to receive Express Program grants. Express Program grant applications must be submitted no fewer than 21 days before the training date. The following documentation is required to apply:
Signed Form W-9
Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, dated within 6 months from the date of application submission
Certificate of Compliance from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) that is not expired on the date of application submission
The contracting period of approved Express Grants begins 21 days after the grant application date and ends one year from this date. All training must be completed within the contract period to be eligible for reimbursement.
Registering on Behalf of Employees
If you are applying for Express funding and registering on behalf of employees at your organization, please check “as Company” on the checkout page to receive a copy of the receipt.
*Review the BE+ Workforce Training Grant webpage for additional eligibility requirements and other updates made by the Commonwealth Corporation.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
Full refunds are available only if written notice is provided 7 days prior to course start date. There will be no refund if less than one week’s notice is given.
Please note: Full refunds will be issued less the standard processing fee. In general, rescheduling is always preferred over refunds. Registration transfers are only allowed for rescheduling to a future training and cannot be transferred between individuals.
Don’t see a financial assistance option that meets your needs? Reach out to education@builtenvironmentplus.org to learn more about leveraging the opportunities available to you. Bulk discounts are available for 5 or more attendees at once.
