Passing the LEED Exam

Last Thursday I took–and passed!–the LEED accreditation exam.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it is a performance-based rating system for green buildings established by the U.S Green Building Council.  It has come to be accepted as the benchmark for green building, and covers all aspects of a building, from materials, to energy, water and building operation.  Becoming a LEED accredited professional (LEED AP) allows you to be a consultant on a LEED project, and it is also something you can put after your name to improve your credibility.

How LEED works

I studied for about a month to pass the exam, which consists of 80 questions covering all aspects of the rating system.  The way LEED works is that the points are broken down into 5 topic areas: Sustainable Sites; Energy & Atmosphere; Water Efficiency; Materials and Resources; and Indoor Air Quality.  A final category rewards efforts that don’t fall under the other topic areas.  Within each category, points are awarded for achieving environmental performance.  For instance, 1-10 points can be earned in the Energy & Atmosphere, depending on the energy-efficiency of the building.  Each category has pre-requisites that must be earned, and depending on how many points the project is awarded a building can be rated anywhere from LEED certified to LEED platinum.  (Learn more about how LEED works here)

I am very happy to have passed the test given my difficulties with focus.  I took the LEED for Existing Buildings exam (LEED has different rating systems, including LEED for Neighborhood Development, LEED for New Construction, etc.) and I read through the entire 400 page study manual twice in order to gain a solid understanding of the credits and the synergies between them.  On top of that, I had to study information on the USGBC web site in order to ensure I was familiar with the process of applying for LEED certification.

Taking the Exam

On the day of the exam, I rode my bike 10 miles to the testing site, which is located just across from the main airport serving Rhode Island.  I had actually never ridden to the airport, but fortunately my GPS unit got me there with no problems.  As I was taking the exam I had the feeling that I wouldn’t pass it; the questions were difficult, and some of them were poorly worded.  However, when I finished the exam I found that I had passed, and it was definitely a great relief.

So what now?  Well, this will be very useful for starting a company.  In about 6 weeks I get a fancy plaque with my name on it, and I can now officially sign my name as Andy Posner, LEED AP.  Not too shabby!

More on LEED

Ambrose Hotel First to Earn LEED for Existing Buildings

Adobe Achieves LEED Platinum

U.S. Green Building Council