| Who knew 50 years ago that we'd be using solar | | | | earn another degree to put yourself in the game. |
| panels to heat our houses and wildflowers to insulate | | | | LEED offers not one, but two professional programs |
| our roofs? Believe it or not, the green movement is | | | | to help you stand out from the pack: |
| here, and it's getting its roots deep into the building | | | | LEED Green Associate |
| industry. If you're in construction on any level, | | | | LEED Green Associates can demonstrate a basic |
| whether it's drawing up blueprints or picking out | | | | understanding of green design, construction, and |
| wallpaper, that means you're going to need | | | | operation. They've either worked on a |
| knowledge of sustainable practices to help your | | | | LEED-registered project, are employed in a |
| business grow and succeed in the future. And the | | | | sustainable industry, or participated in a green |
| best way to do that is through LEED certification. | | | | education program. (The U.S. Green Building Council |
| LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and | | | | offers a number of online courses that fill this |
| Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized | | | | requirement.) |
| certification for green buildings. LEED buildings have | | | | LEED AP (Accredited Professional) |
| been rated and approved in a variety of areas, | | | | LEED Accredited Professionals have in-depth technical |
| including sustainable site development, water savings, | | | | knowledge of green principles. They can specialize in |
| energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor | | | | a specific LEED rating system, such as operations and |
| environment quality. | | | | maintenance, homes, building design and construction, |
| While having your building or construction project be | | | | and neighborhood development. To become a LEED |
| LEED certified is a great way to get on the green | | | | AP, the candidate must have worked on a |
| bandwagon, LEED also offers certification to | | | | LEED-registered project within the last 3 years. |
| architects, real estate professionals, construction | | | | Whether you want to want to become a Green |
| managers, lenders, and anyone else in the building | | | | Associate or a LEED AP, you'll need to take the |
| business who wants to take that extra step and be | | | | certification exam administered by the Green Building |
| recognized for their sustainability expertise. As the | | | | Certification Institute. Study materials, reference |
| demand for green building construction grows, LEED | | | | guides, online courses, and other exam prep materials |
| certified professionals put themselves in a better | | | | can be found on the U.S. Green Building Council's |
| position to land contracts than those who are not. | | | | website. |
| Best of all, you don't have to go back to school or | | | | |