We believe one of the most important benefits a good building and remodeling contractor provides their clients is quality information. Good information leads to good choices, which helps produce successful projects. To provide good information to our clients we focus heavily on our ongoing education. In an industry which is changing as rapidly as ours there can be no other way. In today's blog we are going to talk about a new green certification we have added to our arsenal to provide a better experience and product to our customers. Then, in the 10-Part Tampa Bay Green Building series that follows, we're going to talk a lot less about us ( Charter Bay Home Builders ), and a lot more about the actual process of building a new green home, or remodeling your existing home with green components, and all of the things there are to consider in that process. John, President of Charter Bay Homes, recently attended the Florida Green Home Certification Training course held at the Florida Solar Energy Center on the UCF campus by the Florida Green Building Coalition ( FGBC ). The training was excellent and John gained an in-depth understanding of the FGBC green home certification process. To receive the Certifying Agent credentials John had to show his prior building experience, had to take another separate 2-day green training course ( an NAHB green course both he and I took from the Tampa Bay Builders Association ), and then had to pass the end of course exam from the certification course ( he called me after taking the course and said I don't know man, it was a pretty tough test ). Of course, John is a pretty smart guy so I wasn't surprised when he found out about a week later that he had passed the exam. We are very proud to share that John is now an official FGBC Certifying Agent. As an FGBC Certifying Agent, John is qualified to conduct the actual inspection and certification process on new homes and remodeling projects for green home certification. With this important knowledge, and our prior green building experience, we can provide our clients with a broader range of building and remodeling options to fit their goals and budget. The purpose of achieving the Certifying Agent accreditation was not to do actual certifications, but to become a stronger resource for our clients. With this additional knowledge, we can provide better information, which leads to more options, better decisions, and more successful projects. In the 10-Part series that follows, John and I ( I am also a Certified Green Building Professional through the National Association of Home Builders ) will be writing the blog posts. As I mentioned earlier, those posts are going to be a lot more about the process of green building and a lot less about us! At the end of the series, our goal is that someone who began their quest as being interested in green building will finish the series being knowledgeable in green building and better-able to make decisions to help their family and their project. Charter Bay Home Builders, www.CharterBayHomes.com, is a custom home building and remodeling contractor working throughout the Tampa Bay area including Pinellas, Lakeland ( Polk ), Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota. As a green certified builder ( FGBC Certifying Agent & NAHB Green Building Professional ), Charter Bay can offer any level of green desired based on any budget and wish list. Visit our website to learn how The Charter Bay Way delivers our customers Yesterday's Values, Today's Technology, and Tomorrow's Vision.