Green Options

Green building is about healthy settings with visual appeal. The goal is to create rooms for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits. That means avoiding things like airborne allergens, chemicals, and clutter.

Yet the study of indoor air pollution can get complex. Hence, no surprise of this month’s announcement that the LEED accreditation system introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council was revamped.

Looking to add some credentials to your new venture? Consider joining a trade organization that provides education, technical assistance, credentials and a directory listing. In a competitive marketplace these kinds of third-party endorsements can provide you with a way to improve your qualifications, expand your offerings and differentiate yourself from the competition.

One of the first and best examples of a green credentialing organization is the Green Restaurant Association. GRA provides credentials, endorsements and technical assistance not only to restaurants, but also to manufacturers, vendors, organizations and media that serve them.

The construction trades industry, largely in response to the need for green-trained trades people on LEED-certified projects, has a number of good credentialing programs. There are programs led by the US Green Building Council such as the LEED Accredited Professionals (AP) program for individuals and USGBC Membership for organizations. The National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional™ designation “certifies builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes” and also includes manufacturers, vendors and service providers among their ranks. Green Advantage, a non-profit with a mission to certify building-related practitioners, has an excellent accreditation program. Although designed primarily for contractors, subcontractors and trades people, Green Advantage’s certified building practitioners include educators, consultants, manufacturers and vendors.