Photo courtesy U.S. Green Building Council

The Peachtree at Symphony Center, Atlanta, Ga., is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core & Shell-certified. The Green Associate credential, previously available only in the United States, was introduced in Canada this month.

A new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation has been introduced to recognize burgeoning Canadian professionals in the green building field.

The LEED Green Associate credential signifies knowledge of sustainable building concepts and is for both experts and students working toward the LEED Accredited Professional (AP) exam, as well as those in non-technical related fields.

Erin Emery, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) communication specialist, told Construction Canada Online the new designation can be a first step for professionals who want to gain their LEED AP status.

"Being a LEED Green Associate represents demonstrable knowledge and core understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED rating system in order to support sustainable design, construction, and operations," she explained.

The credential launched last year in the United States, but has just been released in Canada. It has been earned by almost 4500 professionals in over 40 countries.

LEED credentials are developed by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) and the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

For more information, visit www.gbci.org.