Education and Training

LEED Now Has Three Shades of Green

By Kathy Bergstrom

More than 80,000 people have the LEED Accredited Professional designation, but until now the system has lumped beginners together with more experienced professionals.

The proliferation of sustainable projects, such as the Chicago Center for Green Technology, and LEED-accredited professionals has led to a three-tier system.

That changes under a new, three-tiered system that is being phased in this year by the Green Building Certification Institute, the Washington-based organization that administers Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for buildings and grants credentials for people.

The certification institute was created last year to take over the duties of project certification and granting credentials from the U.S. Green Building Council to separate the regulating body from the certification arm, says Rick Toller, the institute’s director of communications.

Under the old system, which began in 2001, professionals took one test to receive the LEED AP designation.

Within the group of current LEED APs, “there is a very much a strata,” Toller says.

People range from college students planning to study architecture to professionals with experience on multiple LEED-certified projects.

The institute changed the system to recognize those who have greater levels of experience and to ensure that professionals keep up with advances in the industry.

The Power of Three

Here’s a synopsis of the three levels:

LEED Green Associate: The first step for a professional. Attests to the candidate’s knowledge of good environmental practice and skills and reflects understanding and support of green design, construction and operations.

advertisement

Likely candidates would be college students, lawyers, real estate agents and employees of construction firms who don’t work directly on projects. Candidates take one test to receive the designation.

LEED AP+: Signifies an advanced knowledge of green building practices. These professionals earn their credentials in one or more of five specialties: building design and construction; operations and maintenance; interior design and construction; homes; and neighborhood development.

Candidates take a two-part exam. The first one is the same as the LEED Green Associate, but the second test will cover the area of specialization.

LEED AP Fellow: An elite class of leading professionals. Fellows contribute to the standards of practice and body of knowledge for achieving continuous improvement in the green building field.

Qualifications for this designation are still under development and could be completed later this year, Toller says.

All levels also must agree to a disciplinary policy, and each has a continuing-education requirement.

Cindy Finstad, construction executive in Milwaukee of Minneapolis-based contractor M.A. Mortenson Co., says the biggest change for the company will be tracking continuing education for its staff.

“What’s important is that they continue their education, that they keep up to date on the newest things going on out there,” Finstad adds.

The LEED Green Associate exam will be launched in May, although a beta test was offered in February. The exams for areas of specialization for the LEED AP+ will begin in spring and summer, with the last one—neighborhood development—planned for 2010.

Those who already have the LEED AP credentials will not lose them, Toller says. At some point, however, there will be a distinction in the U.S. Green Building Council’s database between LEED AP and LEED AP+.

There will likely be an incentive to pursue the specialization. “That’s our expectation that the marketplace will make the distinction, and more people will want to migrate over and upgrade,” Toller adds.

LEED APs who want to upgrade have the option of taking the second part of the LEED AP+ exam or completing a prescribed education plan by 2011.

Ups and Downs

Heather Stair, education and member services director for the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, says it’s difficult to predict how many professionals will seek the new designations, and that the market will determine that.

She says the new system is just now being publicized, so she hasn’t yet received a lot of questions.

It’s always a good idea for professionals to stay on top of industry developments, Stair says. “LEED is only going to get bigger,” and companies that don’t buy into it are not going to be able to compete as well as they’d like, she adds.

The new requirements will affect how Hunzinger Construction Co. of Brookfield, Wis., introduces its employees to LEED, says John Hunzinger, president. The company encourages all of its employees to become LEED-accredited professionals.

Hunzinger has just started talking about the impact the new system will have on its educational programs.

“We’re going to continue to encourage our people to pursue the accreditation,” Hunzinger adds. “It’s a different process now.”

All employees in Hunzinger’s project management and preconstruction departments have LEED credentials because “they need to understand what affect sustainable construction has and what LEED certification may have on the delivery process,” Hunzinger says.

All of the employees in the firm’s Sustainable Building Solutions consulting arm also have the credentials, he adds. LEED credentialed employees at both companies total about 40.