LEED Certification: Separating Myth from Fact

LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”. It is an internationally recognized certification system for green buildings. That is, buildings which conform to environmentally sound standards. Though it is not required for engineers to be LEED certified, it is certainly a helpful thing to have on a resume when bidding on jobs. The LEED certification can yield benefits such as lower operating costs, tax rebates and zoning allowances. It demonstrates a verifiable commitment to environmental stewardship.

In order to take the LEED Green Associate exam, the person must either have worked in a LEED registered project, work in, or have worked in, a sustainable field or have attended an education program addressing green building. There are different exam prep courses out there that fulfill the latter requirement. The LEED Green Associate exam is the first step in gaining LEED certification.

Once LEED certified, an engineer may immediately reap the benefits by being able to get work on many state and local government jobs and incentives. Because of the third-party commission process, there will be little doubt that a builder has supported environmental stewardship and is able to build adequately to green standards.