Top 5 Tips (in Order!) for Becoming a
LEED Green Associate
Jeff Nippes
Director of Content Development - RedVector
1. You Need to “Go Green”
Why do you need a LEED credential?
Not because you’re a tree-hugging radical on fire about global warming – but because in the worst economic downturn in 70+ years, with the construction industry hit especially hard – green jobs are still growing exponentially. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), between the dawn of the new millennium (2000) and 2008, the green construction market:
• Generated $173 million in gross national product (GDP)
• Supported more than 2.4 million jobs
• Provided $123 million in labor earnings
But more importantly, the study forecasts that between 2009 and 2013, green construction will:
• Pump more than $554 million into the economy
• Support more than 7.9 million jobs
• Provide 396 million in labor earnings
Is there any good reason you don’t want your cut of that pie? In addition, according to some of the latest findings (referenced in the whitepaper “An Inconvenient Value” from Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP at http://www.awarenessintoaction.com/whitepapers/getting-the-true-assessment-of-a-leed-certified-buildings-value.html):
• An initial investment of just 2 percent in green design can result in a tenfold savings for the building owner
• LEED buildings can generate a 7 to 12 percent increase in net operating income by reducing operating cost
2. Create an Account with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)
It would seem like a no-brainer, but this step is not as instantaneously intuitive as you might expect. You can read a lot about the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the GBCI (which administers LEED Credentials and Exams), and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating SystemTM (LEED) without creating an account, but if you want to take the test, your log-in is required (so you can follow all the other instructions).
The quick cheat, simple as it is, may save you a bit of navigation: Just click on “Sign in” on the upper right-hand side of the screen and you’ll be prompted to “Sign Up for a GBCI Website Account.” The rest is as intuitive as you’d hope!
3. Download the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) Candidate Handbook – It’s Free!
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is the most important governing body for green construction work in the nation, and they set the standards for LEED Certification. The GBCI is the independent, third-party organization that administers all LEED Professional Credentials and Exams. Your first step for attaining your LEED Green Associate Credential is to download the Candidate Handbook, which will give you precise instructions for applying for the LEED Green Associate Credential (or any other LEED Credential).
The quickest way to do this from the GBCI website’s homepage (www.gbci.org) is to click “Professional Credentials” on the left-hand navigation bar and select “LEED Green Associate.” Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “View more information and the Exam Guide. Scroll to the bottom of that page, and you’ll see a link to select that will allow you to read the handbook.
You can also go to www.usgbc.org, click on “LEED” in the navigation bar at the top, and select “Professional Credentials” from the drop-down menu. There, you will find the link you need to download the Candidate Handbook.
4. Know Your Eligibility Requirements
According to GBCI, at or around the beginning of 2010 there were less than 2,000 LEED Certified Green Associates…and as of August the same year, there are more than there are 8,230. The LEED Green Associate is the fastest growing credential, in part because the prerequisites are the most flexible – there are three options for attaining eligibility. The one non-negotiable point is that you must take and pass the LEED Green Associate Exam – but you can qualify to take it by meeting any one of the following criteria:
• Documented involvement on a project registered or certified for LEED;
• Employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work;
• Engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles.
Your experience must be documented in the form of a letter from a supervisor, client, project manager, or teacher that details your involvement on the project, on the job, or in the classroom. The content of the letter must include specific information, depending upon the option under which you are claiming eligibility. You can read more about what the letter must contain at http://www.gbci.org/Exam-Guide/Eligibility/LEED-Green-Associate.aspx.
Once you are eligible to take the Green Associate Exam, you apply for the test by following the instructions you’ll find.
5. Study, Study, Study!
RedVector Director of Product Development Jeff Nippes, who achieved his Green Associate certification in 2010, states that preparation and study are essential to success on the exam.
“One important aspect of studying is making a plan,” says Nippes. “Whether it’s one hour a day, five times a week or two hours three times a week, you should set the time aside and stick to it. Also, the USGBC provides a tremendous number of resources – and you should use them, along with outside sources of information. Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the format of the test and the types of questions you can expect. And make sure you know all the acronyms – there are a ton of them, from ASHRAE and VOCs to IENSA and more. If you know a number of people who are going for their credential, put together a green “power team” and hold study groups.”
Finally, Nippes recommends reading and re-reading all the questions to make sure you understand them when you’re actually taking the test, and using all the allotted time to review your answers once you’re finished.
Earning a LEED credential is less a trendy option in today’s market than it is a tool for survival – and few of us can afford to waste the investment of time, energy and money the field requires. The less you leave to chance by doing your homework thoroughly, the better your chances will be when it’s time to put your knowledge to the test.