| To BD+C or not to BD+C? That is the Question |
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Why You Should Opt In: A Procrastinator's Top Ten By: Monica Rokicki-Guajardo, LEED AP BD+C, Better Building Works, LLC "Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold." , The Ghost, Act I of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare To BD+C or not to BD+C? That was my question last year. I figured, what the heck? The worse that could happen is that I won't finish all of the credential maintenance program (CMP) items (30 of them in different categories!) and I'll STILL be able to call myself a LEED AP (Take heed: read to the end for the punchline about this ... or skip the list and register at the end of the article.) If you're like me (busy!) then you probably haven't had a lot of time to read all the fine print associated with opting into a LEED with Specialty classification at www.gbci.org. And - if you're really like me (a procrastinator) then you've waited until the last minute for some or maybe even all of the CMP credits. To take the guesswork out of whether you should or should not opt- in and get those CMPs in the bag, here are my top ten reasons why I am definitely enrolling in SWVA's 'CMP-in-a-BOX' program to get ALL of mine within four days - two in September and two in October. (The first nine make the case but I'll bet the last one wakes you up). 10. The best price around for CMPs - it even beats out the boring webinar model. 9. The food is great! And so is the coffee. 8. Serious in-person, quality education. Brightworks is the best green education provider around with experienced, energetic professionals teaching the classes. (and all credits qualify for AIA and other many other professional CE credits). 7. Proceeds go to a local non-profit charitable 501(c)3 organization: the all volunteer USGBC Southwest Virginia Chapter. This helps them attain their vision of sustainable buildings and industry throughout our region. Green dollars go straight back into the local green economy! 6. I'm out of time. Like a lot of LEED APs who opted in, my deadline is looming. (Double check yours. Even if it's a long way off, you'll never get these CMPs cheaper or easier). 5. The CMP-in-a-BOX series is your personal key to the labyrinth. (And USGBC-SWVA has tamed the Minotaur ... turns out he's a pretty friendly beast after all). 4. All of my smartest and sexiest friends are doing it (or should). 3. Members get a serious discount (10%). Companies who send five get an even more serious discount! (Five employees can attend for the price of four). 2. The green economy is the building industry IPad. All over the country - it is the only segment of the building industry that has seen steady growth over the past difficult years. See what Lowe's has to say. (link to http://www.lowesforpros.com/green-building-survivor-shaky-economy) 1. In LEED 2012, the LEED AP (IP Credit 2) mandates a specialty accreditation for not just one, but for possibly THREE design and building team members. Read here for a rude awakening: LEED AP Legacy Status to be Inactive with Launch of LEED 2012. (link to http://www.bdmdialog.com/?p=271) So much for procrastinating!! If companies don’t have a LEED AP with specialty on staff, they'll have to hire someone (me!). Don't be like Hamlet's ghost "doom'd for a certain term to walk the night". PS: (In case you must take the exam, or want to start on the process of becoming a LEED AP, two exam preparation seminars will be offered - one for LEED Green Associate and one for LEED BD+C. Both exams are required to get the specialty designation. But if you're already a LEED AP the price and time commitment will be more than just opting in and getting those CMPs.) REGISTER!
Read more... (http://usgbcswva.org/news/in-the-news/100-get-all-30-cmp-hours-in-just-four-days) Post the Flyer ... (http://usgbcswva.org/downloads/2011/cmp_flyer.pdf) |
