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An engineer’s guide to LEED and LEED accreditation

This article is sponsored in part by LEED-Directory.org – (what’s this?)

An engineer becomes a LEED accredited professional after passing the LEED accreditation professional exam administered by the Green Buildings Certification Institute (GBCI) which is part of the US Green Building Council.

This article attempts to introduce engineers to what LEED is all and how certification helps your engineering career.

Environmental conservation

The argument over whether climate is or not exacerbated by human activity has, to all intents and purposes, has been settled. One idea that we have to accept as engineers is that we now live in a world, which is becoming more and more conscious of the environment. What remains is for us to conserve the environment and natural resources for future use. In the wake of an era where environmental issues are playing greater roles in every sphere of life, LEED accreditation and certification stands to gain in the long run. The US Green Building Council needs more and more engineers to understand the need for green building and take lead in the LEED certification process.

LEED AP and LEED Green Associates

The examination conducted by GBCI is open to all individuals and the test has several versions. A LEED accredited engineer is considered to be an expert in designing sustainable buildings. There are now two tiers of the exam. Individuals who pass tier I of the exam will be called as LEED Green Associates while those who pass tier II will be called as LEED AP. AP is the acronym for accredited professional. A LEED AP will have some specialization like Existing Buildings or commercial interiors.

About the LEED Test

The application fee for the exam is $350. There are no minimum criteria for qualifications or work experience. Any environmental conscious individual can apply for the examination and become a LEED AP by passing the examination. The examination tests your knowledge on sustainable design of buildings. It has been argued that being a LEED AP automatically improves your status in the engineering profession. A LEED AP is looked upon as an engineer with a high level of knowledge in integrated design. Many companies look up to LEED AP to facilitate the LEED certification process.

The LEED accreditation is the highest valued environmental accreditation and its importance cannot be undervalued in the coming years. Today most companies are audited for compliance to green initiatives. There are stringent rules to comply with the green regulations and any failure can lead to huge fines. With more and more companies resorting to go green, the LEED accreditation will only gain further importance.

Why get LEED certified if you are an engineer?

As an engineer, if you have an interest to create sustainable designs and construct green facilities, you can open a plethora of opportunities for you by becoming a LEED AP. In addition to adding credibility to your work experience, the accreditation will also open doors to understanding the green building industry. Since it is a relatively new concept, you can also take advantage of the growing interest of companies in the green building concept and grow to take on leadership roles in future. Having a LEED AP on the team of sustainable building designs is becoming a prerequisite in both government and private RFPs. You can tap the vast and unexplored benefits of becoming a LEED AP and contribute towards building environment friendly facilities for the future.

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Posted by Doug Fred E.I. on Sep 18th, 2009 and filed under Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

3 Responses for “An engineer’s guide to LEED and LEED accreditation”

  1. ShamimSam says:
    January 8, 2010 at 6:35 am

    Why take the LEED Exam Prep course?

    Studying and applying to become a LEED AP can be both expensive and time consuming. Our programs are designed to get you through the process quickly and easily. CleanEdison has developed a comprehensive course of study to help you master the ins and outs of the exam, so you can start enjoying the many benefits of being a LEED Accredited Professional.

    Reply
  2. Jeremy says:
    December 27, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    LEED AP indeed helped a lot of engineers and professionals to be more credible in the construction industry. It also gives better understanding on the principles of design with sustainability.

    Reply
  3. Lesley LEED AP says:
    October 13, 2009 at 6:50 pm

    Well said. It seems like many LEED Accredited Professionals are engineers. It is a growing industry and can be very profitable for engineers.

    Reply

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