Today the Green Building Initiative® (GBI), one of the nation’s leading green building organizations and exclusive provider of the Green Globes green building certification in the United States, today announced the availability of two new personnel certification programs for green building practitioners. The certifications, Green Globes Professional (GGP) and Green Globes Assessor (GGA), will help expand the knowledge base around accepted sustainable building best practices including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as well as extend the reach of the Green Building Initiative as it responds to growing demand for Green Globes certification.
The GGP designation will expand the base of experts in accepted and emerging green building best practices, including the use of the Green Globes rating system for new and existing commercial buildings. The GGA credential represents the nation’s first and only formal training program for qualified green building assessors open to the public.
All candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be accepted into the GGP program; however only a limited number of GGA applicants will be accepted as these professionals will become part of the GBI’s nationwide network of paid third party assessors for Green Globes certification. Successful GGA applicants will be chosen based on professional background, geographic location, areas of expertise and other factors as determined by the GBI.
Applications for these programs will be accepted starting today, August 5th on an ongoing basis with training for the programs available starting on October 15th. Training and testing for both programs will be online so as to minimize both the costs and environmental impacts of these programs.
“Our goal in offering these certifications is to both grow the knowledge base of green building practices as well as to expand our network of qualified assessors so that we can meet the widespread and growing demand for Green Globes certification,” said Ward Hubbell, President of the GBI.
Qualified GGP candidates will have at least five years experience in the building industry and some familiarity with current sustainability practices. A background as an architect, engineer, builder, contractor or green building consultant as well as a strong interest in green building practices is preferred. GGP candidates will be trained and tested on their knowledge of all of the following:
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• Green building and operations best practices;
• Green Globes assessment protocol for both new and existing buildings;
• Proficiency in using the Green Globes online assessment tools;
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA);
• Energy modeling, including use of the EPA’s Energy Star tools; and
• Familiarity with the entire Green Globes Certification process from start to finish.
The GGA certification will signify the only professionals who are designated by the GBI to perform third-party certifications of buildings that have been evaluated using the Green Globes rating system. Third-party assessment, which includes an extensive review of submitted documentation as well as an on-site visit to the building, is an integral part of the Green Globes certification process and is required before a building can be promoted as having received a rating of One, Two, Three or Four Green Globes. Therefore, candidates for the GGA program must meet the following strict requirements:
• At least 10 years of total industry experience as an architect, engineer, facilities manager, or a closely related field;
• At least 5 years of specific functional experience that relates directly to design, engineering, construction and/or facilities management of commercial buildings;
• Formal education and a degree in Architecture, Engineering, or other relevant technical and/or environmental educational program;
• Prior knowledge of green building and/or management practices, environmental issues, and sustainability as evidenced by formal training, CE credits, or professional accreditations; and
• Demonstrated experience using sustainable building practices, including documented involvement in three or more building projects where sustainable improvements were applied.
Individuals interested in either the GGP or GGA program should visit www.thegbi.org for more information.
ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction. For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.
