Everblue's blog

I attended the RESNET conference in Raleigh, NC this week.  As I walked the 50 odd booths, I was impressed by the innovative products and services that have developed to support energy auditors and the energy efficiency industry.  The big technological advances revolve around cameras and software, but there were a number of small manufacturers as well.

I just participated in the “HOME STAR overview and call to action” presentation by Patrick Roche, chairman of the industry trade association Efficiency First. Efficiency First is a relatively new (12-13 Month Old) trade association and political action organization for the home performance contractors.  The main point of this call was to spin up the industry to gain momentum behind the Home Star program.

From Crain's New York: Building green high-rise towers in New York City is not the higher cost option it has long been thought to be, according to a new study that will be released late Wednesday by the Urban Green Council.

In 2008, the green building market size grew to an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of new construction starts by value -- an amount that's equivalent to a $36 billion to $49 billion marketplace.

Now that has growth occurred, the study noted, against a backdrop of turmoil in the overall construction market, which fell 7 percent in 2007, 14 percent in 2008 and is projected to sustain a 17 drop this year.

Applied Materials is one of the most important U.S. companies you’ve probably never heard of. It makes the machines that make the microchips that go inside your computer. The chip business, though, is volatile, so in 2004 Mike Splinter, Applied Materials’s C.E.O., decided to add a new business line to take advantage of the company’s nanotechnology capabilities — making the machines that make solar panels. The other day, Splinter gave me a tour of the company’s Silicon Valley facility, culminating with a visit to its “war room,” where Applied maintains a real-time global interaction with all 14 solar panel factories it’s built around the world in the last two years. I could only laugh because crying would have been too embarrassing.

Not a single one is in America.

 The New York Times recently published an article discussing whether or not LEED is actually beneficial to the environment. The Times suggested that buildings labeled as LEED certified have not lived up to their "green" expectations. Some LEED certified buildings, in fact, are not very energy efficient. In the wake of all the changes abounding from the USGBC about LEED, the Times brings up an interesting discussion: Is LEED really leading, or is there a better green model?

 The premier LEED education will continue to provide courses designed for the original LEED Canada-NC 1.0 exam.

How will becoming a LEED-AP enhance your career prospects? Not only will you be in demand because of your specialized skills, but ahead of others in the industry.

Everblue has established counseling services dedicated to helping unemployed workers pay for and pass their LEED Green Associate Exam, as well as assist them in exploring job options.

Save yourself the trouble and time of tackling LEED exam preparation on your own and take advantage of the benefits of a LEED course. Here are the top ten reasons to sign up today!