Is LEED a Monopoly?

Gosh, we sure hope not.  We’ve been a little quiet lately as we launched our completely redesigned and enhanced web site this week (www.SERFgreen.org), but the notion of a LEED monopoly is unsettling.   After all, SERF, Green Globes ™ and others have invested significant resources to provide cost-effective, accessible alternative green building certifications.

Still, others make the claim of a LEED monopoly quite forcibly—like the Chattanooga Times Free Press recent editorial.

The Times Free Press’ position has some merit when considering government buildings.  But as to the private sector—the ones who are spending their own money–we find businesses are very open to a market-friendly alternative to LEED.  In fact, we’ve had success with private buildings that are already LEED certified.

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Catch the Wave on free webinar

SERF and the Centre for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE) are co-hosting a free webinar 12:30-1:30 CST on Thursday, January 24.

CSE , a global leader in sustainability consulting and training, is partnering with SERF to train SERF Professionals (SPs).  SPs have the exclusive ability to act as third-party verifiers for SERF certification applications.

SERF president Joe Maguire and CSE president Nikos Avlonas will be on hand to discuss SERF as a streamlined, affordable alternative to LEED certification and the SP designation as opportunity to expand your professional practice.  Click here to register.

SPreading the word

As more and more properties Catch the Wave with SERF Certification, we’re beginning to fall behind in processing applications.   Maintaining our early decision to cede the lengthy process award to the other 4-letter certification, we are, instead, embarking on a fix.

Our new professional designation SERF Professional (SP) will enable real estate professionals to act as third party verifiers for SERF Certification applications.  SPs will be independent from SERF and will set their own fees and contract directly with certification applicants.

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Program Offered in Partnership with Centre for Sustainability and Excellence for Professional designation in Green Building Certification

CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2012 — The Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities (SERF), an environmental building certification organization, in partnership with the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), today announced the launch of a new accreditation program that certifies professionals to evaluate buildings’ sustainable systems and practices  according to SERF’s comprehensive certification criteria. Candidates who successfully complete the program will earn the designation of SERF Professional (SP). Additionally, CSE will be verifiers for the SERF certification process.

“At SERF, we believe that building owners and facility managers should be committed to broad, ongoing environmental sustainability, and our goal is to make certifying that process more affordable, streamlined and accessible as possible,” said Joe Maguire, president of SERF. “By creating this program with the CSE and growing the number of SERF Professionals, we hope to cultivate and recognize more sustainably-focused facilities.”
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