University of Florida

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Green Advantage (www.greenadvantage.org) is a Professional Certification program that is endorsed by the US Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org). To receive First Level Professional Certification under Green Advantage, a participant must pass an exam covering materials normally presented in 12 hours of classroom instruction. In Florida the exam is based on continuing education modules in the Build Green & Profit program developed at the University of Florida.

The Program for Resource Efficient Communities has delivered the program regularly around the state since it was first offered in 1996. It is approved for licensed building contractors, architects and building inspectors. In 2000, the Bonita Bay Group (www.bonitabaygroup.com), a master planned community developer in southwest Florida, required all of the General Contractors building in their Mediterra community to not only take the Build Green & Profit classes, but to pass the associated Green Advantage exam.