NC-v2.2 IDc2: LEED Accredited Professional

  • NC_Schools_CS_CI_IDc2_Type1_LEEDAP-Final Diagram

  • 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 who received LEED AP recognition 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 a "Design and Construction" project, a LEED AP BD+C (for “building design and construction”) 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.

    As part of the updated requirements, to be eligible to take the exam, you must have
    experience working on at least one LEED project within the last three
    years, as well 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 for New Construction and Major Renovations Version 2.2

    COPYRIGHT © 2005 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 a LEED for New Construction green building project and 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 & construction and application of the LEED Rating System early in the life of the project. Consider assigning the LEED AP as a facilitator of an 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. & construction process.

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.

LEED Online Sample Template – IDc2

 

This template is the flattened, public version of the dynamic template for this credit that is used within LEED-Online v2 by registered project teams. This and other public versions of LEED credit templates come from the USGBC website, and are posted on LEEDuser with USGBC's permission. You'll need to fill out the live version of this template on LEED Online to document this credit.

 

USGBC

Official LEED Online Forms

Construction Submittal

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

7 Comments

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Eirini Matsouki Atkins
Dec 22 2011
LEEDuser Member
136 Thumbs Up

LEED AP consistency

Does the credit require the same LEED AP from start to end of the project to earn this credit? What if the LEED AP leaves the company and he is replaced by another LEED AP – can this credit be met?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 22 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Eirini, there is no hard and fast rule about this, so it's up to interpretation, but I would say so. Look at the intent behind the credit and ensure it's being met, and perhaps include a short narrative with your submission for this credit describing the transition and how the intent was met.

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Terry Squyres Principal GWWO Inc./Architects
Nov 19 2010
LEEDuser Member
576 Thumbs Up

Legacy LEED APs

Are Legacy LEED APs going to be required to pay a $50 biennial fee to maintain their status? I was under the impression that they could maintain their status without fees. Is that incorrect? Thanks

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 19 2010 LEEDuser Moderator

That is correct, there is no fee or other requirements to remain a legacy LEED AP. You only have to incur fees to upgrade to an AP with specialty.

Note that in the current draft of the next version of LEED (planned release at the end of 2012), "legacy" LEED APs will no longer contribute to the LEED AP credit. You can learn more and leave a public comment here.

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Terry Squyres Principal, GWWO Inc./Architects Nov 19 2010 LEEDuser Member 576 Thumbs Up

Thanks Tristan. Our firm is considering the 2012 changes, thanks to summary from EBN, and deciding on a direction for our Legacy LEED APs.

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Mohamed Ravuthar, LEED AP, BD+C Green Building Coordinator mecsd
Nov 01 2010
Guest
394 Thumbs Up

About LEED

Is LEED credits submittal review consistent with all projects or it is depend on the reviewer team

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 02 2010 LEEDuser Moderator

All LEED projects are subject to the same requirements, and reviewers should apply those requirements equally to all projects. In most cases the data entered in LEED Online forms is very objective and review teams have an objective basis for accepting or rejecting credits. However, reviewers have gained a reputation for being a bit inconsistent, so it's something to watch out for. Always document your credits as well as possible to give yourself the best chance of success.

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May 25 2013
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