Oct 18 2010
In an effort to create an industry standard, the interNational Association of Lighting Management Companies will unveil the first, and only, sustainability certification for lighting professionals this fall.
“The industry is changing at a very rapid pace,” said Jim Frank, NALMCO board president and division manager for Facility Solutions Group, a national provider of lighting and electrical products and services. “One of the most pressing issues is sustainability. This new certification addresses that head on.”
The certification – named CSLC for Certified Sustainable Lighting Consultant – will be a seal of approval ensuring that a lighting professional has expertise in creating and maintaining lighting systems that use long-lived, energy-efficient products that minimize impacts on the environment and society.
Since the early 1950’s, NALMCO has been a leader in developing industry standards that promote quality services and ethical practices in the lighting industry.
The association is comprised of nearly 150 member companies, representing thousands of individuals, who identify and implement millions of dollars in energy savings each year. Many members are small business owners. International member companies include General Electric, Osram SYLVANIA and Philips.
The certification will be earned through an exam that tests 10 areas of knowledge, touching upon such topics as materials, recycling, transportation, light pollution, manufacturing and other environmental impacts. Only individuals who are already Certified Lighting Management Consultants, another NALMCO certification, are eligible to take the exam.
While other certifications, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, focus on overall building performance, NALMCO’s certification focuses solely on sustainable lighting systems.
“A lot of time and hard work went into developing this sustainability certification,” said Alison Ryan, NALMCO executive director. “We are excited to be announcing a certification that meets the needs and challenges of our industry.”
Source: http://www.nalmco.org/