LEED Professional Accreditaion Program

LEED AP Credential Now Administered Through GBCI.org

Over the last seven years, the LEED Professional Accreditation program has verified that more than 43,000 building professionals have an understanding of green building techniques, the LEED® Green Building Rating System™ and the certification process. Now, with USGBC’s enthusiastic backing, the LEED AP credential will be administered by a separately incorporated organization, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

The formation of GBCI creates administrative independence between the LEED Rating Systems and the LEED AP credential—an important requirement in seeking accreditation for professional credentialing programs by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). USGBC will continue to handle development of the LEED Rating Systems and offer LEED-based education programs.

GBCI will manage all aspects of the LEED Professional Accreditation program including exam development, registration and delivery. Nothing will change for LEED Accredited Professionals except that the LEED AP Directory listing can now be updated at the GBCI Web site, http://www.gbci.org/. GBCI.org is also the place to learn about LEED Professional Accreditation, register for the LEED AP Exam, find LEED Accredited Professionals in your area, and access your LEED AP exam records. Visit GBCI today!

GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE P: 1-800-795-1746

Texas Franchise Tax Credits

Franchise Tax CreditsSpecific forms, publications and other information pertaining to franchise credits for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008

Special Report - Franchise Tax Credit Claims Under SB 441
Credit Forms
Credit PublicationsFranchise Tax Credits for Child Care Programs (96-766)

Franchise Tax Credits for Economic Development (96-686)
Other Credit-Related InformationStrategic Investment Areas - Calendar Year 2007

Low Impact Design (LID) Shows Reduced Stormwater Costs

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a new report Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices, which contains 17 case studies from across North America that show the economic viability of LID practices.Using these practices in construction projects can lower costs while improving environmental results.



LID practices are innovative stormwater management practices to manage urban stormwater runoff at its source.



The goal is to mimic the way water moved through an area before it was developed by using design techniques that infiltrate, evapotranspirate, and reuse runoff close to its source.



Some common LID practices include rain gardens, grassed swales, cisterns, rain barrels, permeable pavements and green roofs.



LID practices increasingly are used by communities across the country to help protect and restore water quality.The report highlights examples that, in most cases, reduce project costs while improving environmental performance.



Total capital savings ranged from 15 to 80 percent, with a few exceptions in which LID project costs were higher than conventional stormwater management costs.As LID practices become more common, it is likely that they will become cheaper to use.(Enviro news bits)



a copy of the EPA report

Energy Efficiency #1 Green Feature for Buyers

October 31, 2007 - A new survey conducted for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) confirms that a desire for greater energy efficiency drives consumers to choose a green-built home.

Green building is the home buyer’s best defense against soaring energy costs,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde, a Southern California home builder. “But it’s up to the nation’s home builders to make sure the cure is not more expensive than the problem itself. The NAHB National Green Building Program paves the way for authentic yet cost-effective green building,” he said

The Rest @ National Association of Homebulders

Blue to Green

Building a safe and stable home for every American was the goal

and there was a concern about how the building affected our water

so in the begining was the cleanwater act.

Over a generation, builders learned to build in alignment,

and the Stormwater compliance specialist served

as the link between construction labor and law

Until construction mud ran in the streets and streams

only upon a weather Act of God or BMP or stormwater program failure

Stewardship of the land became less mystery and more ministry.

During this generation mountains grew from plains,

Until LandFill caterpillars became the highest vehicles in the land.

Sustainability became the cry of the home buyer.

and the home builders knew they needed to design

Developments new ways, homes new ways, place homes on lots in new ways,

and build in new ways.

The builders turned to the stormwater compliance specialists, because they were trusted.

And stormwater then became subset, a part of green building services the complaince specialist provided.

and every house became a sustainable house, where air, land, water and energy in construction was a consideration, and

Stewardship of the land became less mystery and more ministry

And building a safe and stable home for every American was better than ever.

LEED 201 the LEED Accredited Professional (LAP) Program

LEED Professional Accreditation provides verification of individual expertise in the principles of green building design, construction, and operation.

The credential helps building professionals establish credibility in the marketplace. In addition, LEED Accredited Professionals help building owners achieve performance goals and facilitate the LEED Certification process.

LEED APs are a critical link between LEED standards and professional practice.

There are no prerequisites for taking the LEED Professional Accreditation exam, however, the following are recommended:

• Building industry knowledge and tenure in green building
• Familiarity with the documentation process for LEED certified projects
• Knowledge of LEED credit intents, requirements, submittals, technologies, and strategies within your discipline
• Practical experience working with multiple design disciplines
• Understanding of life cycle costs and benefits of LEED
• Familiarity with LEED resources and processes

The LEED Professional Accreditation program offers three exam tracks toward achieving the LEED AP credential. Passing any one exam track will earn the LEED AP designation.

Download the LEED AP Candidate Handbook for complete information on the accreditation process.

LEED for New Construction Exam Track

• The LEED for new Construction exam track tests the candidate's knowledge of the LEED for New Commercial Construction and Major Renovations Rating System v2.2 and its application in practice.
• The LEED for New Construction exam track provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings.

Study Materials

• LEED for New Construction Reference Guide version 2.2
• LEED Project Registration
• LEED Certification Process
• LEED Online
• The LEED Accredited Professional Candidate Handbook
• Information on the Other Two LEED certifications
  

Useful LEED Links, ( and see the margins of this blog)

• 37 Page LEED, LAP Training
• Boston Green Building Codes
• Alberta Canada's LEED Project Delivery Process manual
• Green Building Policies for Florida - by the Deaprtment of Wildlife services and the University of Florida
• Florida Green Building Coalition Resources
• San Francisco's 170 page Green Building Compliance Guide

LEED 102 The Rating System

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The LEED Rating System: An Introduction
LEED® certification is based on a point system.The amount of points achieved will determine which level of LEED® certification the project is awarded. There are 69 possible points and four certification levels.

• Basic LEED® Certification requires 26 to 32 points;
• LEED® Certified Silver Level requires 33 to 38 points;
• LEED® Certified Gold Level requires 39 to 51 points; and
• LEED® Certified Platinum Level requires 52 to 69 points.

USGBC organizes the available points for LEED® certification into six broad categories. Below is a list of the categories and examples of required and possible points for each of the categories.
USGBC also provides an optional sixth category for innovation and design process.

• Using a LEED® Accredited Professional (LAP) (1 point).
• Sustainable Sites (14 possible points total):
• Erosion and Sedimentation Control (required point);
  Site Selection (1 point);
• Urban Redevelopment (1 point); etc.
  Water Efficiency (5 possible points total):
• Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% (1 point);
• Innovative Wastewater Technologies (1 point);
• Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction (1 point); etc.
• Energy and Atmosphere (17 possible points total):
• Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning (required point);
• Minimum Energy Performance (required point);
• CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment (required point); Renewable Energy, 20% (1 point); etc.
• Materials and Resources (13 possible points total):
• Storage and Collection of Recyclables (required point);
• Building Reuse, Maintain 75% of Existing Shell (1 point);
• Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% (1 point); etc.
• Indoor Environmental Quality (15 possible points total):
• Minimum IAQ Performance (required point);
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control (required point);
• Ventilation Effectiveness (1 point);
• Low–Emitting Materials, Adhesives & Sealants (1 point); etc.
• Innovation and Design Process (5 possible points total):
• Innovations in Design, Provide Specifics (1 to 4 points)

More Details

• New ConstructionLEED for New Construction and Major Renovations is designed to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects.
• Existing BuildingsLEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance provides a benchmark for building owners and operators to measure operations, improvements and maintenance.
• Commercial InteriorsLEED for Commercial Interiors is a benchmark for the tenant improvement market that gives the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers.
• Core & ShellLEED for Core & Shell aids designers, builders, developers and new building owners in implementing sustainable design for new core and shell construction.\
• SchoolsLEED for Schools recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools and addresses the specific needs of school spaces.
• RetailLEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of retail design and construction projects and addresses the specific needs of retail spaces.
• HealthcareLEED for Healthcare promotes sustainable planning, design and construction for high-performance healthcare facilities.
• HomesLEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.
• Neighborhood DevelopmentLEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.
• LEED Rating System DraftsReview and comment on proposed final drafts of new and updated LEED Rating Systems.

Source From the LEED Site at USGBC