BRIT s New Headquarters Achieves LEED Platinum Certification 39



Construction work

General contractors are essentially small business owners who control the construction of homes and buildings. Green general contractors do the same thing, while observing principles of viable design and power efficiency. Here are dozens of state also federal programs promoting green buildings plus energy efficiency, and state standards these kinds of as certification through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) or just one of the many levels of accreditation through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Style (LEED). Once you are a licensed normal contractor, becoming a green general contractor must be comparatively simple.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Directions

Things You'll Need

Obtain Contractor's License

1 Make contact with your express's contractor licensing division. All general contractors must have a state-issued license; every state has slightly various requirements including schooling and work knowledge. If you are not already a licensed contractor your first step is to know the qualifications to your state--the State Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) will aid you decide these.

2 Meet all state requirements. Many states require some bachelor's degree with a contractor's license while others conduct never. Inside either situation, having a degree makes you much further competitive when you marketplace your self. Typically contractors get degrees are in math, engineering, physics, and similar fields. Additional state necessities could contain several years regarding on-the-job knowledge as some construction worker, carpenter, or journeyman.

3 Receive the express license test. Once you need met all needs for education plus experience you will have to take one exam to gain your license. Once you are licensed you can begin to look for customers and market your new company.

1 Familiarize yourself with national accreditation programs. You need any additional accreditation by any acknowledged "green building" program in order to be a green contractor--LEED also BPI are the 2 biggest. Several express nowadays have funding incentive programs for families and enterprises to use power efficient patterns with their lighting, heating, cooling, and energy programs--but will only grant these incentives to families or companies hiring accredited green contractors. This additional recommendation will tutor you just about energy productive building and design, allow you to specialize in regions such because lighting installation, also give you an advantage in the marketplace.

2 Take some LEED or BPI course also exam. Once you review the academic wants for the many types of accreditation, from "LEED AP" to "BPI Licensed," you can select a course of motion plus specialization. Just any few possibilities are: solar/photovoltaic panel installation; retrofit or rehabilitation; lighting programs; vitality audits; also heating plus cooling specialists. Pick out your direction based on your interests also the area in which you live. Solar power, for instance, remains popular in bright express but even new in the colder regions. Each desired accreditation will have thems own academic qualifications inside terms of hours of class time, as well as an exam. Once you meet the examination many plans offer continuing education credits thus you may vacation abreast of the latest developments.

3 Do your homework on green materials providers. 1 tenet of green construction is using locally-produced lumber and other materials, rather than materials produced inside China or India also transported here using some great offer of fossil fuels. Your accreditation program will help you learn the suppliers about locally-produced supplies; other green supplies you will require to employ include non-harmful paint, carpets made out of recycled materials, and refurbished hard goods such as baths and kitchen cabinets.

4 Advertise plus network. Once you are accredited and licensed you are ready to start building your enterprise. There are many ways to advertise your new green small business from the local chamber regarding commerce to networking through U.S. Green Building Council's local chapters.

Tips & Cautions

LEED certification is a decidedly acknowledged set regarding standards also will aid you with establishing credibility with this new field. Many persons are trying to leap on the green-wagon by way of advertising products as green that is do not meet green criteria. Being any contractor someone is trusting you to build their home; generate sure you find solid standards plus avoid "green-washing" so you may develop a reputation as someone who can save money, conserve energy, plus save the environment.

References

Resources

National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies USGBC Training plus Training BPI Certified Pros

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