The National Association of Home Builders announced it has certified 1,500 industry pros under its Certified Green Professionals designation, an increase of 500 since mid-August.

The CGP designation, launched in February, signifies the recipient has completed 24 hours of classroom training and has a minimum of two years of industry experience, among other requirements.

As reported previously in EcoHome, the 1,500-designee mark is triple what the association had hoped to achieve by the end of the year.

According to the NAHB announcement, Michigan builder and remodeler Ralph Pagnucco Jr. was the program’s 1,500th designee. His company will submit its first project under the GreenBuilt Michigan green building standard, which is based on the NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines, next week, and has committed to building all its homes green certified.