Green Work Experience

"I am currently working in the solar panel industry. I would like to go get my LEED (AP) but I am not sure that it is useful with out either construction experience/degree or if it is beneficial on its own. How would the certification benefit me in securing employment? I currently have a degree in technology and I am employed as a production manager in a solar panel company."

LEED AP Answer

Thank you for your question. This question about why to get a LEED AP designation applies to a large group of people. The simple answer is recognition both domestically and internationally. Domestic: Lately every large scale domestic projects are shooting for some sort of LEED designation. You can easily type in LEED in google news and come up with a list of new projects announcing their pursuit of a LEED designation. All projects ranging from commercial plants, hospitals, schools and government buildings are now requiring LEED. With a growing market share of projects being registered LEED you will find doors open in every aspect of business from product sales and manufacturing (like yours) to jobs in managing construction projects both physically and in the documentation positions.

The jobs I see now tend to require a LEED AP designation because they will ultimately involve you talking to clients and partners that will respect your word since you have a LEED AP attached to your name. International: By obtaining a LEED AP designation you obtain international credibility in complete sustainable projects. LEED is the worldwide leader in green design and construction and is recognized as the international building certification for sustainability.

LEED project statistics of December 2009 International LEED statistics:

1. Arab Emirate – 656 registered projects

2. China – 261 registered projects

3. Canada – 228 registered projects

4. Brazil – 134 registered projects

5. Mexico – 111 registered projects

6. Germany – 99 registered projects

7. South Korea – 93 registered projects

8. India – 76 registered projects

9. Saudi Arabia – 65 registered projects

10. Italy – 64 registered projects

The job market for a LEED AP is huge both internationally and domestically. Every type of job involving the interaction with LEED project both directly and indirectly seems to require a LEED AP designation because of your possible interaction with a client or business partner. Getting a LEED AP designation will also allow you to change your type of position either within your existing company or in one of the many green careers that are seeing growth in this market.

Our LEED experience program is for people like you that have not specifically worked on a LEED project before but would like to obtain a LEED AP. Because of your work in a SOLAR related industry you already qualify for the LEED GA designation but I would strongly advise you in getting your LEED AP because of the recognition and because of how your participation in a project would provide it with extra points towards its goal of becoming a LEED building.

Useful information about LEED certification types and the LEED certification process. LEED certification initiatives are already fully running in 90 cities, 67 countries, and all 50 states.

What is LEED certification?

Around the world, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability and environmental impact. Securing a LEED designation on your green building is the best way for you to demonstrate that your building project is truly a "Green Building."

The LEED green building rating system, developed and run by the U.S. Green Building Council, is designed and maintained to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.

What are the benefits of LEED certification?

LEED certification offers compelling proof to you, your clients, your peers and the public at large that you've achieved your environmental goals and your building is performing as designed. Getting certified allows you take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives, and can help boost press impact and interest in your project.

The LEED rating system offers four certification levels:

• Certified
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

These LEED certification levels correspond to the number of credits accrued:

five green design categories:

1. sustainable sites
2. water efficiency
3. energy and atmosphere
4. materials and resources
5. indoor environmental quality

LEED certification standards cover new commercial construction and major renovation projects, interiors projects and existing building operations. Standards are under development to cover commercial "core & shell" construction, new home construction and neighborhood developments.

How does one achieve LEED certification?

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED website provides tools for building professionals, including: Information on the LEED certification process. LEED documents, such as checklists and reference guides. Standards are now available or in development for the following project types:

• New commercial construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI)
• Core and shell projects (LEED-CS)
• Homes (LEED-H)
• Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)
• LEED for Schools
• LEED for Retail
• LEED for Healthcare
• A list of LEED-certified projects
• A directory of LEED-accredited professionals
• Information on LEED training workshops
• A calendar of green building industry conferences

Tips for Becoming LEED Certified

Hire LEED-accredited professionals. Thousands of architects, consultants, engineers, product marketers, environmentalists and other building industry professionals around the country have a demonstrated knowledge of green building and the LEED rating system and process by becoming a LEED Accredited Professional. They can assist you in meeting your LEED certification goal. These LEED AP professionals can suggest ways to earn LEED credits without extra cost, identify means of offsetting certain expenses with savings in other areas and spot opportunities for synergies in your project.

LEED GBCI Requirements

Details of our LEED Project Experience Program and how we guarantee you meet all the requirements requested by the GBCI to take the LEED AP specialty exams.

To be eligible to take a LEED AP with specialty exam, you must have been personally involved with a LEED Registered Project within three years of your application submittal date. Personal involvement means that you can demonstrate how you have contributed to the project through ongoing, active participation. Your work should have provided you with knowledge of the project and the LEED process and should have demonstrably helped in the project’s pursuit of project certification.

Your participation must be documented in the form of a letter of attestation from a supervisor, client, or project manager and must describe your involvement on the LEED Project as a consultant, contracted worker, LEED Project Team Member, LEED Homes Provider, LEED Commercial Reviewer, LEED for Homes Green Rater, LEED Reviewer, or staff member of a Certifying Body (CB). This list is not exhaustive but is meant to provide guidance for the applicant. This requirement may also be met with verification through LEED Online. GBCI auditors will review this letter of attestation based on these criteria:

• The letter must be on letterhead or provide other evidence of its authenticity.
• The body of the attestation should be limited to 1,500 words or less.
• The letter must be dated.
• The letter must be authored and signed by a supervisor, client, project manager, or someone else qualified to evaluate the applicant’s performance.
• The author’s title and relationship to the applicant should be demonstrated.
• The letter must summarize and confirm the applicant’s involvement with the LEED Project.
• The full name or Project ID for the LEED Project must be provided. (If the experience is with a LEED for Homes project please provide the address to the project’s location)
• The letter must provide the dates of the applicant’s relevant involvement.
• If the applicant is not currently involved with this LEED project, the end date of this involvement cannot be more than three (3) years ago.

Project Experience Definition Examples include working in an on-going, full-time role with the LEED Project team in multiple phases of the project including managing or leading the project design or construction team, or facility management teams by providing installation, supervision, auditing, consulting, managing or other leadership roles with the project team.

Our LEED Experience Program Meets all the requirements of the LEED AP Exam by supplying you a Letter of Attestation depicting your LEED Management Work

• You will enter a management roll all of our projects by joining and contributing to our LEED team. Your ongoing participation will qualify and meet the LEED certification requirements(shown below)
• Obtain a credit reference account approved by the USGBC for one year to use on our projects in your program and your future projects.
• Start studying with your complete study bundle filled with exam questions, videos, flashcards, review guides and more.

Testimonials about our program:

My LEED AP BD+C exam application was approved. I am planning to take the test in a 3-4 weeks. I appreciate your help with any preparation/study material. Thanks, Kaushal My LEED AP BD+C exam was approved. Please set me up for the (included) "LEED Exam Prep AP Building Design and Construction Online Study Bundle" Thanks, Kian Thank you very much for your help. I just got approved to take the LEED AP ID+C Exam. Thank you again and have a great day. -Sincerely Ju

Question to a LEED AP

I have a few people on our team that are not LEED APs. How do they gain or get the leed experience needed to take the LEED AP exams?

Answer From a LEED AP

Thank you for your question about LEED experience. If a project is not accessible in your area we have created our LEED Experience program to help you gain the experience you need to qualify for the LEED exam. If your group members are solely looking to take the LEED GA exam the requirements are less stringent and most people qualify based upon their working in a sustainable field of industry or are currently taking or have taken a sustainable education class. Working together we will get your LEED AP accreditation by helping you get the LEED experience you need.