The Homework Blog

LEED Green Associate and Accreditation

Anyone considering a job in the construction field will at some time or other have to consider the topic of sustainability. While building green is just a suggestion now, in the very near future it will undoubtedly be a requirement. Evens now programs are emerging that are establishing themselves as the standard used to quantify how successfully a building project is blending with the environment. One such program is the LEED program, and the first step of LEED accreditation is LEED Green Associate.The green building field is still in its infancy, and the LEED system is evolving along with the field. Just barely ten years old The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has already undergone one major restructuring in hopes of aligning itself with all of the advancements that are coming so fast and furious in the field of green building. Under the original LEED system a candidate would take a single exam to become a LEED Accredited Professional. This single exam has now been replaced with two to three tests each of which accompany a different level of experience. Tier number one in the redesigned system is the LEED Green Associate, which is designed to act as a foundational designation. Tier number two would be LEED AP+, and this level of experience exhibits a deeper level of sustainable building knowledge. The third and final tier is LEED Fellow, not yet defined, but this level will be reserved for the elite players in the building industry. LEED Green Associate Great for Just BeginningSo, what does all of this mean to a person just entering the building career? Well, if new to the field of construction, this is a good time to dovetail sustainability into your bag of skills. Actually the sooner that you direct yourself towards thinking green the more natural the transition will be when green building goes from a wish to a requirement. Under the restructured system, the first tier or LEED Green Associate, is a great level to get your feet wet. The information that one learns as a LEED Green Associate can be applied to every aspect of a person’s life, professional and personal. This is a really good credential to start with, and there are a couple of reasons why. First it imparts a general knowledge of environmentally responsible building, and secondly it is easy to maintain because it will not require any continuing education. Then as you work in the industry if your job requires that you need additional in-depth knowledge regarding sustainability then it is always possible to advance your credential and become a LEED AP+. So it is a good plan to understand the requirements of a LEED registration system which will enable you to direct your career in the best direction for your future. So, rewind back to the beginning of the credential process, and before putting in an application for LEED Green Associate, there are several criteria that are expected of each candidate. To begin a candidate must be associated with sustainable building in some fashion. Either he must have experience working on a LEED project or experience working on any green building project. If a candidate does not have any building experience, he can also enroll in an educational program addressing sustainability. If choosing the educational course to satisfy the prerequisite make sure that the training is through an approved educational provider such as Everblue Training Institute, so that it meets any prerequisite criteria. A letter of proof issued by an educator or employer is required with the application packet. People will always need places to work and live, and a career involved in construction is a great place to develop a meaningful career and help preserve the environment. Anyone thinking about pursuing a life in construction may want to to start with a credential as a LEED Green Associate.