Preparing for a Green Advantage® Exam

Individuals preparing for one of the Green Advantage® Exams should take the time to thoroughly review the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference (OBER) which will be emailed, along with an Exam Preparation Manual, to all exam candidates upon exam payment.

It is important to note that each Open Book Exam Reference will have an expiration date on its cover page. If you plan to take an exam beyond this date, please request an updated version by emailing exams@greenadvantage.org indicating "OBER Request" in the subject line. These updates will only be sent to those who make such a request. GA does not accept advance requests for automatic updates.

Consider Training

It is recommended that candidates take preparatory training from an academic or professional organization. When considering training offerings, keep the following in mind:

• There are three types of GA exams: Commercial, Residential, and Commercial/Residential. Some trainings may be tailored to one or more of these types. Check to make sure that the training you select is appropriate for the type of GA exam you plan to take.

• Consider the faculty. Are they qualified and experienced? Green Advantage® Certified Practitioners (GA-C™, GA-R™ or GA-CR™) have demonstrated their ability to pass the Green Advantage® Exam. In addition, learn whether your trainers have relevant construction experience. Further, look for credentials demonstrating green building knowledge. What is more, the quality of your training experience may relate to the trainers’ experience as an educator. Ask about the trainer’s educational experience. Some trainers also hold other national certifications. Be proactive about these questions. Just ask!

• Some trainers may have offered training for GA exams in the past. If so, the pass rates of those past classes may relate to the quality of training. If applicable, request information from the trainers you are considering. Ask about their past trainees’ pass rates.

• Determine whether the training course is offered or sponsored by a reputable organization.

• Seek the advice of others who have taken the trainings you are considering.

In addition, candidates for Green Advantage® Certification should prepare for the exam by developing the competencies described below, related to commercial, residential or commercial and residential projects, depending upon the type of certification sought.

Rationale for Sustainability and Green Building

• Identify and review the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to the rationale for sustainability and green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to the rationale for sustainability and green building
• Explain why green building is important from environmental, economic, and human perspectives
• Discuss some of the environmental and health problems related to conventional building practices and how green building can address these problems
• Discuss why successful green building requires team work among and between various trades and subcontractors and some ways that this team work can be encouraged
• List some general construction personnel team practices that can help ensure successful completion of a green building
• Explore what to do when a building practitioner does something that could undermine the green building process or product in design or in the field
• Explain the importance of keeping abreast of changes in green construction best practices, techniques, and certifications
• Describe some of the major testing approaches that are important to ensuring the performance of a green building and the role of commissioning
• Explain some of the primary performance indicators of a successful green building project
• Explain how green building techniques differ from conventional building techniques in the areas of design, construction, operation, and decommissioning
• Describe the importance of integrated design and construction
• Discuss what Green Advantage® Certification is and its benefits
• Compare and contrast the major national and regional green building certifications and differentiate them from practitioner certifications
• Be familiar with the LEED rating system and how construction personnel can assist in attaining LEED certification for different types of projects
• Explain the differences between LEED and other national and regional building certifications such as Green Globes, NAHB National Green Building Certification and Living Building Challenge, Passive House, Build It Green, Earth Craft, etc.
• Differentiate between Green Advantage® Certification and the US Green Building Council’s LEED accreditations (LEED Associate, LEED AP, and LEED AP+)
• Differentiate between Green Advantage® Certification and other third-party certification programs
• Be aware of some of the marketing opportunities and techniques that green building presents to building practitioners and organizations

Site and Land Use

• Identify and review the vocabulary in the Open Book Exam Reference that relates to the building site and land use in the context of green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary in the Open Book Exam Reference that relates to selecting and developing a building site and using land in the context of green building
• Explain why site planning and land development are important aspects of green building
• Identify the major considerations that architects and other building design practitioners need to take into account regarding site design and land development
• Explain the impact that construction personnel have on site and land use during the construction process
• Describe some of the best green practices that construction personnel can use to ensure meeting green standards in site and land use
• Discuss how building occupants affect the building site and larger ecosystems through procurement, operations, and maintenance activities

Water

• Identify and review the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to water in the context of green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to water in the context of green building
• Discuss why water is an important aspect of green building
• Identify the water-related considerations that architects and other design-based building practitioners need to take into account when designing a green building
• Explain the impact that builders and other building design practitioners have on water during the construction process
• Describe some of the best practices that construction personnel can use related to meeting water use standards
• Discuss how building occupants affect water through procurement, operations, and maintenance activities

Energy and Atmosphere

• Identify and review the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to energy and atmosphere in the context of green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to energy and atmosphere in the context of green building
• Explain how energy and atmosphere are related to one another
• Identify energy-saving materials, systems and techniques that are utilized in green buildings
• Identify the ways in which the energy use in a building can create air pollution and discuss how energy-related green building approaches reduce these kinds of pollution
• Identify the energy- and atmosphere-related considerations that architects and other building design practitioners need to take into account when designing a green building
• Understand the impact that builders and other field-based building practitioners have on energy and atmosphere during the construction process
• Describe some of the best practices that construction personnel can use to ensure meeting green standards related to energy and atmosphere
• Discuss how building occupants affect energy and atmosphere through procurement, operations, and maintenance activities

Materials

• Identify and review the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to materials in the context of green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to materials and green building
• Explain why materials and sourcing of green materials are important aspects of green building Provide examples of local, rapidly renewable, high-recycled-content materials
• Identify how green materials and building procedures prevent or reduce the release of toxic materials into the ground, water, and air
• Identify the considerations that architects, landscape architects, and other building design practitioners need to take into account when selecting materials
• Understand the impact that builders and other field-based building practitioners have in their use of materials
• Discuss the potential for the reuse of materials with the decommissioning of building systems and deconstruction at the end of the building’s useful life
• Describe waste management (reduce, recycle, reuse) as it applies to green building
• Describe some of the best practices that construction personnel can apply to ensure meeting green standards related to materials selection, purchase and use
• Discuss how building occupants affect materials selection, purchase and use through procurement, operations, and maintenance activities

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Identify and review the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to IEQ in the context of green building
• Define and discuss the vocabulary shown in the glossary of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference relating to IEQ in the context of green building
• Explain why IEQ is an important aspect of green building Discuss what constitutes good IEQ
• Detail many of the common sources of poor IEQ and how to avoid them
• Identify the considerations that architects and other building design practitioners need to take into account when designing for a healthy building
• Understand the impact that builders and other field-based building practitioners have on the health of the building
• Describe some of the best practices that construction personnel can use to ensure meeting IEQ green standards
• Discuss how building occupants affect IEQ through procurement, operations, and maintenance activities

Green Advantage® is continually improving its certification offerings and processes.  In addition, the green building field is rapidly changing.  As a result, this and other documents, including the exams are subject to change.  Your input is valuable, so please notify us if you have any suggestions. By becoming familiar with the requirements and following the suggestions in this document, thoroughly reviewing the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference and Exam Preparation Manual, taking appropriate training, and studying, you can help to prepare yourself for one of the Green Advantage® exams.  We wish you all the best!

-- The Green Advantage® Team