 Twenty-four architects, engineers and other professionals recently earned the Sustainable Building Advisor certification after presenting final team projects as part of the Program.
The students, who came from as far as Vancouver, Portland, and even Chicago to take the course, had completed a nine-month specialized training program offered through Seattle Central Community College and co-sponsored by Seattle City Light. Kathleen O’Brien of O’Brien & Company, on Bainbridge Island was lead instructor for the course. O’Brien also designed the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County’s award winning “Build a Better Kitsap” program, which has become the nationwide model for green building programs.
The unique Sustainable Building Advisor program provides technical and communications skills in advising clients and/or supervisors on strategies and tools for implementing sustainable building.
As part of the course they analyzed a variety of real-world projects applying concepts learned in the course, and using green building rating systems such as the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties’ Built Green Program.
The projects included rehab and new construction and included an elementary school, a manufacturing facility, an office building, an animal health care facility, and a multi-family affordable housing project.
Information about next year’s course is available at www.obrienandco.com. | 
