The University of Colorado Real Estate Center and the U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter today are beginning a pilot program to prepare CU Real Estate Center students to take the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Green Associate exam.
An experienced LEED accredited professional who has trained hundreds of green building practitioners in Colorado will teach the course, which lasts six weeks. Students receive a copy of the latest version of USGBC Colorado's internationally acclaimed "LEED Professional Accreditation Study Guide and Practice Exam." The guide provides valuable information, tools and practice exams for the Green Building Certification Institute's new LEED 2009 Green Associate and LEED Building Design and Construction credentials.
The CU Real Estate Center, located within the Leeds School of Business, emphasizes sustainable real estate and development practices, according to Susan Watts, executive director of the CU Real Estate Center.
"Being LEED certified is a significant plus for our students," said Watts. "Our goal is to prepare graduates to assume positions within the broad field of real estate with an emphasis on sustainable practices."
Brad Weinig, a first-year MBA student in the real estate track, took the lead to make the pilot class a reality.
"We are excited to incorporate LEED accreditation into our curriculum," Weinig said. "Many of us chose to study here because we want to be leaders in sustainable development and this partnership with USGBC will help us to accomplish that goal."
USGBC Colorado published its first study guide in 2002 as the result of a successful partnership between the organization and author Timothy Moore of Whole Systems Design. The guide has gained an international following thanks to its reputation as the best study guide for LEED AP candidates.
"USGBC Colorado has helped literally thousands of green building professionals gain their LEED credentials," said Deb Kleinman, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council Colorado. "We are excited to pilot this exam prep course with CU-Boulder as we continue to work with the green building community around the world to train professionals and to transform our built environment."
USGBC Colorado's mission is to advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy, advocacy, and information and resource sharing.
The CU Real Estate Center offers a real estate curriculum at the graduate and undergraduate levels that prepares students to be leaders in the real estate industry. The center fosters the partnership between the university and the CU Real Estate Council to create dynamic and relevant dialogue to further land use related research and develop meaningful internships for students with job placement opportunities as the ultimate goal.
The new USGBC Colorado LEED Professional Accreditation Study Guide and Practice Exam for LEED 2009 Building Design and Construction is available for purchase. Discounts are available for members of USGBC Chapters, USGBC National Member Companies and bulk purchases.
For more information on the program visit www.usgbccolorado.org, or call Sarah Michaels at 303-454-3393.
