To further the cause of green building, the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Chicago has established the Green Construction Institute, dedicated to the advancement of sustainable practices in the construction industry.

The Green Construction Institute offers educational opportunities to keep the association's member contractors up-to-date with the latest green building technology. The institute also provides green classes for engineers, city officials, building owners, and United Association Pipe Fitters Local Union 597 apprentices and journeymen, among offers.

"Education is a top initiative of the association," says Stephen Lamb, executive vice president of MCA Chicago. "For three years, the association has been instructing our membercontractorson sustainable technology, to help them meet the ever-growing demand for green building and maintain a competitive edge in the process. This year, we decided it was time to formalize our efforts by founding the Green Construction Institute."

Member contractors of MCA Chicago work with the pipe fitters and service technicians of Local Union 597 to build powerhouses to generate electricity; to install and service heating and air conditioning systems in homes and buildings; and to install piping wherever it is needed, from oil refineries to food processing plants.

"Green building is steadily growing in popularity," said Dan Bulley, senior vice president of MCA Chicago and executive director of the Green Construction Institute. "Any business in the constructionindustry that ignores sustainable technology runs the risk of being left behind — and losing market share."

In addition to his duties with MCA Chicago, Bulley is also the treasurer of the Chicago Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and was honored for his efforts as Volunteer Chair for Greenbuild 2007.

This September, MCA Chicago and the Green Construction Institute will move from a suite in a downtown Chicago high-rise to their new headquarters in a red-brick, green building, currently under construction in Burr Ridge, IL. The move marks the occasion of MCA Chicago's 120th anniversary.

Half of the association's new 9,000-square-foot facility will be offices, while the other half will be used for classes.