The New LEED Green Associate Accreditation

This Spring, the United States Green Building Council released a new version of LEED known as LEED 2009, or LEED Version 3 (v3).  As part of the new version, the USGBC also introduced a more extensive list of varying types of LEED Accredited Professionals.  In the past, only the LEED AP program was available for architects, foodservice consultants, and other professionals looking to study, take the exam, and earn the rights to assist and lead LEED projects.   

The new types of LEED Accredited Professionals are the following, organized from first to last by level of difficulty and rigidity in terms of the requirements for taking and passing the accreditation exam: 

LEED Green Associate 
LEED AP 
LEED AP Plus 
LEED AP Fellow 

In my opinion, the new LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) accreditation is the most fitting for foodservice professionals looking to earn a LEED AP status, but don’t have as much time to put into the studying and exam process. It can also be a “trial” or first step toward higher levels of accreditation. 

The following summary is from the USGBC web site describing the specifics of a LEED GA: 

“For Professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non technical fields of practice, GBCI has created the LEED Green Associate credential, which denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations.  The Green Associate credential also serves as the first step for professionals pursuing a LEED AP specialization.” 

The LEED Green Associate test is made up of 100 multiple choice questions based on the basics of LEED v3 including design, construction, and operations.  While a LEED GA may not oversee an entire LEED project compared to a LEED AP or LEED accredited professional of higher status, LEED GAs still offer invaluable support on a project, and by earning that type of accreditation, they are able to gain in-depth knowledge not just about LEED, but more broadly, about the nature of sustainability and how it affects other aspects of our world, including the foodservice industry. 

There are some eligibility requirements that one must have to become a LEED Green Associate.  The USGBC requires that a person have at least one of the following:

1. Experience in the form of involvement on a LEED registered project.
2. Employment in a sustainable field of work.
3. Engagement or completion of an education program that addresses green building. 

Check out the full LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook.

As we move to become a more sustainable society I believe that getting involved in LEED is a great way to become a more responsible and educated designer.  I can see a day in the near future when any new construction project will need to take into account or follow at least some of the LEED principles.  What better way to get started in LEED than becoming a Green Associate.  This is a great way for any designer, consultant, student or any other ancillary persons who are actively involved in design and construction to get their feet wet regarding LEED.  It is also a great stepping stone for becoming a full-on LEED Accredited Profession.