PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - Nov 1, 2012) - The Green Building Initiative (GBI) today launched a training and certification program to enable facilities managers, engineers, and consultants to learn about the guiding principles assessment requirements for U.S. government buildings mandated by Executive Order 13514. The course provides the option to be certified as a Guiding Principles Compliance (GPC) Professional authorized to support the assessment and certification process using GBI's GPC program. This program has been used to certify over 250 buildings during the last 12 months.

Signed in 2009, EO 13514 requires that at least 15 percent of a federal agency's existing buildings above 5,000 gross square feet meet the Guiding Principles by fiscal year 2015. The Guiding Principles are a set of established criteria for federal agencies who have committed to federal leadership in the design, construction, and operation of high-performance and sustainable buildings. The Guiding Principles employ integrated design, energy performance optimization, water protection and conservation, enhancement of the indoor environment, and the reduction of material impacts as best practices to achieve federal sustainability goals. 

GBI President, Ward Hubbell, said, "We applaud the federal government's initiatives to enhance the sustainability of their buildings and are pleased to play a role in helping agencies comply with EO 13514 through our new training and our Guiding Principles Compliance building certification program."

The Green Building Initiative is a nonprofit organization and ANSI Standards Developer dedicated to accelerating the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. The organization is best known as the U.S. provider of the Green Globes building and certification that is used as a more practical and affordable alternative to LEED.

For more information on the new training program visit http://www.thegbi.org/green-globes/guiding-principles-compliance-personnel-certifications.shtml