Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional

LEED Certifications And Sustainable Designs Are On The Rise! Get LEED Certified Today..

LEED Certifications And Sustainable Designs Are On The Rise! Get LEED Certified Today..

Date : July 1, 2014 | By : michael_desafey

Recently the US Green Building Council released its ranking of the Top 12 States for LEED, highlighting the states around the country that are at the forefront of sustainable design.

LEED certified spaces are designed and built to save money for the business’s, building or home owners by creating healthy living environmental for the community and reducing the amount of carbon emission into the environment.

Beginning in the year 2000, the US Green Building Council began its efforts to certify professionals in LEED standards and facilities/ buildings through its LEED certification program, which today has lead to the advancement in building design and construction around the world.

2013 Rankings

  1. Illinois
  2. Maryland
  3. Virginia
  4. Massachusetts
  5. New York
  6. California
  7. Oregon
  8. North Carolina
  9. Colorado
  10. Hawaii
  11. Minnesota
  12. Washington DC

Collectively, 1,777 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the top 10 states in 2013, representing 226.8 million square feet of real estate. Worldwide, 4,642 projects were certified in 2013, representing 596.8 million square feet.  Currently there are over 150,000 residential homes throughout the world that are LEED Certified; a number that has more than doubled between 2011 and 2012; with California in the #1 spot followed by New York and Texas.

This advancement has led to a steady growth in jobs; green building and especially certified environmentally friendly facilities has provided jobs at every level of the professional spectrum form skilled tradesman to engineers and architects.  The demand for LEED Green Associates and LEED AP’s has grown 46% in the last 12 months. In fact, 91% of employers stated that they would recommend the LEED certification program for employees, with 71% stating they would likely make the LEED certification a requirement for hiring in the years ahead.

With California, New York and Texas leading the way on residential LEED construction projects and Illinois, Maryland and Virginia on the commercial side of the marketplace the demand for trained professionals in these marketplaces will be greatest. The trend is expected to grow even greater in the years ahead as more and more facilities, homeowners and professionals alike demand energy efficient and environmentally friendly facilities.

For professionals, taking the time to become LEED certified should be now be a priority in your professional career; LEED certified professionals have a greater chance of being employed, and meeting the requirements of hiring organizations.  Being certified will give you the abilities to share a common knowledge and understanding of project goals, and how to achieve those goals in an efficient manner while utilizing your skills to lend professional credibility to projects; increasing your value to an employer.

To learn more about LEED certifications visit the United States Green Building Councils website at www.USGBC.org. It will be a career changing certification that will allow you to stay competitive and advance your career into the future.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing (www.webuildstaffing.com ). To learn more about Michael or Follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com