Green Advantage –

The management team of Beracah Homes recognizes that the future of green building is best suited and attained through modular construction.  A stick built home constructed in the protective atmosphere of a factory, ensures optimum material performance and best fits with the focus of green building: energy efficiency, conservation of natural resources & indoor air quality.  Upon completion of a green building certification course called “Green Advantage” Vice President Roger Collision brought Green Advantage to Beracah Homes… today, all of Beracah Home’s preferred builders are Green Advantage certified. 

Who is Green Advantage?  What are they?  How were they formed?  Etc.  Below you’ll find a list of Green Advantage Questions and Answers direct from the Green Advantage website (http://www.greenadvantage.org). 

1.    What is Green Advantage®?

Green Advantage® is an environmental certification for building-related practitioners - primarily contractors, subcontractors and trades people. Certified individuals have successfully passed the Green Advantage® Certification Exam demonstrating knowledge of current green building principles, materials, and techniques. Commercial, Residential, and Commercial/Residential Certifications are available, with a specific exam required for each. Because the green building field is rapidly changing, candidates must pass a Re-certification Exam every three years in order to remain Green Advantage Certified. You can learn more about Green Advantage by visiting the website at www.greenadvantage.org.

2. What is Green Advantage’s history?

Launched with funding from a US Environmental Protection Agency grant, Green Advantage® is the result of collaboration between the Nature Conservancy, Science Applications International Corporation, and the University of Florida. As a result of successful piloting and the work of scores of professionals assisting in the development of curricula, training and Exams, over 5000 building-related practitioners have taken the Green Advantage® Certification Exam.

3. What is Green Advantage’s relationship with USGBC?

Green Advantage® is a strong supporter of The U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC) and USGBC Chapters. From 2003 to 2005 Green Advantage had a formal educational partnership agreement with USGBC. During this period, the two organizations crafted a protocol to help ensure a complementary relationship between the certification offerings.  Today, Green Advantage® is available to work with USGBC Chapters to promote the advancement of our respective educational missions.  For more information, Chapters can contact gorear@greenadvantage.org.

4. What is Green Advantage's relationship with DVGBC?

Delaware Valley Green Building Council has played a pivotal role in developing training in preparation for the Green Advantage Commercial Exam and in helping to evolve the Green Advantage protocol and testing. They have partnered with the University of Philadelphia to provide a very rich seminar format with both a designer and a builder teaching each training session. You can learn more about them by visiting www.dvgbc.org

5. How does Green Advantage® Certification relate to LEED® Accreditation?

According to the USGBC, "LEED® Professional Accreditation distinguishes individuals with detailed knowledge of LEED® project certification requirements and processes and a command of integrated design principles. LEED® accreditation is awarded to building industry practitioners who successfully demonstrate these proficiencies on a comprehensive exam." The USGBC encourages its members to become LEED-Accredited. Green Advantage® Certification is designed to be a non-competitive, complementary offering that supports LEED Accreditation. Intended primarily for individuals working within the construction industry - such as contractors, subcontractors and tradespeople, Green Advantage® Certification is recommended as an additional offering for developers, architects, engineers and designers who wish to be both LEED Accredited and Green Advantage Certified. Green Advantage® is not affiliated with any LEED products or trainings. Professionals interested in LEED Accreditation or training should look for classes that are specifically sanctioned by the USGBC for that purpose.

6. How can Green Advantage Certification help my project attain LEED Certification?

A LEED Innovation Credit has been granted if a significant percentage of a project's building force is Green Advantage Certified prior to the commencement of construction. Please click here for a description of the requirements.

7. How green is it?

Green Advantage ("GA") has invested substantial resources into developing Exams that are relevant and sufficiently comprehensive regarding the design and field issues that relate to building-related practitioners. GA utilizes experts in green building and statistical analysis to prepare and approve the Green Advantage Exam questions and to ensure state-of-the-art environmental certification for commercial and/or residential practitioners. Practitioners can sit for GA-Commercial, GA-Residential or GA-Commercial/Residential versions of the Exam. and cli cking on Green Advantage.

Energy Star Certified - What is it mean? And how does it pertain to a Beracah-built home?  Click here to read more.