Maria Mercedes Hernandez was born in Caracas Venezuela where she earned her degree as Interior Designer . She moved to United State 30 yrs ago and became the Founder and CEO of Maches Décor Inc and H & H Design and Construction. She became certified as Leader in Energy and Environmental Design with specialization in Interior Design and Construction, (LEED AP ID+C), and Building Analyst, specializing her on sustainability, design and construction of healthier buildings with less impact on the environment and more resilience.
As a Federal contractor for FEMA, she help on the recovery efforts on the wake of the Sandy aftermath to hundreds of families affected by the disaster in NJ. Witnessing all the suffering and so many negative environmental impacts, strength, her dedication and commitment for sustainability and green practices implementation.
In 2014 she became certified by the US Department of Energy as a verifier for the ZERO Energy Ready homes program that ensure outstanding levels of energy savings, comfort, health, and durability for new homes.
As an environmental activist she became the first Green voice for the City of Weston writing on the Ciudad Weston Newspaper about sustainability, conservation, Indoor Air Quality, Climate change and disaster mitigation. As a project Leader for Hands on Broward she had been in charge on environmental projects since 2013.
With her desire to help the people in need, she was awarded a certificate by the Broward Sheriff’s Office as CERT becoming member of the Weston Community Response Team and The President’s Citizen corps.
DEGREE AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- DOE Zero Energy Homes Verifier (2013)
- EPA Indoor Airplus Verifier (2013)
- BUILDING ANALYST (2011)
- LEED ID+C (2011)
- LEED AP (2010)
- DISASTER INSPECTOR (2010)
- ESTIMATING TURNER BOOT CAMP (2009)
- CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (2009)
- CERTIFIED GENERAL CONTRACTOR (2008)
- INTERIOR DESIGNER (1987)
CONTINUE EDUCATION CERTIFICATION
- HOUSEHOLD HAZARD MATERIALS (FEMA 2011)
- THE COMFORT ZONE (Mc Graw Hill Construction 2011)
- CARBON CHALLENGE (APA 2011)
- HARVESTING RAIN: SYSTEM DESIGN (Mc Graw Hill Construction 2011)
- THE RISE OF RETROFIT (Mc Graw Hill Construction 2010)
- INTRODUCTION LEED FOR HOMES ( USGBC 2009)
- THE GREENING OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS (Mc Graw Hill Construction 2009)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
- Volunteer of the Year - Heart of the Community: HandsOn Broward - October 2014
Emerald Heart Award:
Ciudad Weston Newspaper - June 2014Greenbuild 2013 Schoolarship: U. S. Green Building Council -
