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LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Course — Transcript

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0:00According
0:02[music]
0:14to the US Environmental Protection
0:16Agency, EPA, green building is the
0:19practice of creating structures and
0:21using processes that are environmentally
0:24responsible and resource efficient
0:26throughout a building's life cycle, from
0:28sighting to design, construction,
0:30operation, maintenance, renovation, and
0:33deconstruction.
0:35This practice expands and complements
0:37the classical building design concerns
0:39of economy, utility, durability, and
0:42comfort. Green building is also known as
0:45a sustainable or high-performance
0:47building. Green buildings are more
0:50environmentally sensitive, provide more
0:52comfort to building occupants, and also
0:54remain resource efficient and high
0:56performance buildings throughout their
0:58entire life cycle. But how does that
1:00happen? The answer will be explained
1:03throughout this whole course. However,
1:05to highlight the major concept of green
1:07buildings, we must first observe the
1:09natural system. In the natural cycle,
1:12there isn't any waste. Even what we term
1:15animal waste is actually a sustainable
1:17product which is an organic fertilizer
1:19in agriculture that improves plant
1:21nutrition and assists the growth of
1:23plants. The key factor of animal waste
1:26is its sustainability.
1:28It is produced by nature and is
1:30continuously reused in a never-ending
1:32loop. Nevertheless, is the waste of
1:35man-made products also that? Think about
1:38a plastic bag which takes about 500
1:41years to break down in the environment
1:43and creates a great deal of
1:44environmental harm during its lifetime.
1:48And now let us think about the built
1:50environment which refers to all the
1:52man-made surroundings that are needed
1:54for human activity from roads to
1:56buildings to neighborhoods.
1:59We use most of the world's resources to
2:01develop our built environments. But do
2:03they end up like the plastic bag or can
2:05they continue in nature?
2:08Green building is really a system that
2:10evolves by continuously enhancing its
2:12level of performance in order to get as
2:15close as possible to the natural system,
2:17which is by far the most efficient
2:19system known to man.
2:22There is not a single building in the
2:23world that does not have an impact on
2:25the environment. That being said, the
2:28way we build can make a great
2:29contribution towards reducing this
2:31impact. In the United States, buildings
2:34account for 14% of potable water
2:37consumption, 30% of waste output, 40% of
2:42raw materials use, 38% of carbon dioxide
2:46emissions, 24 to 50% of energy use, and
2:5172% of electricity consumption. With 38%
2:55of the carbon dioxide emissions,
2:57buildings are on the top of the list and
3:00produce even more carbon dioxide than
3:02transportation and industrial, which is
3:05also important to know for the exam
3:06purposes. And all the built environment
3:09contributes to 67% of all greenhouse gas
3:12emissions. But why do our buildings harm
3:15the environment? First, when we clear
3:18the land to make way for a development,
3:20the wildlife habitat in that area is
3:22destroyed and the pre-existing permeable
3:25soil becomes an impermeable surface.
3:28Second, we manufacture building products
3:31that pollute water, air, release toxic
3:34chemicals, and emit greenhouse gases.
3:37Furthermore, during the building
3:39operations phase, the building consumes
3:41energy, which further increases
3:43greenhouse gas emissions and adds to
3:46potable water consumption, which later
3:48becomes a waste product. With the
3:50commuting of building users and visitors
3:52to the building, the use of single
3:55occupancy vehicles results in increased
3:57energy consumption and greenhouse gas
4:00emissions. The list of aspects related
4:02to environmental impact is seemingly
4:04endless.
4:06And now let's take a look at the
4:08benefits of green buildings. When
4:10looking at the statistics of green
4:11buildings, a study by the new buildings
4:14institute found that average energy use
4:16intensity of green buildings are 24%
4:19lower when compared to typical
4:21buildings. Additionally, US General
4:24Services Administration survey among 12
4:27green buildings state that green
4:29buildings accomplish 26% energy use
4:33reduction, 27% higher levels of occupant
4:36satisfaction,
4:3813% lower maintenance costs and 33%
4:42lower carbon dioxide emissions.
4:45Occupants of green buildings are exposed
4:47to far lower levels of indoor pollutants
4:50and have higher air, lighting, and
4:52acoustical qualities. According to the
4:55US Environmental Protection Agency,
4:57people in the United States spend on
4:59average 90% of their time indoors, which
5:03means that developing green buildings
5:05will make a serious contribution to the
5:07health and comfort of the building
5:08occupants as well as to their
5:10productivity. Regenerative design is
5:13also an important aspect to mention that
5:16can be seen to be one step ahead of
5:18sustainable design. Regenerative design
5:21is a type of building design that
5:23creates no waste and provides more
5:25output than consumed input. As
5:28regenerative design projects do not use
5:30any more energy than they produce, they
5:33are able to return the excess energy to
5:35the utility. Please note that these
5:37types of projects which only use their
5:40own generated energy are also called net
5:42zero energy projects. In addition to
5:46their sustainable features, regenerative
5:48design projects can also contribute to
5:50the restoration of the lost environment
5:52and habitat thereby taking regenerative
5:55design one step ahead of sustainable
5:58design.
5:59All green buildings should establish
6:01three components. One, economic
6:04prosperity, which represents the profit.
6:07Two, social responsibility, which
6:10represents the people, and three,
6:12environmental stewardship, which
6:14represents our planet. These three
6:17components are called the triple bottom
6:19line. A commitment to the triple bottom
6:22line means looking beyond a project's
6:24profitability or considering more than
6:26just a project's sustainable features or
6:29social responsibility.
6:31When developing a green building, the
6:33main goal is to establish all three
6:35components at the same time. A green
6:38building should have an increased value
6:40and environmentally friendly design and
6:42should also serve well to its users and
6:45the community. To illustrate the
6:47concept, let's assess the triple bottom
6:49line of a skylight that will be
6:51installed on the roof of an office
6:53space. A skylight will reduce the energy
6:56consumed by lighting fixtures, which
6:58will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
7:01Less energy usage will also mean less
7:03operating costs and natural daylight
7:06will create a healthier office space for
7:08workers. If we are able to address and
7:11achieve all three components of the
7:13triple bottom line, why not install the
7:16skylight?
7:18The primary greenhouse gases in the
7:20Earth's atmosphere are water vapor,
7:22carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane,
7:26and ozone. Each of them are essential to
7:29absorb and emit radiation and without
7:32them the average temperature of the
7:34earth's surface would be much colder
7:35than it is now. However, with the
7:38increasing concentration of carbon
7:40dioxide in the atmosphere, which is the
7:43result of human activity, the greenhouse
7:45gas balance was disturbed. This increase
7:48became the number one cause for global
7:51climate change. As the greenhouse gas
7:53emissions increase, an even larger
7:56buildup of carbon dioxide occurs in the
7:58atmosphere, thus warming the climate
8:00further. As discussed, the built
8:03environment contributes to 67% of all
8:07greenhouse gas emissions. This comes
8:09from building systems and energy use,
8:12transportation, water use, changes in
8:15the land cover, building products, and
8:17construction.
8:19Although changing the way we build will
8:21play a significant role in reducing the
8:23greenhouse gas emissions, merely
8:25developing green buildings will not be
8:27enough. To establish a lower carbon
8:30rate, we need to develop green
8:32communities as well. The first thing
8:34that a green community should implement
8:37is the reduction of the distances that
8:39vehicles travel. The buildings in the
8:41suburban areas, even if they are green
8:43buildings, create greenhouse gas
8:46emissions due to the long distances that
8:48people drive every day.
8:51Additionally, emissions from
8:52transportation make up half of the total
8:55emissions associated with the project.
8:58This also means that the project
8:59location is another critical factor to
9:02consider when developing a green
9:03building. The lead for neighborhood
9:06development rating system is designed to
9:08establish green communities which will
9:11be discussed in later chapters. To take
9:14our discussion to the next level, we
9:16will now discuss the common sources of
9:18greenhouse gas emissions. This table is
9:21also important to know for the exam
9:23purposes. The sources of greenhouse gas
9:26emissions are grouped under three
9:28scopes. A scope one energy relates to
9:31the direct energy from the owned or
9:33controlled sources while a scope 2
9:36energy relates to the purchased energy
9:39and scope 3 energy relates to energy
9:41sources that are not owned or directly
9:44controlled. To illustrate, the energy
9:47generated on site through burning of
9:49fossil fuels will fall under scope one
9:51energy and the resulting greenhouse gas
9:54emissions will be classified as a scope
9:56one emission
9:58or the electricity bought from a utility
10:01company will be classified as a scope 2
10:03energy and the resulting greenhouse gas
10:05emission will be a scope 2 emission.
10:11The green building process is very
10:13different compared to the conventional
10:15building process. While the conventional
10:17building process focuses on the
10:19snapshots, the green building process
10:22looks at the project as a whole. There
10:24are three major concepts integral to
10:26green buildings that are not a part of
10:28the conventional building process. These
10:31are systems thinking, life cycle
10:34thinking and the integrated process. As
10:37all the buildings are composed of
10:39different interrelated systems that form
10:41a hole, each of them has an impact on
10:44others. Consider a building envelope and
10:47an HVAC system. The insulation level
10:50that a building envelope provides will
10:52affect the size and the operating cost
10:54of the HVAC. The better the insulation,
10:57the smaller the HVAC will be, which will
11:00also mean lower operating costs.
11:04While a proper waterproofing membrane on
11:06the building foundation will protect the
11:08foundation and affect the durability of
11:10the whole building, this will also
11:12result in less humidity inside the
11:14building which will affect both the HVAC
11:16system and the health of the building
11:18occupants.
11:20The systems of a building include
11:22resources, materials, energy, building
11:26occupants and information. The term
11:29systems thinking refers to the
11:31understanding of each and every system
11:33of a building while also understanding
11:35their relationships and looking at the
11:37project as a whole. The second major
11:40concept of sustainable thinking concerns
11:42the life cycle approach which evaluates
11:45the entire life of a project product or
11:48service. For example, when selecting a
11:50building product, the project teams need
11:53to ask the following questions. What is
11:55the raw material of the product? Was it
11:58extracted in a responsible manner? How
12:01long can the product be used? What will
12:03happen to the product once its useful
12:05life ends? Does this product harm the
12:08environment? And more. Integrated
12:11process, which is the third major
12:13concept of sustainable thinking,
12:15emphasizes the importance of connection
12:18and communication among all the
12:20professionals and stakeholders in the
12:22project. To be able to see the big
12:25picture, all the different teams in the
12:27project should act as a single team. The
12:30stakeholders, architects, engineers, and
12:32facility managers should work
12:34collaboratively starting from the
12:36pre-esign phase of the project so that
12:38each team member can understand the
12:40perspectives and strategies of the rest
12:43of the team. This will enable better
12:45decisions to be made and assist in
12:47creating a high performance building. In
12:50the following sections, we will take a
12:52closer look at these three major green
12:54building concepts.
12:58The main idea behind systems thinking is
13:00to see that the systems in the building
13:02do not work in isolation.
13:05Actually, there is not a single system
13:07in our universe that works in isolation.
13:09Everything is interconnected.
13:12In order to effectively understand
13:14systems thinking, we need to understand
13:16the types of systems. There are two
13:18types of systems. The first type is open
13:21systems which are systems that
13:23constantly consume other items, use them
13:26and produce waste at the end. A whole
13:28city may be an example of this as it
13:31imports food, energy and products.
13:34However, while a city uses products, it
13:37also produces wastes in turn often in
13:40the form of sewage, pollution and solid
13:42waste which consequently marks the end
13:45of the system. There are no feedback
13:48loops in the open systems. However, in
13:51nature, everything is in a loop and thus
13:54no open system exists. Therefore, this
13:57is called a closed system which does not
14:00produce any waste product at the end.
14:03The system continues independently.
14:06Think about the water cycle in our
14:07world. The sun heats and evaporates the
14:10water on the oceans and the seas and
14:12then creates water vapor. The resulting
14:15water vapor rises in air, which
14:17condenses into rain and goes back to the
14:20Earth's surface. That water then becomes
14:23underground water, which again joins the
14:25oceans and seas with the flow. This
14:28sustainable cycle does not end. Finding
14:32ways to develop closed systems in our
14:34buildings will result in creating
14:36sustainable buildings. In order to
14:38establish that, we need to evaluate the
14:41individual elements in addition to their
14:43relationships to each other as a whole.
14:45When designing our buildings, a decision
14:48made for an individual element will have
14:51a ripple effect that will affect other
14:52elements and systems. Remember the
14:55example about installing a proper
14:57waterproofing membrane on the building
14:59foundation which affects the foundation,
15:02the durability of the whole building,
15:04the humidity level inside the building,
15:06the HVAC system and the health of the
15:09building occupants.
15:12Understanding the emergent properties of
15:14systems is also essential in order to
15:16better evaluate why we need to form
15:19systems. Every system is a composition
15:22of its individual parts. Let us take the
15:24human body as an example in which cells
15:27form tissues. Tissues form organs.
15:30Organs form the organ systems and organ
15:33systems form humans. A lung is made up
15:36of cells. However, having only lung
15:39cells together will not do anything. The
15:42whole system needs to be there. Certain
15:44properties emerge as the result of
15:46interaction of individual elements.
15:49These are called emergent properties of
15:51the systems and only systems can have
15:54emergent properties not the individuals.
15:58The breathing function of the lung is
16:00the emergent property of a whole
16:02successful system.
16:04This is why systems thinking requires
16:06the creation of emergent properties to
16:09achieve awarding outcomes. To take the
16:12discussion to the next level, we will
16:14now examine feedback loops followed by
16:17leverage points.
16:19Feedback loops refer to the flow of
16:21information within a system that allows
16:23the system to take action. There are two
16:25types of feedback loops in systems,
16:28positive and negative. A positive
16:31feedback loop can be summarized as A
16:34producing B, which in turn produces more
16:37of A. An example of this would be an
16:40interest earning savings account. As the
16:42account grows, more interest is earned,
16:45which in turn brings further account
16:46growth.
16:48In negative feedback loops, a change
16:51brings an additional change in the
16:52opposite direction. If a room gets
16:55warmer than the set temperature, the
16:57thermostat will send a signal to the air
16:59conditioning and the air conditioning
17:01will stop blowing warm air.
17:03Understanding these feedback loops is
17:05crucial for designing sustainable
17:07buildings and neighborhoods. With the
17:10feedback loops providing the flow of
17:12information, the system can take action
17:14when there's a problem. Since the
17:17positive feedback loops don't stop, they
17:20may create problems in the systems if
17:22they're unchecked. However, if the
17:25positive feedback loops are checked with
17:27the negative feedback loops, the system
17:29can stop if there is too much of
17:31something. With the current technology,
17:34both feedback loops can be implemented
17:36by the use of sensors, controls,
17:39building automation systems, and more. A
17:42building automation system can show
17:44building management the excess energy
17:46usage statistics by tracking the
17:49individual consumption of all the
17:51building systems.
17:52Equipped with only this information, the
17:55building management can then respond and
17:58try to discover ways to reduce the
18:00energy use. This is called the Prius
18:03effect, which means that users can
18:05respond to something only if they have
18:07realtime information about it. And now
18:10we will continue our discussion with
18:12leverage points. A small change can
18:15yield big changes. In other words, any
18:18action taken in a leverage point of the
18:21system can bring about significant
18:23results in the system. Think about a
18:25construction site that is located close
18:27to a river and that river is the main
18:30irrigation source of the surrounding
18:32farmlands. If the construction site does
18:35not take any action to stop
18:36sedimentation and pollution resulting
18:39from the construction activities, the
18:41whole river can then become
18:43contaminated. This will then contaminate
18:45the farmlands which will result in
18:48contaminated foods. However, by taking
18:51action to avoid sedimentation and
18:53pollution to the river, which is really
18:55a small action when considering the
18:57outcome, a whole river can be saved that
19:00will also result in saving the farmlands
19:03and human health. Being able to see
19:06where actions can yield big changes is a
19:08very important part of systems thinking,
19:11and only by asking questions can project
19:14teams thus provide insight to move
19:16toward sustainability.
19:19The second major concept of sustainable
19:22thinking is the life cycle approach.
19:25Green buildings need a life cycle
19:26approach and project teams should always
19:29look at the big picture by evaluating
19:31all phases of the project together
19:33rather than merely looking at the
19:35snapshots. A life cycle of a building
19:38covers location selection, design,
19:41construction, operations and
19:43maintenance, refurbishment, and
19:45renovation or demolition. At the very
19:48beginning of the project, the project
19:50teams need to think about the very last
19:52phase of the building, which would be
19:54the demolition or complete renovation.
19:57Let's consider a wood flooring product
20:00that is selected to be used in the
20:02project. Project teams need to evaluate
20:04the raw material manufacturer of the
20:06wood flooring by asking the following
20:09questions. Was the wood extracted in a
20:12responsible manner? or after cutting
20:15trees, does the wood manufacturer plant
20:17new trees in order to avoid
20:19deforestation?
20:21Then the project teams also need to
20:23consider the cost and durability of the
20:26product as well as evaluating what can
20:28happen to the wood flooring after its
20:30useful life. Can it be recycled or will
20:33it become waste? This practice which
20:36investigates materials from their
20:38extraction to their disposal is called
20:40cradle to grave. In order to avoid
20:44waste, closed systems should be formed
20:47and a product should become a part of
20:49another product after its useful life
20:51through recycling or reusing. Evaluating
20:54products according to this philosophy is
20:57called a cradleto cradle approach which
20:59aims to extend the product's life cycle
21:01to avoid waste. To examine the
21:04environmental cost of a product to
21:06nature, the energy consumed resulting
21:09from a product's manufacturing,
21:11transportation, installation, use, and
21:14disposal should also be evaluated.
21:17The total energy consumed in all of
21:19these stages is called the embodied
21:22energy. By way of illustration, think
21:25about a marble mined in China,
21:28manufactured in Europe, brought to the
21:31United States for purchase, and then
21:33bought by a project to be used in the
21:35building. The embodied energy of that
21:38marble will include all the energy
21:40consumed for the extraction,
21:42manufacture, transportation,
21:45installation at the site, and finally
21:47the energy needed for disposal. The more
21:50embodied energy a product contains will
21:53result in more damage to the
21:55environment. When deciding on the
21:58products to be used in the projects and
22:00to support decision-making of the
22:02project teams, the life cycle approach
22:04should be implemented to environmental
22:07considerations with the life cycle
22:09assessment LCA and to cost
22:12considerations with the life cycle
22:14costing LCC.
22:17Life cycle assessment evaluates all the
22:19environmental effects of a product
22:21during the whole lifetime of that
22:23material. A cradletograve or cradleto
22:26cradle approach is used in LCA and the
22:30total energy use and other environmental
22:33consequences resulting from the creation
22:36of that material is calculated. Hence
22:39the benefits of conducting an LCA for
22:42the whole building is beneficial to see
22:44the trade-offs between different
22:46materials and this would also enable
22:48selection of the materials that would be
22:51the best fit for the project and the
22:53environment. Life cycle costing assesses
22:56a product's total cost by evaluating
22:58both the purchase price and its
23:01operating costs. For example, a more
23:04expensive but more durable refrigeration
23:06system can cost less compared to a less
23:09expensive but less durable one. Since
23:12the less durable refrigeration system
23:15will require more maintenance and will
23:17have a shorter lifetime, using that
23:20system may result in more expenditure in
23:22total to the project owner. Life cycle
23:25thinking should be applied to all
23:27decisions made in green building, not
23:29only to product selection. Setting
23:32targets and discovering ways to find the
23:34best solutions early in the project can
23:36yield great results.
23:40The third and final major concept of
23:42sustainable thinking is the integrated
23:44process which is the key to applying
23:46sustainable thinking to real life
23:48situations. Remember the example about
23:51the system of the human body. The lung
23:54is made up of lots of cells. However,
23:56when the cells are put together without
23:58the whole system in place, these cells
24:01cannot perform the breathing function of
24:03the lung. Without a working system, an
24:05emergent property cannot be created.
24:08Assembling project stakeholders,
24:10architects, and engineers will not
24:13create a successful project. Rather, a
24:16system should be formed with the flow of
24:18information and collaboration between
24:21each member. To better understand the
24:23topic, we will now discuss the
24:25conventional building process and then
24:27continue explaining the details of the
24:29integrated building process.
24:31In the conventional building process,
24:34project teams work in isolation and
24:36collaborate when problems occur.
24:39Usually, the process starts with a
24:41project owner hiring an architectural
24:43firm to develop the design. As the
24:46design progresses, the architectural
24:48firm hires electrical and mechanical
24:51designers who then start integrating the
24:53electrical and mechanical parts of the
24:55design separately. Then construction
24:58plans are issued and the owner starts
25:00the bidding process. In this phase,
25:03different general contractors are
25:05requested to bid and once all the bids
25:08are submitted, the owner chooses the
25:10general contractor and awards the
25:11construction of the project. This is
25:14called the design bid build process.
25:17With this approach, the general
25:19contractor was not involved in the
25:21design phase at all. And furthermore,
25:23they didn't have any collaboration with
25:25the architectural firm. In addition,
25:28they didn't have any collaboration with
25:29the mechanical and electrical designers.
25:32During the construction phase, as
25:34problems arise, the general contractor
25:37will invite the architectural firm. In
25:39turn, the architectural firm, if needed,
25:42will invite the electrical and
25:44mechanical designers to the meetings in
25:46order to solve the problems at hand. And
25:48the outcome will usually be construction
25:50delays and extra project costs.
25:54Referring to the human body system
25:56example, all the cells were there, but
25:58the system was not working.
26:04[music]
26:10[music]
26:16In order to establish an integrated
26:18building process, a working system needs
26:20to be created and the system should be
26:23active as early as possible during the
26:25pre-esign phase or even before deciding
26:28on the project location. Think about the
26:31following questions. How is the climate
26:34in the project's location? What type of
26:36heating and cooling system should be
26:38installed? How should the building be
26:41oriented in order to get more sunlight
26:43into the building? Is there enough
26:45rainfall on the location to capture and
26:47use rainwater for irrigation?
26:50What are the project owner's goals and
26:52requirements?
26:54How will the building occupants commute
26:56once the project is finished?
26:59What are the public transportation
27:01options? How will the resources and
27:04construction materials be transported to
27:06the project site? What are the building
27:09code requirements in the project's
27:10location? How does energy get to the
27:13site? What is the type of soil on site
27:17or what type of vegetation exists on
27:20site? They're really the type of
27:22questions that should be addressed
27:23during the earliest phase of the
27:25project. This is why the key in the
27:28integrated process is to integrate the
27:30whole project team early in order to
27:33develop an efficient project design and
27:35allow the project team to discover
27:37strategies. Taking actions late in the
27:40process will only result in delays and
27:43additional costs. It can also be noticed
27:46that most of the previous questions
27:48depend on the project's location. To
27:51turn the project goals into reality, a
27:53strong evaluation of the project
27:55location is mandatory. The project
27:58location should assist the project teams
28:00rather than creating challenges.
28:03The preferred sequence is to set the
28:06project goals first and then choose the
28:08location that best fits to those goals.
28:11If the sequencing is vice versa, project
28:14teams should still need to search and
28:16discover ways to establish project
28:17goals. However, they can also face more
28:20problems.
28:22Understanding the whole community is
28:24also essential for successful project
28:26integration. If people need to drive
28:29single occupancy vehicles to commute to
28:31a building, the project will generate
28:33greenhouse gas emissions.
28:36The climate in the project location is
28:38another factor which will impact all the
28:40building systems.
28:42The soil type will also change according
28:45to the location which will affect the
28:47whole structural calculation of the
28:49building in turn and lead to changes in
28:51the whole structural design. As with a
28:54weak soil, a building can need a deep
28:57foundation. However, this may not be the
29:00case with other types of soil. Even the
29:03level of the underground water for a
29:06particular location can make a huge
29:08impact to the design and construction of
29:10the basement levels as well as the whole
29:13building. When evaluating the site, it
29:16is always recommended to work with
29:17experts such as hydraologists,
29:20engineers, ecologists, and project
29:22development consultants
29:25evaluating the zoning and local codes,
29:28international code council, Americans
29:31with Disabilities Act, and all other
29:33applicable laws for that location at the
29:35beginning of the project is also
29:37essential. Most of the mentioned laws
29:40will depend on the project's location
29:42and they will take precedence over lead
29:44requirements. For example, zoning and
29:47local codes will determine the building
29:49height, type of project to be
29:51constructed, size of the building or the
29:54minimum parking requirements for a
29:56particular location, not lead. Now,
30:00let's summarize the main principles of
30:02the integrated process. Rule number one,
30:06process matters. Or in other words, the
30:09system should work efficiently.
30:12Rule number two, start early, which
30:15means that the system should be active
30:17as early as possible. Rule number three,
30:20follow through, which really means that
30:23the commitment should continue
30:25throughout the life of the project. It
30:27should not end with the completion of
30:29construction in order to ensure the
30:31project strategies are maintained and
30:34all the building systems are still
30:35efficient through the building operation
30:37phase. Rule number four, look beyond
30:41initial costs to long-term savings.
30:45Green strategies have very short payback
30:47periods and project stakeholders should
30:49be informed that their project will
30:51actually cost less in the long run.
30:55Rule number five, include and
30:58collaborate. The professional project
31:00team should work together with the
31:02members of the community and always look
31:04at the big picture. And to establish a
31:07working system among the project team
31:09members, stakeholders and members of the
31:12community, an iterative process needs to
31:15be developed.
31:21[music]
31:25[music]
31:31Founded in the early 1990s and based in
31:34Washington DC, US Green Building Council
31:38or in short USGBC is a nonprofit
31:41organization committed to a sustainable
31:44future through cost and energyefficient
31:46green buildings. USGBC is made up of
31:49tens of thousands of member
31:51organizations, chapters, and student and
31:54community volunteers.
31:56Currently, there are more than 76
31:58chapters, 16,000 member organizations,
32:01and more than 200,000 lead
32:04professionals, which continues to grow.
32:07Members of USGBC include engineers,
32:10architects, building owners,
32:12contractors, facility managers, building
32:15product manufacturers, designers,
32:17utility managers, college students,
32:20college faculties, government agencies,
32:22and more. USGBC promotes buildings that
32:26are environmentally responsible,
32:28profitable, and which support human
32:30health. It is also very important to
32:34mention USGBC's mission, vision, and
32:37guiding principles which are essential
32:39to know for the exam. USGBC's mission is
32:43to transform the way buildings and
32:46communities are designed, built, and
32:48operated, enabling an environmentally
32:50and socially responsible, healthy, and
32:53prosperous environment that improves the
32:56quality of life. And USGBC's vision
33:00states that buildings and communities
33:02will regenerate and sustain the health
33:04and vitality of all life within a
33:07generation.
33:09USGBC accomplishes this mission through
33:12LEAD, credentials, Greenbuild
33:15International Conference and Expo,
33:17education, advocacy, and chapters and
33:21committees. LEAD is currently the most
33:23widely known and used green building
33:26program across the world. While the lead
33:29green associate credential as well as
33:31the various lead AP credentials offer
33:34professionals a designation to help them
33:36stand out in the building industry and
33:39green build international conference and
33:41expo is the world's largest expo
33:43dedicated to green building launched in
33:462002.
33:47And now let's take a look at the guiding
33:50principles of USGBC which are
33:52establishing leadership, promoting the
33:55triple bottom line, maintaining
33:57integrity, foster social equity,
34:00reconcile humanity with nature, exhibit
34:03transparency, and ensuring
34:06inclusiveness.
34:08And now let's take a closer look at lead
34:11green building rating system. LEAD
34:14stands for leadership in energy and
34:17environmental design which is a system
34:20developed by USGBC to certify
34:23high-performance buildings and
34:25sustainable neighborhoods. Lead green
34:28building rating system is a voluntary
34:31consensus-based rating system that
34:33provides third-party verification that a
34:35building or community was designed and
34:38built to establish energy savings, water
34:41efficiency, location efficiency,
34:43improved indoor environmental quality,
34:46and stewardship of resources and
34:48sensitivity to their impacts. LEAD
34:51addresses all building types through
34:53different rating systems and evaluates a
34:56building's performance throughout the
34:57building's life cycle. The creation of
34:59the LEAD green building rating system is
35:02led by USGBC member-based volunteer
35:05committees, subcommittees, and working
35:08groups in conjunction with USGBC staff.
35:11After development, LEAD's green building
35:14rating systems are subject to review and
35:17approval by the LEAD steering committee
35:19and the USGBC board of directors prior
35:22to a vote by USGBC membership. LEAD was
35:26created to define green building by
35:29establishing a common standard of
35:31measurement, promote integrated whole
35:34building design practices,
35:36recognize environmental leadership in
35:38the building industry, stimulate green
35:41competition, raise consumer awareness of
35:45green building benefits, and transform
35:48the building market. The number of
35:50leadcertified projects around the world
35:52are increasing each day as well as in
35:55the United States. US General Services
35:58Administration required all new federal
36:00government construction projects and
36:02renovations to achieve at least lead
36:05silver certification and currently
36:07requires them to achieve lead gold
36:09certification.
36:11Another important organization of USGBC
36:14to mention is the Green Business
36:16Certification Inc. In short, GBCI
36:20Green Business Certification, Inc.,
36:22which was formerly known as Green
36:24Building Certification Institute before
36:26changing its name in 2015, is the sister
36:30organization of USGBC.
36:32GBCI administers the lead building
36:35certification and lead professional
36:37accredititations.
36:39When a project submits all the necessary
36:41documents for a lead application, GBCI
36:44is the organization that will review the
36:46application and determine if all the
36:48requirements set forth in a lead rating
36:51system is fully met or not. And if the
36:54requirements are fulfilled, GBCI will
36:57grant the lead certificate.
36:59Lead exams are also administered by GBCI
37:03and lead professional credentials are
37:05awarded according to the exam results.
37:08For the exam purposes, knowing the
37:10duties of USGBC and GBCI are essential.
37:17Leadcertified buildings are proven to be
37:19environmentally friendly and respect
37:21human health. Additionally, the major
37:24benefits of a lead certification can be
37:26summarized as money savings over the
37:28lifetime of a project, increased project
37:31value, and increased building occupant
37:34satisfaction.
37:35Lead projects are known to be much more
37:37energyefficient compared to regular
37:39buildings with their low operating
37:41costs. The same thing applies for water
37:44consumption as leadcertified buildings
37:47consume less potable water compared to
37:49regular buildings. Leadcertified
37:52projects have an increased building
37:53value which means more return on
37:56investment. Lead is also a great
37:58marketing tool for developers which
38:00results in high occupancy rates. Since
38:03the building systems and leadcertified
38:05projects are commissioned during the
38:07design and construction phases as a
38:09requirement, the building systems create
38:12less problems during the building
38:13operations phase. Furthermore, people
38:16who work in leadcertified buildings have
38:19increased productivity due to the
38:21healthier environment of the buildings,
38:23which is the result of increased
38:25exposure to natural daylight, increased
38:27ventilation rates inside the building,
38:30less contaminated indoor air, more open
38:33spaces, increased acoustic performance,
38:36and many other aspects.
38:38Even though the initial cost of a
38:40leadcertified building may be slightly
38:42higher than a regular building, the life
38:44cycle cost of a regular building becomes
38:47much higher than a leadcertified
38:49building. With that being said, lead is
38:52not the only green building rating
38:54system in the world. It is also
38:56essential to discuss the other green
38:58building rating systems for the exam
39:00purposes. BRE, Casby, Green Globes and
39:04GB Tool are some of the other green
39:06building rating systems across the
39:08world.
39:10Building research establishments
39:12environmental assessment method in short
39:14BREE is a green building rating system
39:17developed in the United Kingdom used
39:19primarily in Europe.
39:22Comprehensive assessment system for
39:24building environmental efficiency in
39:26short CASBY is a green building
39:29management system in the Japanese
39:30market.
39:32Green building initiatives green globes
39:34US certification is a newer rating
39:37system which is adapted from Green
39:39Globes Canada. And last GB tool and SB
39:44tool are online international green
39:46building rating systems.
39:49There are also a growing number of state
39:51and local governments that are revising
39:53their building codes and standards in
39:55order to implement green principles. The
39:58International Green Construction Code,
40:00in short, IGCC, establishes baseline
40:04regulations about the green features of
40:06projects and also addresses a building's
40:09water efficiency, energy efficiency,
40:12site impacts, types and contents of
40:15materials used, and more. IGCC is
40:18developed by the International Code
40:20Council in short IC which is known to
40:24develop building codes mainly dedicated
40:26to building safety and fire prevention.
40:29In addition, local jurisdictions, local
40:33governments, and local building codes
40:35started to adopt IGCC codes, which
40:38enforce projects to implement green
40:41principles both in design and in
40:43construction.
40:45When adapted by jurisdictions, local
40:47governments or local building codes,
40:49IGCC becomes forcible unlike the other
40:53green building rating systems.
40:56In order to promote green developments,
40:59many municipalities award structural or
41:01financial incentives to developers or
41:04homeowners who practice green building
41:06techniques. The structural incentives
41:09provide rewards for green building
41:10projects by making available additional
41:13density bonuses or expedited permitting
41:16processes. Even though the review and
41:18permitting processes vary from one
41:20jurisdiction to another, they are
41:23generally lengthy processes. By reducing
41:25the review and permitting durations in
41:28exchange for developers establishment of
41:30green building standards, municipalities
41:33encourage developers to design green
41:35buildings. Density and height bonuses
41:38are another structural incentive. Many
41:41municipalities allow for percentage
41:43increases in Florida area ratio or other
41:46measures of density contingent upon
41:48certification or proof of green building
41:50practices. Now, let's take a look at the
41:53financial incentives. The financial
41:55incentives are direct incentives in the
41:58form of tax credits or grants to
42:00developers that build green buildings.
42:03Some municipalities offer reductions or
42:05waiverss for permit review or other
42:08ownerous permitting processes in
42:10exchange for developers use of green
42:12building standards. Revolving loan funds
42:15can also be available to those seeking
42:18to build or renovate to green building
42:20standards. If a developer is unfamiliar
42:23with green building practices, many
42:25municipalities provide free planning or
42:28certification training and assistance.
42:31Marketing assistance is also offered to
42:33promote green buildings, and many
42:35municipalities offer free marketing
42:37assistance via signage, awards,
42:40websites, and/or press releases.
42:45Lead professional credentials offer
42:47professionals a designation to help them
42:50stand out in the building industry.
42:52Currently, there are three main tiers of
42:54lead professional credentials which are
42:58lead green associate, lead accredited
43:01professional with specialty and lead
43:03fellow. Let's start with discussing the
43:06lead green associate credential. GBCI
43:10has created the lead green associate
43:12credential for professionals who want to
43:14demonstrate green building knowledge and
43:16expertise in non-technical fields of
43:18practice to denote basic knowledge of
43:21green design construction and
43:23operations.
43:25Lead green associates have a proven
43:27up-to-date understanding of green
43:29building principles and practices.
43:32One important thing to note is that the
43:35lead GA abbreviation is disapproved by
43:38the USGBC
43:40and cannot be used to demonstrate lead
43:42green associate professional credential.
43:46The second tier of the lead professional
43:48credentials is the lead accredited
43:50professional with specialty in short
43:53lead AP with specialty.
43:56Lead AP with specialty credential is
43:59created for professionals with advanced
44:02knowledge in green building practices
44:04and specialized in a particular lead
44:06rating system. The lead AP credential is
44:09divided into different specialties which
44:12is designed to show in-depth knowledge
44:14of a particular rating system which are
44:17lead AP building design plus
44:19construction, lead AP interior design
44:23plus construction, lead AP operations
44:26plus maintenance, lead AP neighborhood
44:29development and the lead AP homes. There
44:33is also a lead AP credential without any
44:36specialty called lead AP or legacy lead
44:39AP which was granted to professionals
44:42whom have passed the lead AP exam before
44:452009.
44:46Legacy lead AP credential is not offered
44:49anymore and all the new lead APS should
44:52choose a specialty. The third and last
44:54tier of the lead professional
44:56credentials is the lead fellow
44:58credential. According to USGBC,
45:02lead fellow designates the most
45:04exceptional professionals in the green
45:06building industry and it is the most
45:08prestigious designation awarded.
45:10Outstanding lead APS who have
45:12demonstrated exceptional achievement in
45:15key mastery elements related to
45:17technical knowledge and skill are
45:19eligible for the honor. Lead fellows
45:21have also made significant contributions
45:24in teaching, mentoring or research with
45:26proven outcomes and have a history of
45:29exemplary leadership, impactful
45:31commitment, service and advocacy in
45:35green building and sustainability.
45:37Other than the mentioned credentials,
45:39there are also lead professional
45:41certificates which are needed to become
45:43lead for home green raiders or just
45:46green raiders. Green Raiders provide
45:49infield verification to every lead for
45:52homes project. One thing to note is that
45:56the other rating systems do not require
45:58any infield verification.
46:01Lead APS or lead green associates may
46:04also choose to become lead reviewers to
46:07evaluate the educational lead courses on
46:09the education at USGBC
46:12which is the education portal of USGBC.
46:16In exchange, USGBC provides
46:19complimentary year-long subscription to
46:21the USGBC's education portal. For the
46:25exam purposes, it's essential to know
46:27that the credentiing exams and building
46:30certifications are administered by GBCI
46:34and not USGBC.
46:37While the lead reference guides, lead
46:39online, lead rating systems and the
46:42education programs are developed and
46:45managed by USGBC.
46:48Lead online is shared by both USGBC and
46:52GBCI.
46:54Lead credentials are for people while
46:56the lead rating systems are for
46:58buildings and neighborhoods.
47:01And last, professionals are accredited.
47:04buildings are certified.
47:08Lead green associates and lead APS with
47:11specialty should maintain their
47:12credentials by meeting the requirements
47:15of the credential maintenance program
47:17every 2 years or otherwise the
47:19credential will expire and retaking the
47:22exam will be necessary to maintain the
47:25lead professional credential. Under the
47:27credential maintenance program, all the
47:30lead green associates must earn 15
47:32continuing education hours while the
47:35lead APS with specialty will need to
47:37earn 30 continuing education hours every
47:402 years after earning their credential.
47:44Before diving into the lead rating
47:46systems, it is also important to mention
47:48lead online which is the online platform
47:51of USGBC.
47:54In lead online, project teams can
47:56register their project for lead
47:58certification, pay their certification
48:01fees, upload their lead submittals,
48:04submit documentation and photos, access
48:07their credit templates and calculators,
48:10contact their project reviewers, contact
48:13customer support, and more. for
48:16documenting the lead prerequisites and
48:18the credits. The project teams should
48:20fill the credit templates in lead
48:23online. With the use of credit
48:25templates, every lead project prepares
48:28lead submittals in the same format. This
48:31streamlines the preparation of lead
48:33applications as well as the review
48:35durations for the prerequisites and
48:38credits that require any calculation.
48:41Credit calculators are also built into
48:43the credit templates. To document the
48:45credit calculations, the project teams
48:48will input their calculation data into
48:50the credit template. At last, all the
48:54project team members can have access to
48:56the prerequisites and credits uploaded
48:58to the lead online. Please note that
49:01lead online is shared by both USGBC and
49:05GBCI since GBCI will be responsible for
49:09reviewing the submitted documents and
49:11granting the lead certification.
49:20[music]
49:25[music]
49:29Just like a car rental company
49:30categorizing its rental vehicles into
49:33categories as SUVs, minivans, compact
49:36cars, or standardsized cars, LEAD
49:39categorizes projects under lead rating
49:41systems according to their types of
49:43construction and space usage. For
49:47example, a newly built school project
49:49may fall under the lead building design
49:52plus construction schools rating system,
49:55but a hotel interior renovation project
49:58would fall under the lead interior
50:00design plus construction hospitality.
50:03The first thing a project team should do
50:05is to choose the lead's rating system
50:07that's appropriate for their project
50:09before registering the project for the
50:11lead certification. and then the project
50:14team can proceed with registering their
50:16project in lead online.
50:19No one can blame a sports car for not
50:21handling the road properly on a dusty
50:23mountain road. However, an SUV would be
50:27required to perform well in mountain
50:29roads. Just like we have different
50:31expectations for each vehicle category,
50:34lead has different expectations for each
50:37rating system in order to award the lead
50:40certification. To summarize, after a
50:43rating system is selected, project teams
50:45should basically need to work on
50:47fulfilling its requirements.
50:50Let's take a look at the first
50:51requirement which is applicable to all
50:53the lead rating systems. In other words,
50:56it's applicable to all the projects that
50:58want to pursue lead certification.
51:01It's called the minimum program
51:03requirements or MPRs. This will also be
51:07discussed in the following sections in
51:08more depth. But to summarize, a project
51:11must be in a permanent location on
51:14existing land, must use reasonable lead
51:17boundaries, and must comply with the
51:19lead project size requirements. Without
51:23fulfilling those three MPRs, a project
51:25cannot qualify for a lead certification.
51:28And this is applicable to all rating
51:30systems. Period. When going through the
51:33MPR section, please make sure you
51:35thoroughly know them for the exam
51:37purposes. After the project complies
51:40with the MPRs, now it's time to comply
51:43with the requirements of the selected
51:45rating system. There are two things a
51:47project should accomplish under each
51:49rating system. The first thing is to
51:51satisfy all the prerequisites of that
51:54rating system. You can think about them
51:56like MPRs inside each rating system. And
52:00without achieving all of the
52:02prerequisites, a project cannot achieve
52:04a lead certification.
52:06The second thing a project should do is
52:09to collect points by achieving credits
52:11of that rating system. Minimum 40 points
52:14out of 100 is required for a lead
52:17certification.
52:19All lead rating systems are scored out
52:21of 100 total points and 40 points is the
52:25minimum points to become lead certified
52:27which is the base level. Please note
52:29that prerequisites do not award any
52:32points only credits do. Every credit has
52:36a different requirement and every credit
52:38awards some points. Project teams decide
52:42on choosing the credits they want to
52:43pursue preferably during the beginning
52:46of the project. There are approximately
52:4970 credits under the lead building
52:51design plus construction rating systems
52:54and each has different point values.
52:56After achieving the chosen credits, this
52:59time the projects need to prepare some
53:01documentation to show that they have
53:03achieved their MPRs prerequisites and
53:06enough credits and basically upload it
53:09to lead online. Done. To summarize, in
53:13order to achieve a lead certification,
53:16there are the three MPRs with which
53:18every project must comply regardless of
53:21the rating system. Then there are
53:23prerequisites of each rating system that
53:26are mandatory to achieve for lead
53:27certification. Then the project team
53:30must choose credits to pursue and
53:33collect more than 40 points and all
53:35should be documented. What if a project
53:38satisfies all the MPRs prerequisites and
53:42gets a total of 80 points? Then it will
53:45be more than lead certified and will be
53:47given a lead platinum certificate.
53:50According to the total number of points
53:51a project receives, lead certification
53:54levels are determined. For the base
53:57certification level, which is called
53:59leadcertified, projects need to earn
54:01between 40 to 49 points. For lead silver
54:06certification, projects need to earn
54:08between 50 to 59 points. For lead gold
54:12certification, projects need to earn
54:15between 60 to 79 points. And for lead
54:19platinum certification, projects need to
54:22earn at least 80 points.
54:24Knowing the points required for each
54:26level of lead certification is essential
54:29for the exam.
54:31But if a project achieves all of the
54:33MPRs, earns 90 points, but misses only
54:37one prerequisite, no lead certification
54:40will be awarded. To see the complete
54:43list of prerequisites and credits and
54:45the credits point values, it's
54:47recommended to review the lead
54:49scorecard. Please review the scorecard
54:52carefully as some features of it can be
54:54asked on the exam.
54:56Lead scorecard or lead checklist is an
55:00important document which a project can
55:02choose the credits to be pursued and see
55:05if the total expected points will be
55:07enough to achieve the aimed level of
55:09lead certification
55:11for all the lead building design plus
55:14construction rating systems. The
55:16prerequisites and credits are
55:18categorized under nine categories which
55:21are also called the credit categories.
55:23We will discuss each credit category in
55:26depth in the following sections. But to
55:28summarize, the lead BD plus C credit
55:31categories are integrative process,
55:35location and transportation, sustainable
55:38sites, water efficiency, energy and
55:41atmosphere, which is also the credit
55:43category containing the highest points
55:46with 33 points. materials and resources,
55:50indoor environmental quality,
55:52innovation, and regional priority.
55:56But did you notice that there are 110
55:59total points available? Just like some
56:02exams have bonus questions, lead has 10
56:05bonus points. Innovation credit category
56:09awards six bonus points while the
56:12regional priority credit category awards
56:14four bonus points in lead. But still
56:17every project will be scored out of 100
56:21points not 110. And now let us take a
56:25closer look at the lead rating systems.
56:28Just like individuals have credentials
56:30like lead green associate or lead AP,
56:33all the lead projects are certified
56:35according to a lead rating system. All
56:38the lead rating systems are grouped
56:40under five broad categories depending on
56:43their construction types. One, lead for
56:46building design and construction or lead
56:49BD plus C. Two, lead for interior design
56:54and construction or lead ID plus C.
56:57Three, lead building operations and
57:00maintenance or lead O plus M. Four, lead
57:05for neighborhood development or lead ND.
57:08And five, lead for homes. And under
57:12these categories, rating systems are
57:15differentiated based on their space
57:17usage type in order to address specific
57:19needs of different project types. The
57:22rating systems under lead for building
57:24design and construction are new
57:27construction and major renovation, core
57:30and shell development, schools, retail,
57:34data centers, warehouses and
57:36distribution centers, hospitality and
57:39healthcare. The rating systems under
57:42lead for interior design and
57:44construction are commercial interiors,
57:48retail and hospitality.
57:51The rating systems under lead building
57:53operations and maintenance are existing
57:56buildings, retail, schools, hospitality,
58:01data centers, and warehouses and
58:04distribution centers. The rating systems
58:07under lead for neighborhood development
58:09are lead ND plan and lead ND built
58:14project.
58:16And at last, the rating systems under
58:19lead for homes are homes and multifamily
58:22low-rise and multifamily midrise.
58:26Projects can also choose to use the
58:28rating system selector inside lead
58:30online, which helps project teams to
58:33choose the most appropriate system for
58:35their project. Some projects may also
58:38seem appropriate for more than one
58:39rating system. Think about a 40story
58:42high-rise building project which
58:44contains a hotel in the first 20 floors
58:47and residential units on the floors
58:49above 20. Half of the building can be
58:52rated under lead BD plus C hospitality
58:56while the other half can be rated under
58:57lead BD plus C new construction and
59:00major renovation.
59:02But in lead projects cannot be divided
59:05into different rating systems as per
59:07sections and the whole project should be
59:10certified under one rating system. If
59:14more than one rating system seems
59:15applicable to a project, the 4060 rule
59:19will be used to decide on the rating
59:21system, which is the next topic.
59:24The 4060 rule is used to choose the
59:27appropriate rating system for the
59:29project if the project seems to fit
59:31under multiple rating systems. In the
59:344060 rule, a project should be divided
59:37into sections according to the
59:38appropriate rating system each section
59:40fits. Then the total floor area
59:43corresponding to each rating system
59:45should be calculated. If the total floor
59:48area of one of the applicable rating
59:50system is less than 40% of the project's
59:53total floor area, that rating system
59:56cannot be used. If the total floor area
59:59of one of the applicable rating system
1:00:01is more than 60% of the project's total
1:00:04floor area, that rating system must be
1:00:06used. If it falls between 40 and 60%
1:00:11then the project teams can decide on the
1:00:13rating system to be used for the
1:00:15project. Let's consider the 40story
1:00:18high-rise building project example in
1:00:20the previous topic which contains a
1:00:22hotel in the first 20 floors and
1:00:25residential units on the floors above
1:00:2720. Since 50% of the project's total
1:00:30area is appropriate for one rating
1:00:33system and the other 50% is appropriate
1:00:35for the other, the project teams will
1:00:38decide which rating system to use. This
1:00:41time the project teams can look at the
1:00:43requirements of lead BD plus C
1:00:45hospitality and lead BD plus C new
1:00:49construction and major renovation to
1:00:51decide on the rating system they will
1:00:53pursue. USGBC may ask the project teams
1:00:57to change their rating system if not
1:00:59chosen adequately.
1:01:02The minimum program requirements or in
1:01:05short MPRs are the minimum standards and
1:01:08characteristics that every lead project
1:01:10should meet to pursue lead
1:01:12certification.
1:01:14MPR state if a project can pursue lead
1:01:17certification or not. They provide
1:01:19guidance on the types of projects that
1:01:21are eligible for lead certification.
1:01:24protect the integrity of the lead
1:01:25program and reduce the number of issues
1:01:28that arise during the certification
1:01:30process. They define the types of
1:01:32buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods
1:01:35that a lead rating system is designed to
1:01:37evaluate.
1:01:38There are three MPRs.
1:01:41MPR number one, every project must be in
1:01:44a permanent location on existing land. A
1:01:48project that is designed to move at any
1:01:50point in its lifetime is not eligible
1:01:52for lead certification.
1:01:54Since the significant portion of lead's
1:01:56credits are dependent on the project's
1:01:58location, the certification is awarded
1:02:01according to that particular location.
1:02:04Prefabricated or modular structures can
1:02:06be leadcertified as long as they are
1:02:08installed permanently. It is important
1:02:11to locate the projects on existing land
1:02:13to avoid artificial land masses which
1:02:16can displace and disrupt ecosystems in
1:02:19the future. MPR number two projects must
1:02:24use reasonable lead boundaries. The lead
1:02:27project boundary must include all
1:02:29contiguous land that is associated with
1:02:31the project and support its typical
1:02:33operations.
1:02:35These will include the landscaping,
1:02:37septic or storm water treatment
1:02:39equipment, parking, sidewalks, and even
1:02:41more. Any project space cannot be shown
1:02:45excluded in order to give the project an
1:02:47advantage in complying with credit
1:02:49requirements. In addition, the gross
1:02:52floor area of the lead project should
1:02:54not be less than 2% of the gross land
1:02:57area within the lead project boundary.
1:02:59The lead project boundary is defined by
1:03:02the platted property line of the project
1:03:04including all land and water within it.
1:03:07And according to MPR number three,
1:03:10projects must comply with project size
1:03:12requirements. All lead projects must
1:03:15meet the following size requirements
1:03:17according to their rating system. For
1:03:20lead BD plus C and lead O plusm rating
1:03:23systems, projects must include minimum
1:03:261,000 square ft or 93 square me gross
1:03:30floor area. For lead ID plus C rating
1:03:33systems, projects must include minimum
1:03:36250 ft or 22 square me gross floor area.
1:03:41For lead for neighborhood development
1:03:43rating systems, projects should contain
1:03:45at least two habitable buildings and be
1:03:48no larger than500 acres. And for lead
1:03:52for homes, projects must be defined as a
1:03:54dwelling unit by all applicable codes. A
1:03:58dwelling unit should include permanent
1:04:00provisions for living, sleeping, eating,
1:04:02cooking, and sanitation. The lead for
1:04:05homes project should also refer to the
1:04:07lead for homes scope and eligibility
1:04:10guidelines as well.
1:04:14Whether deciding to pursue lead
1:04:15certification or not, all projects
1:04:18should first take a look at the MPRs to
1:04:20see if their project can be eligible for
1:04:22a lead certification. Then the project
1:04:25teams will need to determine the rating
1:04:27system that their project fits into.
1:04:30After the rating system is selected,
1:04:32project team should evaluate the
1:04:34prerequisites and credits of that rating
1:04:36system. Prerequisites are the minimum
1:04:39requirements that all buildings under a
1:04:41certain rating system must meet in order
1:04:44to achieve lead certification.
1:04:46For example, all the projects that are
1:04:48certified under the lead BD plus C
1:04:51healthcare rating system must meet all
1:04:53the prerequisites of that rating system.
1:04:56While a project registered under LEA
1:04:58lead O plusM retail must meet all of its
1:05:01prerequisites.
1:05:03To illustrate, let's take a look at one
1:05:05of the prerequisites under the lead BD
1:05:08plus C new construction and major
1:05:10renovation rating system, which is in
1:05:12this case the fundamental refrigerant
1:05:15management prerequisite. Briefly, this
1:05:18prerequisite requires that the projects
1:05:20do not use CFCbased refrigerants in
1:05:23their HVACR systems.
1:05:26Therefore, every project under this
1:05:28rating system will not use any CFCbased
1:05:31refrigerants. Period. Any project that
1:05:34cannot meet this requirement will not be
1:05:37eligible for a lead certification.
1:05:39While projects can pick and choose the
1:05:41credits they want to pursue,
1:05:43prerequisites are mandatory. Fulfilling
1:05:46the requirements of prerequisites will
1:05:48also not award any points.
1:05:51Now let's take a look at the credits
1:05:54which are also a part of each rating
1:05:55system. Projects are free to go for any
1:05:58credit they want within the selected
1:06:00rating system. Each credit has
1:06:03requirements to be fulfilled and once
1:06:05the requirements are met, the project
1:06:07will earn points. The higher the total
1:06:10points a project earns means a higher
1:06:13level of lead certification will be
1:06:15awarded. To illustrate a credit, let's
1:06:18take a look at one of the credits under
1:06:20the lead BD plus C new construction and
1:06:23major renovation rating system, which is
1:06:25in this case the access to quality
1:06:28transit credit. Briefly, this credit
1:06:31requires the project to be located
1:06:33within walking distance to public
1:06:35transportation to reduce greenhouse gas
1:06:38emissions resulting from single
1:06:40occupancy vehicle use. Hence, any lead
1:06:43BD plus C new construction and major
1:06:46renovation project located at a walking
1:06:48distance to public transportation will
1:06:51earn points under this credit. Projects
1:06:53that do not comply with this credit will
1:06:55not receive any points. As mentioned,
1:06:58there are 100 total points allocated to
1:07:01the credits under each rating system.
1:07:03Plus, there are 10 bonus points. A
1:07:07project that earns 50 points in total
1:07:09will receive a lead silver while another
1:07:12project that earns 80 points will
1:07:14receive lead platinum if both of them
1:07:17additionally satisfied all the
1:07:19prerequisites and the MPRs. The
1:07:22prerequisites and credits are also
1:07:24categorized as design or construction
1:07:27prerequisites or credits according to
1:07:30the project phase they are performed in.
1:07:32For example, the mentioned access to
1:07:35quality transit credit is a design
1:07:37credit since the project's location will
1:07:40not be decided during the construction
1:07:42phase.
1:07:43Other than the prerequisites and
1:07:45credits, there are also pilot credits
1:07:48which are credits being tested for the
1:07:50updated version of lead. And according
1:07:52to the feedback received by USGBC, these
1:07:56pilot credits can become actual credits
1:07:58of the updated lead rating system, which
1:08:01would be lead V5. Pursuing any pilot
1:08:04credit is optional to team members. But
1:08:07if the project chooses to earn a pilot
1:08:09credit, bonus points will be awarded.
1:08:12The points will be awarded under the
1:08:14innovation credit which is located under
1:08:17the innovation credit category that we
1:08:19will discuss in the later sections.
1:08:22Project teams can find the pilot credits
1:08:24that are available to each rating system
1:08:27from the lead pilot credit library on
1:08:29the USGBC's website.

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