CI-2009 IDc2: LEED Accredited Professional

  • LEED AP as integral team member

    You can easily earn this point, simply by including a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) as an integral member of the project team. Since the LEED certification process relies on detailed understanding of LEED, having a LEED AP on board benefits the project and can save significant time and effort, while earning your project a point with this credit.

    The LEED AP needs to be involved as a “principal participant” from the start of the project, according to the credit language.

    LEED AP specialties

    The LEED AP credential program was overhauled in spring 2009. Anyone becoming a LEED AP before then is equally eligible to contribute to this credit.

    LEED AP logoOne of the features of the new LEED AP system is “LEED AP+” specialties corresponding to the different LEED rating systems. For an Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)) project, a LEED AP ID+C should have specific design and construction knowledge and project experience, and is probably worth seeking out.

    A LEED Green Associate is a lower-tier credential compared to a LEED AP and will not earn the credit.

    Earning the LEED AP credential

    LEED credentials tableBecoming a LEED AP will lead to some costs related to exam preparation, the exam registration fee of several hundred dollars, and any training manuals or classes. However, unlike other credits that may require capital investments, these expenses may be considered normal professional development, and will benefit this project and future projects as the individual applies their LEED and green building knowledge.

    To be eligible to take the exam, you must have experience working on at least one LEED project within the last three years, as wel as having a letter of recommendation.

Legend

  • Best Practices
  • Gotcha
  • Action Steps
  • Cost Tip

Schematic Design

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  • Identify if any integral member of the project team has obtained LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) status.  

  • A LEED AP should be significantly involved throughout the project. There are no specific requirements or actions that the LEED AP must be responsible for, but there are recommendations below for Design Development and beyond.

  • A LEED project team is generally made up of owners, engineers, architects, interior designers, landscape designers, civil engineers, commissioning agents, contractors and other professionals.  Some projects will also include energy auditors, LEED consultants, operations personnel, and representatives from service contractors. Any of these individuals may be a LEED AP, or may find it worthwhile to become one.

  • Any type of LEED AP—one with or without specialization—can qualify the project for this credit.

  • A team member holding the LEED Green Associate credential would contribute to the project with background knowledge in green building, but this lower-tier credential does not qualify the project for this credit.

  • The LEED AP credential program was overhauled in spring 2009. Although the credential is now being administered very differently, anyone who already received the LEED AP designation before these updated requirements is still equally eligible to contribute to this credit. 

  • A LEED Accredited Professional who has worked on the specific rating system your project is filing under will be more effective than one who has worked on other rating systems or on no LEED projects at all.

  • If project team does not include a LEED AP, consider hiring a LEED AP to assist with the project, or asking one or more team members to become LEED APs. The LEED AP credential should be earned prior to the start of the project. Doing so ensures that person’s availability in assisting with planning before the start of the design. 

  • It is more helpful to have a LEED AP that is not directly responsible for design as the LEED AP will ideally be assisting all design and construction trades to ensure the LEED process is on track.  It may be difficult for a LEED AP to effectively manage the LEED process if, for example, they are also responsible for the architectural design. 

  • Becoming a LEED AP will lead to some costs related to exam preparation, the exam registration fee of several hundred dollars, and any training manuals or classes. However, unlike other credits that may require capital investments, these expenses may be considered normal professional development, and will benefit the project building in many ways as the individual applies that green building knowledge.

  • There is no formal training required to pass the exam and become a LEED AP. The cost of exam preparation can be reduced through independent studying and use of free information on green building. 

Design Development

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  • The LEED AP needs to be an integral member of the project team, but there are no specific requirements that will hold true for all projects. Below are recommended action steps.

  • The LEED AP helps the design team set appropriate LEED credit goals and works with all aspects of the design team helping to ensure that the goals are met.  

  • Orient team members to their exact responsibilities and what they will need to deliver as part of the LEED submittal. 

  • Decide whether the project will do a phased submittal—with a Design submittal of eligible credits, prior to a Construction submittal. A phased submittal gives you an official opinion on whether you are on track to receive a specific credit, or not.  This gives you a chance to adjust your approach on any rejected credits, and make changes during construction to earn additional credits to meet a certification target.

Construction Documents

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  • Review all Design credit submittals as documentation comes in from all the team members. If you are doing a phased submittal, submit all Design credits at the end of Construction Documents.

Construction

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  • LEED AP certificateProvide a scanned copy of the LEED AP certificate and confirm the LEED AP status as an integral project team member.

  • Coordinate the collection and submission of all LEED documentation, working with all team members involved in the construction phase of the project. Review all documentation as it comes in.

  • If you are doing a phased submittal, submit all construction documents at the end of construction.  If you are not doing a phased submittal, submit all design and construction documents at the end of construction. 

  • USGBC

    Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors

    COPYRIGHT © 2009 BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    ID Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional

    1 Point

    Intent

    To support and encourage the design integration required by LEED to streamline the application and certification process.

    Requirements

    At least 1 principal participant of the project team shall be a LEED Accredited Professional (AP).

    Potential Technologies & Strategies

    Educate the project team members about green building design and construction, the LEED requirements and application process early in the life of the project. Consider assigning integrated designAn integrated design process (also called "integrative" design by some proponents) relies on a multidisciplinary and collaborative team approach in which members make decisions together based on a shared vision and holistic understanding of the project. Rather than a conventional linear design process in which a design is passed from one professional to another, an integrated process has all key team members talking together through out the design and construction process as they share ideas and use feedback across disciplines to iteratively move toward a high-performing design. and construction process facilitation to the LEED AP.

Organizations

Green Building Certification Institute

GBCI is the organization running the LEED credentialing programs, and provides information on obtaining LEED AP+ designation, including test registration.

Construction Submittal

HardhatDocumentation for this credit is part of the Construction Phase submittal.

15 Comments

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Alicja Florczak Skanska
Aug 10 2012
LEEDuser Member
516 Thumbs Up

LEED AP registering a CI project

I'm a LEED AP BD+C and I'm going to register a CI project in LEED 2009 system. Am I eligible to be a project administrator (register and lead the project) for CI project or does it have to be a LEED AP with ID+C specialty?
How is it in LEED 2012? Thank You for your help!

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Sep 02 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Alicja, there are absolutely no credentialing restrictions on how can register and administer a LEED project, of any version.

In drafts of LEED v4, you have to be a LEED AP with the appropriate specialty to earn the LEED AP credit. That is not the case for LEED 2009.

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Cyril Knabe-Nicol
Feb 20 2012
Guest
38 Thumbs Up

LEEP AP,

Hello, everyone, I just wanted to have clarification regarding the LEED AP, if we have in the design team or in the team undertaking the Assessment someone who is a LEED AP. Does this person need to be the one lodgingLodging are facilities that provide overnight accommodations to customers or guests, including hotels, motels, inns and resorts. the assessment with USGBC. Or can someone else lodge the assessment and we can demonstrate that the LEED AP was involved during the design and construction of the project?

Thanks

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 21 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Cyril, what are you referring to when you say "assessment"?

Generally the LEED AP simply needs to be an "integral member" of the project team—there are no specific assigned responsibilities.

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Adam Targowski Owner ATsec
Sep 12 2011
LEEDuser Member
573 Thumbs Up

LEED AP

In LEED CI can we get one point for having LEED AP BD+C involved in the project or does it have to be LEED AP ID+C?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Sep 12 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Adam, for LEED 2009 and earlier LEED systems, the type of specialty, or even whether you have one, is not relevant to earning IDc2. This appears likely to change for LEED 2012.

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Adam Targowski Owner, ATsec Sep 13 2011 LEEDuser Member 573 Thumbs Up

Then will we get 1 point for having LEED AP BD+C involved in the LEED 2009 project? I think that now there's only an option to pass an exam with specialty, you cannot pass an exam for LEED AP without a specialty, is that right? How can we get one point for this credit?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Sep 13 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Adam, if you are not already a LEED AP, then you can only become a LEED AP with specialty through taking the exam. Thousands of people are LEED APs without specialty because they were  grandfathered in through the system that was in place prior to May 2009.

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Michelle Bracewell-Musson Owner, LEED AP Musson General Contracting & Green Expectations Sustainability Solutions
Feb 26 2011
LEEDuser Member
654 Thumbs Up

LEED AP Certificate

Thank you for your comments. I have gone to USGBC and into the My Account section and looked in Personal Information, Membership, Accreditation, etc. and still cannot find it. I can find one for me to download for my own purposes, however, not faound ther place for me to download it to my specific projects' section. I apologize if this is obvious, but I cannot find it. Thank you.

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 26 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Michelle, when you say you have gone to USGBC, are we talking about the same thing? I am referring to LEED Online -- LEEDonline.com, not USGBC.org. Click on your account at the top of the screen. Click the box for LEED AP accreditation. Upload your certificate.

Does that work?

By the way, this commenting process works better if you click "post a reply" for an existing discussion like the one we're having, rather than "start a new LEED comment thread."

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Michelle Bracewell-Musson Owner, LEED AP, Musson General Contracting & Green Expectations Sustainability Solutions Feb 27 2011 LEEDuser Member 654 Thumbs Up

Tristan,

i appreciate your clarity as I was going to USGBC.org! I have now uploaded it and also know how to reply properly - thanks for that too!

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Michelle Bracewell-Musson Owner, LEED AP Musson General Contracting & Green Expectations Sustainability Solutions
Feb 25 2011
LEEDuser Member
654 Thumbs Up

LEED AP

I understand that I need to upload somewhere. Do I do it on the GBCI and USGBC general membership or is there a particular area I need to go to on my project?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 25 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

When logged in to LEED ONline, click on your account at the top of the screen. You can upload your certificate there.

Post a Reply
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Michelle Bracewell-Musson Owner, LEED AP Musson General Contracting & Green Expectations Sustainability Solutions
Feb 25 2011
LEEDuser Member
654 Thumbs Up

LEED AP

While researching the Team Members for LEED AP certification, I noticed under mine (I am a LEED AP) that it said my certificate was not uploaded and that I was not an AP. How do I update this?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 25 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

I think it should be self-explanatory.... is there a particular step in the process that's not working for you?

Post a Reply

Start a new LEED comment thread

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