Green Certification – Working with FGBC Certifying Agents – (Taken from the Winter 2010 issue of Florida Green Building Magazine.

With more than 2,175 green homes certified in the state, the Florida Green Building Coalitions’s (FGBC) standards are the most utilized among builders in Florida.  Yes, there are others to choose from, but the defining element of the FBGC standards is that they have been developed to address Florida’s unique climatic conditions.

Since the programs’s inception, hundreds of professionals involved in the construction industry have taken FGBC’s certification course and exam, and then applied to become an FGBC Certifying Agent.  Certification requires documented construction industry experience, 14 hours of green-home-construction-education credits, completion of FGBC’s two-day certification course, a passing score on the course exam, and annual registration with FGBC.

Once certified, a professional can work with any builder or homeowner in Florida.  There are no “regions” or territories” assigned to certifiers.  And, to maintain third-party independence, an Agent cannot perform a certification on one of his homes, or one built by his employer.  To ensure that certifiers are upholding the program’s requirements, periodic field verifications are performed, and Agents are required to complete annual education credits to maintain their certification.

One misconception about FGBC’s certification program is that it simply requires a review of the home at completion.  In reality, the Certifying Agent acts as a “green consultant” and provides recommendations to the owner and/or design team on integrating sustainable building principles into the home.  Certifying Agents are important members of the building team and can facilitate decisions related to energy efficiency, water usage, indoor air quality, product selections, and a multitude of other items including site planning.  The Certifying Agent’s understanding of the home’s design, construction, and product specifications is instrumental to the overall certification process.

Charter Bay Home Builders is a full-service Tampa Remodeler and Custom Home Builder working throughout the greater Tampa Bay area including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, and Sarasota.  Charter Bay can help with your Kitchen Remodeling, Bath Remodeling, Cabinets, Renovation, Remodeling, Home Design, Design Build, and New Home Building needs.

In addition, as one of the few Tampa remodelers, contractors, or home builders with multiple green building and green remodeling certifications (FGBC Certifying Agent and NAHB Certified Green Building Professional), Charter Bay can also assist those clients who want green features and sustainable building practices incorporated into their projects.

Visit our website –www.CharterBayHomes.com – today to learn how “The Charter Bay Way” delivers:

“Yesterday’s Values • Today’s Technology • Tomorrow’s Vision”

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