WASHINGTON - The U.S. Green Building Council has established a newly incorporated entity, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), to administer its professional credentialing programs related to green building practice and standards.

“Credentialing programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as the LEED Green Building Rating Systems,” said Peter Templeton, vice president of education & research, U.S. Green Building Council.

According to the Council, GBCI was created to ensure that the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) program continues to be developed in accordance with best practices for credentialing programs. To underscore this commitment, GBCI will undergo the ANSI accreditation process for personnel certification agencies complying with ISO Standard 17024. For more information, visit www.gbci.org.

In addition, the U.S. Green Building Council has been working with the American Society of Interior Designers Foundation to create the first nationwide green remodeling guidelines for existing homes. The guidelines are part of a new “Regreen” program and cover a range of remodeling options, from simply painting a room to gutting a house down to its framing and then rebuilding it. The guidelines also focus on specific areas of the house, like the kitchen or bathroom, but emphasize a whole-house approach to remodeling.

Publication date: 12/10/2007