LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed in March 2000 by the US Green Building Council. The main concern of LEED is to create a guideline that provides building owners with an understanding of how to have and maintain an environmentally friendly building. This guide can be used for residential as wells as commercial buildings. It goes through all of the process, from the construction process to operation and management.

Certification Levels

LEED uses four certification levels when inspecting a building project. These levels are granted based upon how many points that the project earns. The points are earned depending on the credit criteria categories, which are: Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). There are 100 base points that can be earned from these categories alone, and there are 6 more points available in the Innovation in Design and 4 more in Regional Priority categories. All of these points are allocated depending on how the building’s strategies will impact CO2 emissions and also energy efficiency.

 Process

The process involves five different steps in order to become LEED certified, and is different for each type of building, such as an apartment building or a shopping center or school.

Step 1:

The first step is registering the building. This step involves the owner declaring that he intends to have the building certified. At this time, he is also allowed accessed to materials that will allow for him to apply for the certification. Once the registration fee has been paid (it will be different for each different type of project), the team will be assembled, the process will be available online, and the documentation process then starts.

Step 2:

The LEED team selects the unique credits and documentation for the building, and delegates the different credit categories to each team member. Once the credit categories have been distributed, the documentation will become assembled and the team members will upload all of the material online and the application review process then begins.

Step 3:

At this point, the Project Administrator will submit the application and document prerequisites when it is fully completed and the fee is paid.

Step 4:

Once the application has been submitted, a more formal review occurs.

Step 5:

The last step is certification. The application is sent back to the LEED team members on the project, and they can either accept or refute the decision. The LEED certified projects receive a certificate of recognition and information on how to order plaques and marketing materials. The building owner has the option to allow his building to appear on the online LEED Project Directory page and on the US Department of Energy High Performance Buildings Database.

 Requirements

The LEED certification requirements will differ for each type of project that is under review. Of course, the minimum level of 40 points is required for the building to be certified. 40-49 points is certified, 50-59 is silver, 60-79 is gold, and 80 and higher is platinum. In addition, the registration fee must be paid up front (which is $450 for members of USGBC and $600 for non-members), and the certification fee is based upon the project.

The requirements that all projects must follow before being considered include: following environmental laws, have a site boundary, have minimum occupancy rates, be a complete building, and share whole building water and energy usage data

 Exam

There are 8 different LEED exams that are available to take: LEED Green Associate, LEED AP Building and Design and Construction, LEED AP Operations and Maintenance, LEED AP Interior Design and Construction, LEED AP Homes, LEED AP Neighborhood Development, LEED Fellow, LEED APs without Specialty. Each exam has different requirements that are necessary to have prior to taking the exam, and has a differing fee.

The exams test the student’s understand of the LEED ranking system and the certification process, as well as the specialty that the exam is testing. They are generally two part exams. The application fee is $100, exam fee is $300 if the student is a member or $450 if not (for the combined exam) and $150 and $250 respectively for a single part of the exam. There is an upkeep fee of $50 every two years for each exam.

Classes

The classes that are available correlate to the exam categories. The classes for each subject will provide the student with the knowledge that is necessary to pass the exams. There are various educational institutions that provide these courses, both online and in a physical location depending on the geographical location of the student. There is a debate about whether the classes are necessary prior to taking the exams. It depends on the student and if he feels like he needs additional study assistance prior to taking an exam.

In order to become a LEED Professional, you will need to go through some training and take an exam about the ins and outs of the green construction industry. With a LEED accreditation, you will be able to take your career to new levels and really excel in your position, and you will even be able to work in a higher position. There are several aspects of LEED training: classes, test preparation, and the exam.

Classes

Most LEED training can be done online, and many professionals choose this avenue for their courses. This is because they can take it at their own pace, and they can pause and restart on their own time. The classes are designed to give you all of the information that you will need in order to pass the exam. Of course, the course has a cost, but it depends on where you choose to do your training; all of the prices vary and offer different products that come with the training. Just be sure that your school is accredited by the GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute) before you shell out your hard-earned dollars.

Test Preparation

Now, the course itself will prepare you for the exam. You will have your notes that you diligently took throughout the course, but you will also receive study materials that will help you to study. There are practice tests and test books available online and in bookstores to also help you. Be sure to register and schedule your exam so that you have a deadline date of when you should be prepared to take the exam.

The Exam

The exam is the most important part. When you register for the exam, you will be given a designated location of where you will go to take the exam. The exam is comprised of multiple choice questions, and there may be other types of questions on it as well. For privacy reasons, the exam changes periodically. If you have studied thoroughly and took notes in class, then you should be able to pass the exam on the first try and get your LEED accreditation.

How Long Will it Take?

This is one of the most popular questions that all students ask. The course online takes as long as you want it to because you have total control over how long you stay on each section and if you go back to review anything. The whole process takes a while to finish, though, around 3 months depending on your application. The application process itself may take almost a month to check your references along with other people’s references. Then the course, plus exam preparation, plus taking the actual exam. The exam gets graded relatively quickly, but the final review process may take longer.

What is LEED Certification?

LEED certification is how large or small of a building’s impact is on the environment. Buildings who want to be LEED certified are called green buildings, and their main goal is to decrease the awful impact that their building has on the environment. This includes creating a more economically sound building, from the plumbing to the walls, even to the location (if it is near in proximity to public transportation areas).

What Does it Involve?

LEED certification involves an intense application process that is split up by the type of building (residential, apartment homes, schools, etc.). There are certain requirements that need to be met according to the type of building, and each requirement has a number of points that can be earned. Depending on how high the building scores according to each category, the higher ranking the building will get on the green scale.

Accreditation Process

In order to rank these buildings, there are people who are certified to do so. Now, you may be wondering how to get a LEED accreditation, and we are going to give you a few quick pointers on how to successful become accredited.

1) Three Tiers

The first thing to realize is which tier you are going to be accredited for. There are three of them: LEED Green Associate, LEED AP (with specialty), and LEED Fellow. The very first and most basic professional credential is the Green Associate, so if you are just starting out, then this is the one you will choose. If you already have your Green Associate credential, then the process is just about the same if you are going for the two higher credentials.

2) Requirements

For the LEED Green Associate credential, you are required to have experience of working on a project that was certified or registered for LEED, or the education background, or work experience, and you need to have proof of it. This proof is shown through a letter from a client, teacher, or a supervisor. For the two higher credentials, you must have your certification from the lower professional credentials, along with certain work experience.

3) Submit Application

If you have the sufficient documents that prove that you meet the requirements, then you submit an application.

4) Register for the Exam

If your application has been submitted, then you will get a number that you will use to register for the exam. This whole application process is online, mind you, on the GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute) website. Once you register for the exam, you must then schedule the exam and be prepared to take it. There are various study materials available for you online to prepare you for this.

5) Exam

The exam is essentially the last step in this process. You will go to your designated testing center and take the exam. If you pass the exam, then you have your LEED accreditation!

What is the LEED Rating System?

In order for a building to becoming LEED certified, the building must meet minimum requirements. These requirements are determined by a LEED rating system.  The rating system involves breaking the rankings into different categories, which are: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

Categories

These categories have a maximum and minimum number of points needed to pass each one, and they must all total up to at least 40. The rating system is broken down into four categories of certification. Earning 40-49 points is certified and is the bare minimum, 50-59 is silver, 60-79 is gold, and 80 and higher is platinum. Reaching a platinum level is the ultimate level, and the building will be stored in the database of the US Green Building Council and may be eligible to be stored in a type of hall-of-fame portfolio of the highest accredited green buildings.

Different Rating Systems

Rating systems are not universal; there are so many types of buildings that are constructed for different purposes that it wouldn’t make sense to have just one rating system. Instead, types of buildings are broken down into categories that are dependent upon the building’s purpose. These categories are: new construction, existing buildings: operation and maintenance, commercial interiors, core and shell, schools, retail, healthcare, homes, and neighborhood development.

With all of these different types of construction, there is no way that these buildings can be ranked on the same things. For example, buildings for retail stores are not going to have to have the same building layouts as homes or healthcare facilities. The latter buildings are going to require having more extensive plumbing as well as different types of lighting and lighting fixtures, which are only a few of the differences.

Guidelines

Each rating system has a set guideline that lists the minimum requirements and prerequisites that are necessary to fulfill prior to a building being eligible to certify. Again, these requirements will differ with each category. In addition, under each category, there are different rating systems, so it is important to thoroughly understand the type of building that is being created in order to pick the correlating rating system. If the project falls between more than one rating system because of the different aspects of the project like the construction and space usage type, then choose the one that the project falls under more. The LEED team is fully responsible for choosing the correct rating system; if an incorrect one is chosen, the project will be denied during the application process and the team will have to figure out which rating system is the right one before re-submitting the application.

LEED certified buildings are construction projects that have been awarded points from the LEED certification scale that determines how compliant the building is with the environment. The scale has different levels (certified, silver, gold, and platinum), and each level has a certain minimum number of points required. There are a total of 100 available points, which are based upon different categories, which are: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

Green Buildings

A green building is one that is built or renovated to operate in a way that will be less harmful to the environment. They are resource-efficient and promote the occupants of the building to have a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. These buildings are often located near in proximity to public transit stations in order to encourage the occupants to be less reliant on driving to their destinations. They are also energy-efficient, and are installed with special lighting that relies on less energy. The water is also used efficiently due to being installed with dual plumbing that recycles water in addition to having low-flow showers and toilets. The upfront cost of a green building is relatively high, but the energy cost savings in the long run will make up the initial capital.

Requirements

There are categories of building types that all have different requirements for certification. There are a multitude of LEED rating systems for all of the different buildings that are constructed. For example, the guidelines for the construction of a school are different than the requirements for an office building or a healthcare facility. The rating scale also differs from the maintenance and renovations of existing buildings and new buildings. For example, a new building that has sufficient bicycle racks to encourage employees to bike to work will earn 1 point. The minimum number of points required to be considered certified is 40 points. The points are distributed between the topics of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Regardless of the type of building, it will still be scaled according to these categories, but the point distribution will vary.

Standards

Essentially, a green building has a standard of being less impactful on the environment while also providing a facility that will inspire the occupants to be more productive and environmentally-conscious. Since 40 points is the minimum that is required to certify a building, the different categories previously mentioned have different weights in regards to the 40 points. The building must have the minimum level of points required in each category to total the 40 points. Again, the weight of each category and point level will change with every type of construction project.

Becoming LEED accredited entails many positive aspects, such as opening up new avenues for career paths as well as impressing future employers with the credentials. LEED professionals are responsible for the process of getting a new building LEED certified. This process involves a lot of steps and following a lot of rules in order to certify a new building to be compliant with current environmental laws. There are different levels of LEED accreditation, but LEED Green Associate is the most basic level.

Why Get Accredited?

LEED Green Associates know the basic knowledge of the green design and construction process. They will be able to work on LEED projects and apply the point system in order to certify buildings on how well they comply with environmental laws. Employers look fondly on candidates who are already certified so that they don’t have to spend their time or resources on training a new candidate. This field is ever-growing, and a person who is accredited will be able to have a leg up on their competition.

Prior Requirements

There are certain requirements that have to be met before one can become a LEED Green Associate. The candidate needs to have prior experience with LEED. This can come in the form of either working on a LEED-registered project, employment in a relatable field, or having taken classes in the subject of green building principles. In order for the experience to be a source, there will need to be a letter written by the supervisor of the project he or she was working on, or from an instructor.

Application Process

Once the letter has been obtained, then the candidate can apply to take the exam that is required to taken in order to become accredited. The application can be found on the GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute) website. The application process involves uploading the letter, in addition to filling out eligibility requirements. The exam fee is also paid at this time, which is $50 or $100, depending on if the candidate is a member of the GBCI. The test-taker can also inquire about student discount if he or she in enrolled in a LEED exam preparation course. The course is not required for getting accreditation; however, many people choose to take the course because it helps with the exam.

Registration

Now, the application process is complete and all that there is left to do is to register for the exam and schedule when it will be taken.  Once registration is complete, a registration number will be provided, which will need to be shown on the exam date.  There are many ways to prepare for the exam, including going to the GBCI website and finding sample questions and testing materials, in addition to taking a preparation course.

Post-Exam

Once the exam is taken, the scores will be posted on the test-takers’ GBCI online account no more than 72 hours after the exam day. If a passing score is obtained, then he or she will be accredited and will be able to expand their employment possibilities.