In addition to the personal and environmental benefits of building green, the federal government has recognized the importance of environmentally conscious construction through several certification programs. These programs are designed to monitor green building practices and can offer further financial advantages to homeowners whose homes qualify for certification.
BPI Certified
The Building Performance Institute (BPI) was established with a commitment “to be the global leader in developing a highly professional... Continue Reading »
Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
The Association of Energy Engineers has been offering professionals in the engineering and/or energy management field the option of earning... Continue Reading »
Certified Indoor Air Quality Professional (CIAQP®)
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) offers professionals who work in fields that deal with improving indoor air quality the opportunity... Continue Reading »
Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP)
The Association of Energy Engineers has a credentialing program for professionals in the industries of home planning, designing, building, and... Continue Reading »
Energy Star
The Energy Star program, a system of rating home products for energy efficiency, is a joint venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection... Continue Reading »
Energy Star Qualified
The Energy Star system is a government-regulated joint-initiative between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of... Continue Reading »
Forest Stewardship Council / Chain of Custody certification
A wood product bearing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label has a well-known history. In order to earn that label, its source... Continue Reading »
Green Advantage® Certification
To construct buildings across the globe that support social and economic sustainability. That's the mission behind the Green Advantage... Continue Reading »
Green Label / Green Label Plus
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has been thinking green since 1992. With the goal of improved indoor air quality in mind, CRI created... Continue Reading »
Green Seal Certified
With hundreds of products and services certified, Green Seal is more than an environmental safeguard. It's an industry standard. In... Continue Reading »
Green-e Energy
The Green-e Energy logo certifies that renewable energy purchases and carbon offsets are real and verifiable. Green-e is the national... Continue Reading »
LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C)
This summer the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is instituting their new credentialing system for green building professionals. Under... Continue Reading »
LEED AP Homes
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED credentialing system has been revolving in an effort to keep current with trends and technologies... Continue Reading »
LEED AP Interior Design + Construction (ID+C)
Introduced with the U.S Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institute’s new LEED program, v.3, is the LEED AP Interior... Continue Reading »
LEED AP NC (New Construction) and CI (Commercial Interiors)
The LEED program is shifting their credential requirements this summer. Both the AP New Construction (NC) and AP Commercial Interiors... Continue Reading »
LEED AP Neighborhood Development
While the U.S. Green Building Council has been busy changing all of their previous LEED credentials, they’ve also found time to introduce... Continue Reading »
LEED AP Operations + Maintenance
Abbreviated LEED AP O+M, the operations and maintenance credential by the USGBC is the replacement specialty for the previous designation... Continue Reading »
LEED contributing Product or Material
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED ratings system does not certify building materials or products specifically. However, the materials... Continue Reading »
LEED Fellow
Along with their many other LEED designation and credential changes, the USGBC and GBCI is altering the former LEED AP Fellow into their... Continue Reading »
LEED Green Associate
As a homeowner, you can be more confident knowing that your remodeling contractor is a LEED Green Associate. It means they’ve passed... Continue Reading »
LEED Platinum, Gold or Certified
LEED-certified buildings are not necessarily alike. There are, in fact, four different levels of certification available to prospective... Continue Reading »
Low VOC
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). People today just don't want them. VOCs present in paints, carpets, adhesives and other products are... Continue Reading »
NARI Green Certified Professional
NARI, which is the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, has a program in which remodeling professionals who have experience... Continue Reading »
Rainforest Alliance Certification
Rainforest Alliance certification is a comprehensive process that promotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry. In regards... Continue Reading »
Recycled (“reclaimed”) Materials
Most products headed to the landfills at this very moment could have been recycled, or better yet, reclaimed for use in a new building or... Continue Reading »
Regional Materials
A lot of material goes into building or remodeling a home, and those materials can come from just about anywhere. Today, nails, screws... Continue Reading »