Designers, engineers and others in the South Florida construction industry are signing up for the Green Ready Certificate Program, an 18-hour course offered at two Broward County technical schools for those who want to learn more about green building practices.

The new program prepares students to sit for the Green Associate exam offered by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Building Certification Institute. The Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge in green design, construction and operations for those interested in LEED, an independent and widely recognized rating system for structures with environmentally preferable features.

The program is considered an intro to LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The system rates schools, libraries and other buildings based on land use, energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste reduction and indoor air quality.

Instructor Olga G. Alvarez says the information is designed to be useful to various fields, from those who design, engineer and build structures to vendors selling products and services.

``I'd like the students to understand what the LEED process is all about,'' Alvarez says. ``It's not mumbo jumbo. It's not a completely new buildingmethod. It's just putting together parts and pieces in a very systematic way. It benefits everyone overall.''

The Green Ready Program, launched this past summer, is offered at Sheridan Technical Center in Hollywood and Atlantic Technical Center in Coconut Creek. The fee is $108.

Although the focus is on LEED, the class is not affiliated with the U.S. Green Building Council, the nonprofit that sets LEED standards and offers professional credentials to those who pass its exams.

Alvarez, a commercial interior designer, has earned status as a LEED Accredited Professional and is former president of the U.S. Green Building Council South Florida Chapter. She says a key to green projects is a building strategy that uses a team approach with members from various aspects of the project.

Tania Charlez, a general contractor, enrolled in Alvarez's course at Sheridan Technical Center after hearing her speak at another construction-related educational program. Now she's studying for the LEED exam, using flash cards and practice tests.

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