Changes Made to LEED Program
WASHINGTON — A revamped LEED accreditation system was introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the organization’s green building rating and certification system.
The revamped accreditation program includes specialized credential classifications, a more rigorous certification process and new maintenance requirements. The programmatic overhaul encourages professionals to keep abreast of developments in green building principles, knowledge, technology, strategies and practices, and ensure proficiency with LEED rating systems and project certification standards, officials say.
The USGBC developed the credentialing program in 2000 to recognize LEED rating system expertise among building industry professionals and to support the application of proven strategies for the improvement and measurement of building performance.
Approximately 75,000 industry professionals have attained LEED AP accreditation since the inception of the program, which has been administered by the Green Building Certification Institute since 2007.
The new accreditation system features a three-tiered structure of credentials — LEED Green Associate, Accredited Professional and Fellow — with incremental requirements that recognize proficiency, areas of specialization and project experience.
Project experience is not a consideration in the current accreditation process, which required a score of approximately 85 percent or better on an 80-question examination and payment of a one-time fee.
Under the new system, individuals in the green building field with limited exposure to LEED projects, such as manufacturer representatives or students, can apply for the basic credential of Green Associate.
The revised Accredited Professional credential (AP+) includes new designations to denote specialization. Candidates must have professional experience on at least one LEED project. Separate examinations will test levels of core knowledge and proficiency in an area of specialization that corresponds to one of the various LEED rating systems.
Legacy AP’s — professionals who attained the LEED AP credential prior to May 2009 — must opt into the new system’s maintenance requirements, code of ethics and disciplinary policies, within two years to retain accreditation.
Legacies will not be required to retake an examination. The GBCI will assign a specialization designation based on project experience.
The most advanced credential, AP Fellow, will recognize professionals who have made major contributions to the green building field, its body of knowledge and standards of practice. The accreditation process will include peer review of the candidate’s project portfolio.
The new system will increase the rigor of the professional accreditation process to ensure professionals adhere to green building practice, rating and certification requirements and standards, officials say.
The move to separate the development of LEED standards within the USGBC from their maintenance and enforcement under the GBCI is designed to enhance the integrity of the green building rating system and certification process in accordance with domestic and international certification standards.
In January, the USGBC transferred administration of the LEED project certification process to the GBCI, which will work with selected third-party certification bodies to evaluate project submissions.
“Moving the administration of LEED certification under GBCI will continue to support market transformation by delivering auditable third-party certification,” says Alice Soulek, USGBC vice president of LEED development. “It also allows USGBC to stick to the knitting of advancing the technical and scientific basis of LEED.”
Previously, all LEED submissions were reviewed by the USGBC with the support of independently contracted reviewers.
A New LEED
In November, the USGBC’s 18,000 member organizations also approved a major revision of the LEED rating system that emphasizes new technologies and environmental issues.
LEED 2009 re-weights rating system credits to favor design areas and initiatives that mitigate climate change and impact energy efficiency, carbon emissions and resource conservation.
The adjustment increases the points available for design strategies, such as the on-site use of renewable energy sources, water-efficient landscaping, and public transit access.
A new regional credit component provides additional points for adaptive strategies tailored to a project’s local conditions and environmental zone.
LEED 2009 emphasizes process innovation and flexibility with a new pilot process for individual credits. The initiative will allow major new technical advancements to be trialed, evaluated and incorporated into the rating system and certification process, officials say.
The revised rating system, which includes a new Neighborhood Development track, consolidates criteria common to all project types into a unified pool of core credits to create a more streamlined system of general requirements and market-specific credits.
The revised credit alignment and interpretation rulings structure will enhance rating system functionality, harmonization and clarity, officials say.