A new professional designation program from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) aims to provide homebuyers with additional assurance that the builder or remodeler they’ve chosen is authentically “green.”

The Certified Green Professional designation will be unveiled Thursday, Feb. 14 during Green Day at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. “We know green is the future of building. With the Certified Green Professional designation, we’re helping our qualified members demonstrate to their clients that the future is here,” says NAHB president Brian Catalde, a Southern California homebuilder.

Builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals must have at least two years of building industry experience and be involved in the construction of at least one home in the past 24 months to apply for the Certified Green Professional designation, Catalde explains.

The designation is based on the “Green Building for Building Professionals” course, a two-day training and education session that more than 700 builders have already completed since the course was piloted two years ago. Candidates must also complete a University of Housing management course, agree to continuing education requirements and adhere to a code of ethics.

Application information will be available at the show. Applicants can take the course work during special pre-conference education sessions before the International Builders’ Show opens on Feb. 13.  The business management and Green Building for Building Professionals classes are also offered at other NAHB conferences and by local home building associations throughout the country. The first class of Certified Green Professionals will receive their designations at the 10th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference, May 11-13 in New Orleans.

NAHB will celebrate Green Day at the International Builders’ Show as a way to highlight the new designation, the NAHB National Green Building Program and a host of special seminars, speakers and education opportunities.

Applicants can visit www.nahb.org/courses to discover additional class locations for courses associated with the Certified Green Professional designation.

About the Author:
Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is a writer, editor, and humorist who recently completed Filthy Rich Things, a savage satire on our thirst for success and wealth. He is presently expanding his magazine work by writing more about alternative energy sources and green building.