Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 - (Page 41)

WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE TO BEING AN ACCREDITED GREEN ROOF PROFESSIONAL GRP ? “When a new industry formulates itself in a wide-open market, entrepreneurs will fill the voids of skill, knowledge, and capability. There is no other area of green building envelope treatment that invites more ignorance or assumption into the voids than green roofs: ‘I've been doing roofs/landscaping/building design/landscape design for years – I can do green roofs.’ Entrepreneurs may not yet appreciate that the planning, design, installation and maintenance of green roofs are not straightforward for even the simplest system if the maximum benefits are to be achieved. But will this lack of understanding prevent them from attempting to engage the industry? Green roofs are vulnerable due to scepticism; we cannot afford to have under-performing green roofs due to over-reaching expertise. The GRHC Sub-committee on Accreditation compared several programs of certification, licensure and accreditation to find the right model for the GRP with the entrepreneurs in mind. We intend to attract, encourage and educate them to secure the best circumstances for positive growth in the industry. When combined with organized programs for advocacy, policy development, and research, our GRP Accreditation Program will build a base (or better yet, a pedestal) of expertise to legitimize the green roof industry, to protect the consumer, and ultimately, to improve the built environment.” Virginia L. Russell, FASLA, RLA, LEED® AP, GRHC, Associate Professor of Architecture, University of Cincinnati; Chair, GRHC Sub-committee on Accreditation “Green Roof Professional (GRP) accreditation is a significant step for the industry because it is public recognition of an area of professional practice that requires unique specialized knowledge and skills key to the long-term health and growth of the green roof industry. Not only does it provide the general public an additional qualification to judge the experience and background of professionals in the selection process, but it requires and promotes continuing education as a method of keeping the professional current in this rapidly developing industry. To the individual, GRP accreditation increases professional marketability with a qualification which is portable. I can envision a day when a GRP can command an increased salary base such as other licensed professionals because of the value they bring to a firm. There is little reason in this competitive and technical industry, why an individual would not embrace the vast professional benefits of GRP accreditation. A dozen years ago the same concerns and hesitancy to adopt surrounded the USGBC’s LEED® accredited professional designation, but I think in retrospect the early supporters were roundly rewarded by becoming accredited. For those forward-thinking individuals that do become GRP accredited it will represent a collective symbol of our values and beliefs of what a green roof professional should be, a badge of honor and commitment.” Jeffrey L. Bruce, FASLA, LEED®, ASIC, Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company, LLC, GRHC Accreditation Test Committee member LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR FALL 41

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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 Contents From the Founder: A Robust Economy Letters Strata - People, Products & Projects: Austin's Hotspot for Habitat & Baltimore Hilton Goes Green A Green Roof for a County Courthouse Research Grant for Design Tool On the Roof With... A New Vue on Downtown Open Space Sound Transmission Loss of Extensive Green Roofs On Target Optimizing for Sustainability First GRHC Green Roof Symposium in Florida Welcome New Corporate Members Professional Calendar Experts Reflect on the Value of the GRP

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008

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