Frequently Asked Questions

What is NJ PEEL?
The New Jersey Partnership for Economic and Environmental Leadership (NJ PEEL) is an issue advocacy organization focused on advancing the many ways organized labor, business, industry, planners and developers work together to promote a skilled green labor force knowledgeable in sustainable green practices that will deliver substantial energy savings to reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

Why did you form NJ PEEL?
NJ PEEL was formed to promote sustainable green practices that provide quality jobs and substantial energy savings. The organization educates building owners, planners and investors about New Jersey's skilled, highly-trained workforce, which is in place and ready to begin work on "green" projects today.

Why does that matter?
When looking to construct a green building, a certain level of training and expertise is needed. The Pipe Trades along with other mechanical trades, including the IBEW, Sheet Metal Workers and Heat and Frost Insulators, are ahead of the green curve, with a skilled workforce in place. This highly trained pool of individuals are focused on delivering top-notch, state-of-the-art systems, right here in New Jersey.

What is the Pipe Trades particular area of expertise?
It is the installation and maintenance of all high efficiency plumbing, heating and industrial piping systems.

On what kind of building projects do they work?
We work on residential, commercial, institutional, power generation and industrial projects in the public and private markets.

Does this group install solar?
That work is primarily done by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Are these workers receiving “Green” training?
The men and women of the Pipe Trades continue to be trained in, assist in the development of and install emerging green technologies, as well as other traditional piping jobs. In addition, the Pipe Trades offer a Green Systems Awareness Certification Course. Included in its state-of-the-art training curriculum is the latest information on Greywater harvesting, low-flow fixtures and toilets and energy efficiency HVAC systems.

How do your training programs advance green building practices?
The investment in training of union members assures the proper technologies are being installed in the appropriate applications. For example, harvesting water to multiply its uses before it is fully treated reduces water consumption and saves on the energy needed to run water and sewage treatment plants. In the state’s cities, with the knowledge and expert craftsmanship of union plumbers, a green roofing system has been devised and installed on buildings to collect roof water runoff. The water is collected and recycled for irrigation uses and other purposes, while also reducing the load stress on the city drainage and sewer systems. These are the green innovations and green jobs of the future, being implemented today by the talented men and women of the mechanical trades.

Where else can your trained workforce identify energy savings projects?
Besides commercial applications, our workforce can be hired to retrofit all government-owned buildings with water-saving, low-flow toilets that require only 1.24 gallons of water per flush. Currently many public schools, municipal buildings and courthouses have toilets that use a full 5 gallons of water per flush.

Is it cost-prohibitive to hire union labor, green or otherwise?
Our commitment to the user is our investment in the most highly sophisticated, extensively trained and experienced workforce. We prepare our members to be the best, perform the best and most efficiently to get the project done safely and “right the first time.”

I want to hire a green labor force. Who do I speak to?
Call any of our signatory contractors.