With green building and sustainability continuing to be the rage, more Rhode Island design and construction professionals than ever have been flocking to earn their certification in environmentally minded building standards.
Officials from the state chapter of the Green Building Council say the number of professionals accredited in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – more commonly known as LEED – has nearly doubled in Rhode Island over the last year to 225.
Moreover, the count of LEED-accredited architects and interior designers has nearly tripled in the same time period.
And those numbers are certain to get a big boost because, those in the building industry say, people have been rushing to take the LEED exam before it changes and credentialing requirements are made more stringent at the end of June.
Connie McGreavy, chairwoman of the local chapter of the Green Building Council, said interest is so high that she’s had difficulty contacting the single LEED testing site in Rhode Island to find out how many have been taking the exam.
Building industry experts are confident this is no passing fad.
“More and more people are understanding that this is the way things are going to be built in the future,” said Steven Hughes, architect with RGB Design Studios in Providence who is generally recognized as the first LEED-accredited professional in Rhode Island, obtaining the designation in 2003. “It’s definitely something here to stay.”
It’s no wonder. Not wanting to be vulnerable to the whims of the energy markets – particularly after the spike in oil prices last year – clients now are eager to go green, designers and construction managers say. Questions about the LEED accreditation of staff members at design firms are being asked more frequently.
“They want people who are well-versed in green-building design,” Hughes said.
Also sparking interest is a move by local governments to require public building to be LEED certified. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, for example, issued an executive order in 2005 mandating that all new or renovated state buildings meeting LEED standards.
The local Green Building Council knows of 46 LEED-registered projects currently under way in Rhode Island, with another three projects completed.
“If you don’t have a [LEED-accredited professional] on your staff, you are really behind the curve,” said Mark Winslow, regulatory services manager at Providence-based Gilbane Inc. and a LEED instructor. “It definitely has become mainstream.”
It’s not just architects and builders who are seeking accreditation.
According to the council’s count, 80 LEED-accredited professionals are architects, 10 are interior designers and 85 are construction and project managers. A student and a real estate agent are also on the list.
By comparison, Massachusetts has more than 3,200 LEED-accredited professionals, and Connecticut has 800, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, which developed the LEED standards.
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998, LEED allows for various levels of certification for construction projects based on a point system – certified, silver, gold and platinum.
Right now, the LEED credentialing is undergoing a major overhaul. Currently, anyone can sit for a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) exam. At the end of June, that exam is slated to be retired, and eligibility to take the new exam will be changed.
Some professionals and students can seek the “LEED Green Associate” designation for which test-takers must show evidence they’ve had some involvement “in support of LEED projects,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
Other professionals can seek LEED AP in one of five tracks – commercial design and construction; commercial operations and maintenance; commercial interiors; residential design and construction; and neighborhood development. LEED AP test-takers must provide evidence they have professional experience on at least one LEED project.
“I think what they’re trying to do is make it a little more difficult to obtain,” Hughes said. “It’s a good thing.”
At New England Institute of Technology, Michael Hayes, assistant professor and associate chairman of the department of architectural and building engineering technology, has noticed a growing interest in green building among his students. In fact, some have formed a student club on the topic.
“We’ve been building green into our curriculum,” said Hayes. “[Green building standards] are going to part of everything as we go forward.” •
