Education

Efforts to educate, enlighten and empower individuals, governments and companies to adopt an approach to building that is both ecologically and economically sustainable are at the core of the USGBC's and the South Florida Chapter's activities.  The key to our success?  A constantly
evolving education program.

At the bottom of this page, you will find several links to educational opportunities, including opportunities to learn about LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), the LEED Green Building Rating System, the LEED certification process ... and more.

LEED
USGBC’s education programs are proactively changing in response to transformations to the LEED Rating Systems, LEED Online and LEED certification that comprise the new LEED Version 3 (v3) -- as well as to changes in GBCI’s (see link below) LEED credentialing program.  This FAQ outline will outline program particulars. 

South Florida's LEED Buildings / Growth of Green Building in South Florida
The South Florida Chapter's President, Kyle Abney, recently gave a well-received talk in Miami focused on the two topics above.  Afterward, he pulled out of the talk these two pdfs with information as of June 2009:  1) South Florida's LEED Buildings; and 2) Growth of Green Building in South Florida.

Workshops, Green Building Tours and Study Sessions
To learn dates and particulars of South Florida educational opportunities (including LEED workshops), check out our Chapter's popular calendar of events.  

Green Training for Contractors
Recognizing the importance of contractors in the green building movement, the South Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council has formed a new educational partnership geared specifically toward contractors and subcontractors.

The South Florida Chapter has aligned with Green Advantage to promote the use of Green Advantage Certification in our Chapter region.  Green Advantage is a national environmental training and certification program in green building that focuses on the roles and responsibilities of building-related practitioners -- primarily contractors, subcontractors and tradespeople.  The Chapter views the training and certification of local construction practitioners as a key to the success of the sustainable building movement in South Florida in the coming years.

For further details regarding the Green Advantage certification program, click here.  

Branch Meetings
It is at the Chapter's Branch meetings that the grassroots education of green building takes place.  Spread geographically throughout our South Florida region, monthly meetings -- open to the public -- are hosted by the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Branch, the Broward Branch, and the Miami-Dade and the Keys Branch.  Not only do these meetings provide top-shelf educational and networking opportunities, you will discover at each of them a terrific, passionate group of volunteers who have a whole lot of fun while they're learning and sharing ideas about the green build industry!  To learn particulars of the meeting closest to you, click here. 

Scholarships and Support
Since its inception in 2005, the South Florida Chapter of the US Green Building Council has been a catalyst for supporting and integrating the next generation of leaders into the green building movement.  Support has embraced financial, organizational and mentoring.  Please visit here to learn more about these programs.