Article  Secure Your Future in Green Construction by Becoming a LEED AP For anyone interested in working in the construction industry, it’s imperative to stay abreast of the latest trends in the business. Right now, that means learning about green design and construction techniques, as well as becoming knowledgeable about doing green retrofits on existing structures. If you’re serious about working in this field, then the next logical step is to obtain LEED AP certification. LEED, if you don’t know, is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Construction and design professionals who obtain LEED certificates learn all facets of sustainable construction, but that’s not all. They are also trained in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, and biomass and also learn cutting-edge energy conservation techniques, various systems for performing energy audits, and other ways to make a building’s energy usage truly sustainable. Becoming LEED certified is one of the best ways to ensure that you’ll be continuously employed in the future, even as the construction industry contracts because of the ongoing recession. Given the growing worldwide interest in energy efficiency and conservation, more and more construction projects will be employing LEED-certified professionals to supervise the design and construction. It only makes sense to specialize in sustainable green construction technologies now, for this is undoubtedly the wave of the future. Experts estimate that the green building market share will grow to as much as $140 billion within the next four to five years. Sustainable building and maintenance practices are now on the cutting edge. Within the next twenty to twenty-five years they will become standard for corporate and home construction. Those construction professionals who have not mastered green building procedures will soon find themselves left on the ash heap of history. If you want to be on the cutting edge of the hottest construction trend of the last 100 years, then now is the time to get LEED AP certification added to your resume. It’s actually not difficult. Most of America’s major cities boast training centers that offer this kind of certification. If you already have a background in construction, architecture or industrial design, then you have a distinct advantage in going into this field. However, because of burgeoning interest in sustainable green energy and construction from all over the world, the window of opportunity is closing rapidly. If you want to be one of the early adopters of green technologies and begin building a reputation in this field, the time to get your training is now. Don’t wait. Another good reason to get this training now is because of increasing federal, state and municipal regulations regarding new construction. As these regulations become more stringent, more and more LEED AP certified construction professionals will be needed to create designs for sustainable homes and commercial structures and for retrofitting the hundreds of thousands of buildings that were erected before anyone was even considering green, sustainable building. Construction professionals who have an understanding of the latest green, sustainable materials, such as insulation made from cotton scraps left over from making blue jeans, will have the edge over their competition because they’ll be able to steer their clients to make the right decision regarding using these materials in their next construction project, whether it’s a home or a facility that houses a new or existing business. Having LEED AP certification will also bring you up to speed on utilizing the latest types of solar panels and other energy-saving technologies, including wind turbines, interior and exterior LED lighting, and passive energy conservation techniques. Think about it, with the right training and certification, you can be part of a greener, more sustainable future. Category PostSecondary Author CVAdmin Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (0) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On 2009-10-20