USGBC Offers Free LEED Education, Resources to Community Colleges

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced September 10 that the Community Green Program is offering one free year of USGBC membership to students at community colleges. In addition, students in some states will have access to financial assistance in preparing for and taking the Leadership in Energy and the Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate Certification exam.  Faculty and staff are already working with the USGBC at many schools to bring green building activities to their campuses and develop green building curriculum.  Goals are reportedly to support as many as 1200 faculty and staff, and 400 students in the next year. Part of the Center for Green Schools at the USGBC, Community Green aims to educate the next generation of green building professionals specifically at community colleges.  

What a terrific idea and a true win-win.  In an age where we clearly must start moving towards a global green economy to remain competitive, profitable, healthy AND protect the environment, the USGBC is clearly putting its resources and efforts into training our future workforce for the right kinds of opportunities to make this shift.  And it should benefit the USGBC that all of these students will learn green building principles according to USGBC provided materials and resources.  Perhaps these will be future loyal LEED Green Associates, APs and organizational supporters generally.  

For more information, visit the Center for Green Schools site: http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/newsroom.aspx.    

Rate It Green applauds this effort and this kind of outreach.  Now, what can the rest of us do to also offer our resources and support future green builders?