LEED Certification process questions
Hey GBA’ers.
Have any of you gotten a building LEED certified?
I have been emailing and calling the Canadian Green Building Council (I’m located in Toronto), but they’re not getting back to me. So I figure I’ll just ask the community that actually helps people build green.
Just want to know what the process is, as in, do they need to do inspections during the build? Or is there just one inspection at the end, where they just take my word regarding what materials were used behind the walls. etc?
So far, I haven’t applied or registered yet. I’m halfway through my current build to which it looking like I’ll fair well.
Also, are the any other secondary benefits to certification other than bragging rights?
Thanks,
Jamie
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Replies
Jamie, I did this. Got a house (mine, that I built) awarded LEED Platinum in 2015. You really gotta want this, because it is NOT easy. Which is kind of the point of a rigorous certification process. Whether or not it's worth it....
If you're asking about your current build, you're too late. The process begins literally BEFORE the planning stage even. And yes, there are inspections throughout. You'll need to hire a LEED Rater, who functions as a point person for the project, and a LEED Provider, who handles the paperwork and does the certification. There's a ton of paperwork and fees to get your project set up with USGBC (or the Canadian office) and then the real paperwork starts. You'll be building a submittal file over the course of the build that documents the entire design and the evidence you're using to achieve each credit. Mine ran to over 500 pages.
Go to the USGBC site and buy the books. You'll need the books. And find an architect, contractors and a LEED Rater that you trust and have done this process before. It would be really helpful to work on or sit in on another LEED project first, before running your own.
Bragging rights? Yes. It will cost you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours. The benefits are chiefly promotional for contractors and developers. Some municipalities offer tax breaks in exchange for certifications, some larger projects have leveraged public funding that requires certification.
Andy,
Thats amazing advice. Very informative and detailed
Thank you so much !