NYC Building Operator Training

The NYC Building Operator Training Program is part of New York City’s OneNYC commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 (80×50).

To enroll, please complete the Application Form and we’ll be in touch to help find the right class for you.

Since 2017, Building Operator Training has been improving the skills of operations and maintenance staff working in NYC’s residential buildings through an overview of critical building systems with an emphasis on preventative maintenance and energy efficiency.

What It Is

• NYC Building Operator Training is a 30-hour training course for supers, operators, and maintenance staff of all NYC multifamily buildings (prior to July 2019, BOT was limited to staff of small to mid-sized buildings).
• Now offered fully online.
• Curriculum materials are available in Spanish and English.
• Course is offered at NO COST to all eligible participants!

What It Covers

Designed by operations & maintenance (O&M) training experts, the curriculum covers:

• Building envelope
• Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Building systems, including heating, electrical, and water systems
• Healthy, safety, and resilience/emergency management
• Water conservation and lighting and appliance efficiency 
• Building management and communications

“It was truly an incredible experience. It’s unfortunate that we were all affected by the pandemic […] but we made the absolute best of it. I was still able to learn a great deal despite the circumstances, and the checklists definitely helped in noticing things in my building that have slipped through the cracks in the past.”

Rich Navarro, NYC Building Operator

Training Impact

Completing the Building Operator Training program can result in energy savings of 5–20%without requiring any major capital expenditures. Since it launched in early 2017, more than 1,300 building staff, including maintenance staff, property managers, supers, and handymen/women have participated in the training.

“We know that our operators, supers, and porters are the eyes and ears of our buildings. Implementing strategy at my level is fine but it doesn’t guarantee results if you don’t have buy-in from the guys in the field. Training is essential for ensuring that the things that you wan to get implemented do get implemented.”

Rayan Cassidy, Director of Property and Construction, Riseboro Community Partnership

Wage Gain Preference

While all applications for the program will be considered, employers that agree to provide a wage gain for their staff in recognition of their newly acquired skills are prioritized. Employers have reported measurable — sometimes immediate — savings on their energy bills, and passing along a portion of these savings to employees in the form of wage gain reinforces the commitment across the organization to energy and water use reduction and overall sustainability.