GreenPlumbers Takes a Hit
Re: Green Plumbing and the Golden Rule
Dear Jeff & Pam:
Thank you for raising important issues regarding green plumbing, codes, and global warming in your recent editorial cover story in The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor. Although I generally prefer more positive coverage of our GreenPlumbers efforts, I am going to make your complete article and my response available on our web site. I will also make myself available at any time if you would like to discuss GreenPlumbers or any of the points in my response.
Your article can be divided into four segments:
- A brief commentary on GreenPlumbers USA.
- Quality of Wisconsin plumbers and codes.
- Global warming.
- Conclusion.
My response:
The length and severity of this recession has forced many of us to view the world around us with skepticism, fear and anger. By categorizing GreenPlumbers as outsiders bent on the takeover of the industry, you do us an injustice.
GreenPlumbers is a plumbing industry initiative designed to prepare plumbers and plumbing contractors for the green marketplace. We are internal, not external. We partner with PHCC, MCAA, the United Association and IAPMO. Initial membership fees are $5,000 – but for PHCC and MCAA members those fees are only $300, because we want plumbing contractors to belong to associations. You did get the monthly fees right for PHCC and MCAA members, but the monthly fees for nonmembers are $300 per month.
GreenPlumbers USA is only two years old (thank you for calling us a “juggernaut”) and we are making our share of mistakes. That is why we want you to ask questions, and to point out our mistakes. We are trying to build a broad-based education and marketing program that will retain its educational integrity but will provide business benefits to legitimate plumbing and mechanical contractors. When we say that “we want GreenPlumbers to be a national standard”, we are saying that we want you to be able to rely on the quality of education and the recognition that comes with consistency of purpose. We are single purpose; we would never seek to dismantle or replace licensing and codes requirements, because those are the basics of our industry. Before people can ever be GreenPlumbers, they need plumbing apprenticeship and code training. Licensing and codes come first, green comes second. I don’t think I can be any more clear than that.
GreenPlumbers Training & Accreditation has applied for non-profit status, and has become a USGBC Education Provider. The board of directors will reflect the industry – PHCC, MCAA, the United Association, IAPMO, and others.
GreenPlumbers USA will remain a for-profit corporation, because we provide specific marketing services to individual plumbing and mechanical companies; services that do not meet the definition or requirements of non-profit status. Use of our distinctive logo is one part of those services – just as you cannot use the PHCC logo if you are not a member of PHCC.
Jeff, I recall speaking with you at our “Caring for our Water” class in Milwaukee in April of 2008. I made a point of saying at that class – as I do at every class I introduce – that GreenPlumbers is not “about” global warming. GreenPlumbers is concerned with methods and technologies to save water and energy. Our mission is clear and is spelled out at each class:
- We want to enhance the image of the plumber.
- We want to recruit young people to this great industry.
- We want plumbers to be “champions of conservation”.
I will not take up your arguments about Al Gore, or $500 million dollar contracts with Finland for green car development. There is a new green marketplace, and it is justifiable. Building owners and homeowners want to use new technology to reduce their “footprint”-- but mostly to save water, energy, and reduce their operating costs.
Thousands of plumbers and plumbing contractors have attended GreenPlumber workshops, and now they are thinking differently about their careers and businesses. We care about this industry, and we want to be a positive force.
You have a great Association, and you can certainly “go green” on your own. I will wish you well, but would certainly like to see your Wisconsin PHCC members and S&K Pump & Plumbing become fully Accredited GreenPlumbers.
Sincerely,
Steve Lehtonen
GreenPlumbers USA