One of the events that I attended recently was the Green Advantage kickoff that was hosted by Fiorilli Construction. Fiorilli is one of the big boys in construction, and is helping to lead the way in green construction. One of the problems that arises when it comes to things like LEED (the green rating system most commonly used in the US) is that it can be more information than most people need. Becoming a LEED AP is not an easy chore, nor is it cheap. In addition to the materials, the testing, and the training, the cost of the time and energy that must be put into preparing for a LEED exam has to be considered. Then to top it off, once you pay you have to pass. Enter the Green Advantage program.
Green Advantage is a green building Environmental Certification program that brings consumers together with certified building practitioners who have proven knowledge about green building techniques and approaches. The basics off LEED are the foundation for Green Advantage. Why not just take the LEED exam? LEED may not be for you. While I am a huge advocate for the LEED AP designation and think that eventually everyone needs to have it, right now it might be too overwhelming. GA allows you to get your feet wet. You find out about LEED points and what they mean. If someone says to you, “bioswale” and you are left scratching your head then this is the place to start. Maybe you really don’t need LEED AP status right now. If you are a subcontractor, you may not really have a need to know about all the intricacies of LEED and its point systems. If you are the company that lays tile or puts up the drywall, the thought of studying to find out about stormwater retention or a green roof may make you feel overwhelmed. This is the right place to begin.
But how do you prepare for the Green Advantage exam? You can take this course offered by Fiorilli Construction that will prepare you for the exam, and for the application of green building principals. I spoke with Chris Jackson at who will be the instructor for the course. His aim is to use real world examples to help you understand LEED points in a practical way. With plenty of green projects under their belt, Fiorelli has no shortage of real world examples. Building to LEED or other green standards is becoming the norm in the United States. If you want to remain competitive in the marketplace you need to be able to prove that you the skills needed to help projects achieve their LEED certification. The major construction companies need to do their part to help a client reach their LEED goals. More and more these major companies are requiring some sort of designation from their subcontractors. Those who do not keep are are just not going to get hired. Construction is becoming more and more competitive. If you do not know how to build green, then the hirers on the project are not going to take the time to teach you-that is why this designation can be such an advantage. What if you are already a LEED AP? Truly this course and certification is not for you. But if you know that you need to get that accreditation eventually, this is a great place to get your feet wet. Many of the contractors that we have talked to know little or nothing about green. They still think it is a fad, or think the whole process is too overwhelming to consider, or that LEED is just too big for them to tackle when they only concentrate on one small aspect of the industry. This is the ideal place for them to learn. In this economy, you need every advantage that you can get! Building sustainably is not going away. We can no longer wait for the economy to improve and go back to “business as usual.” Here is the info about the course:
This course will prepare you to take the Green Advantage® exam for individual certification to evidence your formal training and dedication to sustainable practices. This program offers practical information to prepare you for engaging in sustainable practices.
Fiorilli Construction’s Sustainable Practices Training is aligned with USGBC’s LEED® standards and is organized based on the following categories:
*Sustainable Sites
*Water Efficiency
*Energy & Atmosphere
*Materials & Resources
*Indoor Environmental Quality
Once complete, you will be able to understand:
*The core concepts of Sustainable practices in construction and everyday life
*How to apply these concepts in large and small scale scenarios
*How Sustainability is already a part of our everyday life, but can often times be simply enhanced
*The LEED® Rating system and how LEED® integrates with Green Advantage®
*What to look for on a construction site and how to avoid common pitfalls that affect uneducated professionals
This session is presented in an interactive fashion with real world examples.
www.fio-con.com/training_programs.php
Trainer: Chris Jackson, LEED AP, GACR
*BS Construction Science and Management, Western Michigan University
*LEED AP- March 2009
*Green Advantage Commercial and Residential Certified- August 2009
Previous Training Programs for:
*LEED Awareness for field staff
*Timberline Accounting, Estimating and Project Management
*Microsoft Project Scheduling, Word and Excel
216.696.5845
216.780.3119
cjackson@fio-con.com
Many people that I have spoken to are excited about this program. Contractors can make themselves more employable. Vendors and service reps can earn the credibility that will allow them to sell more materials. Architects and designers who have not yet studied for the LEED exam can make their resume more exciting and make LEED accreditation more accessible in the future. Even clients and project manager for big companies are planning to take this exam in an effort to keep themselves and their teams on point. Let’s face it, one mistake in LEED building can cost a lot. Avoiding mistakes is mandatory. Times have been tough the last couple of years. If you need an advantage in today’s economy then maybe you need the Green Advantage.
