Green Risk Professional
FIRST GREEN RISK CREDENTIALS ESTABLISHED
Written by Michele Donahue, DKI
Property owners understand the long term advantages of ‘going green’ and insurance carriers have responded with green coverage for new environmentally sustainable construction or renovation following a loss. The Green movement is influencing decision-making in all industries and is important to many people. In response to the markets’ demand for green building, Vale Training Solutions created Green Risks I and II, the first structured courses of their kind, along with Green Risk Professional (GRP™), the first “green” industry credential. The Green Risk Professional ™ training lasts a full week. Every GRP participant has to pass two exams based on the training materials if he or she wishes to become certified.
These unique new courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of the green building movement and address the challenges facing the insurance industry. Students who successfully complete both Green Risks I and Green Risks II earn the Green Risk Professional certification. Offered exclusively at Vale, the GRP designates them as professionals who have excelled in their understanding of green building and green products.
Chris Benson, a Multi-Line Adjuster for Cunningham Lindsey US, Inc, had the following comments after encountering a LEED building after his successful completion of the GRP program. “I looked at my first LEED building today since being at this training course. The contractor even mentioned that he was surprised that an adjuster was out there that knew about the LEED process and how this was different than a "normal construction" job. I thought [Vale Training Solutions] would like to know that being at [this] class paid off big time for me today when I was out there. I would have been pretty confused and looking foolish if not for [Vale Training Solutions] hard work!”
Green upgrade coverage now available through various carriers affords owners of older- traditional buildings the opportunity to install green alternatives and some insurers even pay to upgrade to a green authority’s rating program (after total losses). The real benefit of utilizing a GRP is when owners of traditional buildings that have purchased ‘green upgrades’ suffer a loss. When one of these buildings suffers a loss, a GRP will be able to successfully navigate through the claim. If a person is not familiar with green materials, green products, green rating programs, etc. – the claim can go sour fairly quickly.
Another benefit of utilizing a GRP is that they are able to introduce “green products” at any time an insured may decide to ‘go green’ after any loss, even when there is no green upgrade coverage endorsement. As more restoration professionals implement green alternatives into everyday traditional claims from insured requests, this issue will face every carrier in the U.S. who has sold a traditional homeowner or commercial policy.
Jon McCreath, President of Vale Training Solutions, says “As more carriers offer green coverage, independent adjusters, restoration professionals, and engineers must be adequately trained and possess the expertise and professionalism necessary to understand the makeup of green construction and building products, rating systems and insurance coverage.”
McCreath continued, “Green Risk Certified adjusters and restoration professionals provide the expertise necessary when buildings are insured with 'upgrade to green' endorsements or where restoration/repairs include green measures to replace damaged traditional products.”
Given the importance that the DKI organization puts on the environment and the green movement, DKI ensured that 100% of its 160 plus locations are GRP™ certified. DKI is the leading provider of quality emergency and reconstruction services for commercial, residential and insurance clients throughout North America and the curriculum provided in Vale’s Green Risks courses has allowed DKI to continue at the forefront of industry trends.
“We have pioneered this movement by being the first and only disaster restoration and reconstruction organization to be green risk certified in building reconstruction and restoration services,” said Dale Sailer, president of DKI. “DKI understands that in today’s marketplace, individuals and organizations must do their part in building or creating green environments.”
The entire DKI organization is now adequately trained to provide a superior level of knowledge, expertise, professionalism and customer service to property owners, managers, facility directors, and insurers of green buildings. Not only does DKI understand the makeup of green buildings, products used in green buildings, rating systems and insurance coverage as it relates to these elements, but DKI can ensure that if a green building sustains damage, the building will be restored using the most efficient green products in the marketplace.
In conclusion, Green Risk Professionals can handle claims on green buildings, buildings with green upgrade coverage, and claims where owners just want to ‘go green’. GRP certified companies canwork directly with policyholders and/or carriers to determine what specific actions need to take place to upgrade a building to green status. As each scenario is different, it very much benefits the carrier or policyholder to have a Green Risk Professional assess each situation.
For more information please visit: www.disasterkleenup.com/green
Also visit: www.adjusterinsightsonline.com