The green building trend is exploding as the National Association of Home Builders reports that the number of home builders, remodelers and other members of the real estate and construction industry who hold the Certified Green Professional (CGP) educational designation now tops 4,000.

The NAHB Research Center, which administers the National Green Building Certification program for new homes, developments and remodeling projects, is also reporting solid growth: More than 350 homes have been certified and there are 4,500 projects in the certification pipeline.

“When the housing market returns, it will be accompanied by increased demand for green and energy-efficient new homes and remodeling projects,” NAHB Chairman Joe Robson said. “Our members want to ensure they are ready to meet the demand, and that’s why so many are beginning to score and certify their projects or studying and taking classes to obtain their CGP designation.”

Certified Green Professionals must successfully complete three days of classroom training, have two years of industry experience and commit to continuing education requirements.

The coursework is now being enhanced to reflect the requirements of building to the National Green Building Standard, the consensus standard for green homes, developments and remodeling projects approved by the American National Standards Institute in January.

In addition, NAHB is creating advanced training for CGPs that will result in a new designation for building practitioners: the Master Green Builder Remodeler. NAHB expects to introduce the designation program early next year, Robson said.

The CGP designation was introduced in February 2008 during the International Builders’ Show and is the fastest growing designation offered by the University of Housing.

Source from: Atlanta Real Estate Forum