Page 6 - Careers in Renewable Energy

ensuring that the overall project is completed on time and within the
budget. If the project fails to meet these goals, the manager must an-
swer to his or her boss. Usually, that is either the architect who de-
signed the structure or the construction company’s owner.
Besides making sure that the work site runs smoothly and meets
its goals, the green construction manager must make certain that all
aspects of construction are environmentally friendly. This includes
more than making sure the structure itself meets the latest green
building codes. It also means eliminating sloppy and wasteful prac-
tices on the surrounding site itself. For example, the construction
manager might put in place a recycling plan for any unused construc-
tion materials or ensure that no chemicals or other hazardous materi-
als enter the soil on the property.

How Do You Become a Green
Building Construction Manager?

Education
In the traditional construction industry, which is fast giving way to
green building, most construction managers began as carpenters,
plumbers, or other experts in the trades. Through years of experience,
they moved up in the industry and eventually became managers. That
older system is rapidly changing. Today somewhere between 30 per-
cent and 40 percent of green construction managers come to the pro-
fession with four-year college degrees. Furthermore, that percentage
is expected to quickly grow in the near future because more and more
construction companies are demanding better-educated managers.
Those college degrees are most often in construction management,
construction science, or civil engineering. The American Council for
Construction Education provides help in finding accredited four-
year and two-year programs in the construction sciences.

Certification and Licensing

Licensing remains largely voluntary for green construction manag-
ers. However, some of these individuals come to the job with licenses
they acquired when they were master carpenters, electricians, or

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