• News Overview
• Welcome Letter
• Solar Thermal Making a Difference
• Part 2 of The Bainey Group
• How We Started
• Instructor Spotlight
• Certification Success Story Zachary Bidle
• We Want to Hear from You!
• Green Tips from Chap Vail of New Jersey
• DSIRE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy?
• New to the Green Scene?
• "Business as Usual" Energy Efficiency Decision Approved
• High Performance Building Requires a High Performance Team

Joe Weidle began his career in Construction as a Laborer in 1972 working primarily as a Mason’s tender. From 1976 until 1980 he successfully completed an apprenticeship with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local # 129. He was promoted to foreman shortly after completion of his apprenticeship and in 1981 elevated to the position of General Superintendent; a position he held until 1989 when he became a Project Manager. In1998, while working for the Dick Corporation of Pittsburgh, PA, Weidle was promoted to Project Director with ultimate responsibility for several major projects simultaneously. The Dick Corporation constructed the nation’s first LEED® Silver rated building, the PNC Operations Center in downtown Pittsburgh. As a result of this affiliation, Weidle became an early participant in the methods and practices employed by the sustainable design and construction community.

“I became interested in green building because it is a survival thing,” shared Weidle. “If we don’t do something the outcomes are pretty bad and we as a society need to really take a look at what are non-sustainable practices – the ones we are living by and make changes,” said Weidle about how he got involved.

While working his way through the construction ranks, Weidle attended Temple University’s Evening School as part of the industry advancement fund administrated by the GBCA to pursue a degree in Civil and Construction Engineering Technology. Weidle has had major responsibility in several nationally prominent projects including the Ronald Reagan National Airport, the West Virginia University Life Sciences Project, the NFL Films Studio Complex and the Hyatt Hotel and Convention Center in the Pittsburgh International Airport.
In November of 2001, Weidle became one of the founding members of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, a chapter of the USGBC. He has been part of many sustainable initiatives in the Delaware Valley and takes particular pride in the accomplishments in his region.

The Green Advantage curriculum was authored in 2004. Fleming and Weidle were the first two instructors, but now “train the trainers” getting all the other instructors prepped and ready for trainings across the country. “We started from scratch, taught the first classes and then moved on from there,” Weidle added.

All it seems to take is a little information. Weidle shared an example from a class he taught in Green Bay, WI and a discussion about recycling drywall. The trainees said no one was doing it – using drywall as a soil supplement/amendment at dairy farms. Weidle found it hard to believe since he was in “dairy land central” and was sure it was happening. “During a lunch break, a couple of people [attending the class] made some calls. They found out it was in fact happening here, but they just didn’t know about it. It’s just one example that reinforces the idea that it takes a little time to become aware, but these things are happening.”

With regards to training, Weidle enjoys his work. “I like dealing with my peers and the fact that I work in the field every day gives me a good understanding of the needs - the day-to-day needs and how to make sustainable practices work without causing a lot of disruption and a lot of cost,” he said. “What we try to do is create a paradigm change for the people that are doing the work,” he concluded.

Rob Fleming received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Temple University and went on to practice architecture for the next 7 years, earning his professional registration in 1992. In 1996, Fleming received his Master’s of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech: Washington Alexandria Architecture Consortium.

“I was working as an architect in a firm in Center City Philadelphia and I felt like I wasn’t fulfilled as an architect and the kinds of contributions I could make to society,” he explained. “So, I quit my job, went back to graduate school and through a mentor got connected with sustainability in 1995,” Fleming shared. He ended up doing thesis on sustainable design and then authored an interactive CD ROM training tool for people to learn about sustainable design and its principles. His graduate thesis project, The Seeds of Sustainability, set the stage for a lifelong pursuit dedicated to better understanding, promoting and visualizing a sustainable future.

Fleming began teaching full time at Philadelphia University in 1996 and was charged with the design, development and teaching of courses focused on sustainable design. His sustainable design studio, taught since 1997, explores the relationship between environmental efficiency, community vitality and green aesthetics.

In 2000, Fleming co-founded the Engineering and Design Institute @ Philadelphia University, an interdisciplinary research center focusing on green materials, sustainable design and community outreach. Funded by a grant from the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority of Pennsylvania, the center develops green materials, serves as a design resource for firms seeking to design and build LEED® rated buildings, and provides community outreach initiatives such as the Sustainable Design Resource Library.

In his professional capacity as a Sustainable Designer, he has served as a team leader or participant on over 12 integrated design charrettes. He has worked as a consultant on several LEED® rated projects including the Aerzen USA headquarters project, where he served as the Green Advocate. Fleming is a LEED® Accredited Professional (AP).

He is a founding board member of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) and did all the pilots and original training for Green Advantage. “I enjoy the training because I like talking to contractors. They are very no nonsense people and it makes the trainings more interesting and fun,” said Fleming. “Contractors are very open to learning about this stuff, more so than what people would assume and they have a better sense of humor about things compared to others groups that I train,” added Fleming.

“The whole training is developed around the idea that if you are already a quality builder, the transition to sustainable is pretty straight forward,” he explained. “What we are really doing is demystifying sustainability and allowing [building professionals] to see how easy it is,” he concluded.

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