Page 7 - Careers in Renewable Energy

plumbers. Although certification is also mainly voluntary, increasing
numbers of green construction managers are getting certified. In part
this is because a growing proportion of employers see certification as
a way to ensure that a manger possesses a certain level of training and
experience.
The Construction Management Association of America offers
certification for junior and senior college students enrolled in pro-
grams in the construction sciences. There is also the much coveted
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifica-
tion. Developed by the nonprofit US Green Building Council, it is
still voluntary. However, some government agencies now require it,
and a growing number of states, cities, and towns are considering re-
quiring it. Everblue, which offers courses in green construction, says
on its website:

For construction managers, earning a LEED creden-
tial is worth more than simply marketability. This
knowledge is directly related to a construction man-
ager’s job responsibilities. With the growth of green
building in the construction industry, it’s a no-brainer
that construction managers grow their skill set ac-
cordingly. Earning a LEED credential demonstrates
a commitment to long-term savings and reduction in
energy consumption. These qualities will forever be
cherished by building owners and tenants. Nowadays,
the preference is for a “green” building, and stakehold-
ers are going to look for the construction teams that
can give them what they want.

Apprenticeships

Usually, no internships are available for the occupation of green con-
struction manager itself, as it is a high-level job that one cannot get
without several years of experience in some aspect of the construc-
tion trades. However, such a manager may have undergone an ap-
prenticeship or internship years earlier when he or she was, perhaps,
a beginning electrician, plumber, or carpenter. Many programs of
that sort, which often last from two to four years, are offered by large

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