Schommer & Sons assigned Morgan the task of learning about LEED for the company and overseeing every aspect of the green building process on the Rocket.

To prepare himself for the project, Morgan started by reading up on LEED. He studied the Green Building Council's LEED materials, took a green building course at Portland Community College and talked to peers at networking events and industry associations about the green-building process.

"It's great to take the courses and know what's going on in preparation for a LEED project," Carrington Barrs, owner of Barrs and Genauer Construction Inc. and a PCC instructor, said. "You need a contractor that's really dialed in, and you start with a course to get the concept and really understand what it is. "

Ready. Set. Go.

Once Morgan had the basic LEED vocabulary in place, he began work with a green building consultant to come up with construction specifications. But the real work for the contractor lies in making sure everyone involved in the project is on board and aware of the project's requirements, Morgan said.

"Mainly, the big piece is planning," he said. "All the pieces have to fit together. "

LEED contractors must be meticulous in sorting and recycling materials on site, and in reading labels and sourcing materials to ensure LEED standards are met.