CleanEdison LEED for Homes Course Overview

LEED FOR HOMES

Exam Prep Course

LLC

Learning Objectives2

Introduce students to the United States Green

Building Council (USGBC) and its Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

programs.

By thoroughly covering all necessary

material, prepare students for the LEED for

Homes Accredited Professional (AP) exam.

AIA Continuing Education

Provider“CleanEdison” is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of

Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on

completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA

members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are

available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing

professional education. As such, it does not include content that may

be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the

AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of

handling, using, distributing or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods and services will be

addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Course Outline – Day 14

Introduction to USGBC and LEED rating systems.

Exam Overview

How to Interpret the Reference Guide

LEED Logistics and Process

Innovation & Design Process

Location & Linkages

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy and Atmosphere

Course Outline – Day 25

Materials and Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Awareness & Education

Exam Tips and Suggestions.

Practice Exam

Q&A

LEED for Homes Exam

Overview6

Exam Format:

Short (10 minute) tutorial to go over computer

based exam software.

Multiple Choice Question Exam. Some of the

questions are “multiple selection” (i.e. choose 3

out of 5).

10 minute satisfaction survey.

Exam is entirely computer based.

LEED for Homes Exam

Overview7

Exam Questions and grade breakdown fall

into four categories:

Knowledge of LEED for New Construction Credit

Intents and Requirements.

Coordinate Project and Team

Implement LEED for New Construction Process

Verify, Participate In, and Perform Technical

Analyses Required for LEED for New

Construction

LEED for Homes Exam

Overview8

Types of Questions

Recall

Simple definitions and memorization

Application

How to apply a LEED for Homes requirement to a certain

situation

Analysis

A step further than application, multiple requirements and

multiple situations

How to Interpret the Reference

Guide9

What is the Reference Guide and how is it organized?

Reference Guide covers the entire LEED program.

Broken down into several categories , each containing multiple credits and prerequisites

Each credit and prerequisite consists of a list of requirements and strategies for fulfillment.


Guide10


Guide11

Intro to LEED for Homes12

Types of buildings:

Single-family homes (attached/detached)

Low-rise multifamily (under 3 stories)

Production homes: uses a community-scale

specification to certify multiple duplicate homes

(homes sampling protocol)

Intent of LEED: Assist in the creation of high

performance, healthful, durable, affordable,

and environmentally sound buildings.

USGBC’s LEED Rating System

Portfolio13

Homes

Green Building Design & ConstructionNew Construction, Core & Shell, Schools,

Healthcare*, Retail*

Green Interior Design & ConstructionCommercial Interiors, Retail Interiors*

Green Building Operations & Maintenance Existing Buildings, Existing Schools*

*Pilot Program

How to Decide Between Rating

Systems14

Sometimes multiple rating systems apply

Only one at a time can be attempted

Project teams should tally a potential point

total using the Rating System Checklists for

all possibilities

All prerequisites must be met for a given

rating system

Email [email protected] for assistance in

choosing the appropriate Rating System.

mailto:[email protected]

Innovation & Design Process

Location & Linkages

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy and Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Awareness & Education



Some credits are worth more than one point.

Prerequisites are worth zero points

See LEED credit checklist documentCertified: 45-59 points

Silver: 60-74 points

Gold: 75-89 points

Platinum: 90-136 points

Point thresholds can be adjusted for smaller or larger than average homes using the “Home Size Adjustment”

How to Participate in LEED for

Homes17

Homes are rated by LEED for Homes Providers Local and regional organizations with green building

expertise and experience.

Works under contract with the USGBC

Manages a team of Green Raters

Homebuilders may contact the USGBC to become a provider or to find one in the directory

A Green Rater conducts field inspections and performance testing Part of the provider’s in-house staff or a

subcontractor.


Homes18

1. Contact a LEED for Homes Provider and

register the project with USGBC.

2. Identify a project team.

3. Build the home to the stated goals. Build

onsite HERS and green rating tasks.

4. Achieve certification as a LEED home.

5. Post-certification, public relations, and

marketing support.


Homes19

1. Contact a LEED for Homes Provider and

register the project with USGBC.

Providers offer orientation and up-front technical

assistance to builders. Some experienced green

builders may not need a provider.

Once the builder and provider have agreed to

partner, register the project on www.usgbc.org

http://www.usgbc.org/


Homes20

2. Identify a Project Team

Team will plan, design and build the home.

Team should have knowledge and experience in

the eight LEED for Homes credit categories.

The LEED for Homes Provider or Green Rater

should develop a projected score in the rating

system.

Complete the preliminary project checklist

Develop an estimated score and certification level

An integrated approach will be key.


Homes21

3. Build the Home

The builder is encouraged to work with

consultants who specialize in training trades-

workers

The Green Rater is expected to conduct at least

two on-site performance tests and visual

inspections.

One during construction (prior to drywall installation)

One upon completion

Credits that do not require a Green Rater require

a different responsible party and are marked with

a “ “ on the project checklist.


Homes22

4. Certify the Home

Cerfification Process involves a field inspection

and performance testing


Homes23

4. Certify the Home (continued) After conducting inspections and performance tests,

the Green Rater completes the project documentation package:

The completed and signed LEED for Homes Checklist

The completed and signed Accountability Forms

The completed and signed Durability Evaluation Form and durability inspection checklist

Green Rater submits the package to the LEED for Homes Provider

Provider confirms that the documentation package is complete and submits it to the USGBC for certification


Homes24

5. Market and Sell the LEED Home

Public Relations Toolkit

Signage and collateral pieces that highlight LEED

achievement

25

The LEED for Homes Quality

Assurance Process26

Green Rater inspects each LEED Home

verifies each prerequisite and credit in

accordance with Verification and Submittals

section in the reference guide.

Training of Providers

Each provider organization is chosen based on

experience and expertise.

Trained by the USGBC


Assurance Process27

Auditing of Green Raters by Providers:

Provider hires, trains and oversees green raters.

Each provider has a quality assurance protocol.

10% paper review of all LEED for Homes ratings for

each Green Rater, conducted by a third party

annually.

1% field re-rating (including performance testing) of all

LEED for Homes ratings for each Green Rater,

conducted by a third party annually.


Assurance Process28

Auditing of Providers by the USGBC

Provider maintains records of each Green Rater

USGBC spot checks the following records for

each Green Rater annually

Training

LEED ratings

Builder or homebuyer complaints

All project files

Results of quality assurance checking


Assurance Process29

The quality assurance procedures are similar

to those adopted by the Home Energy Rating

System (HERS).

See “Adopted Enhancements to the Mortgage

Industry National Home Energy Rating

Standards” on RESNET website

http://www.resnet.us/standards/mortgage/def

ault.htm

http://www.resnet.us/standards/mortgage/default.htm

http://www.resnet.us/standards/mortgage/default.htm

Home Size Adjustment30

Compensates for the effect of home size on

resource consumption…smaller homes with

more bedrooms are better

1. Calculate square footage using American

National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z765

All directly conditioned square footage, finished

and not finished, that meets building code

requirements for living space


2. Determine number of bedrooms.

It is in your best interest to count the most rooms.

“any room or space that could be used or is

intended to be used for sleeping purposes and

meets local fire and building code requirements.”

If in doubt, consider if the room would be used as

a bedroom if another family member or affiliate

moved in. (new baby, nanny, grandparent,

exchange student, etc)

If five bedrooms or less, consult the following

table.



If home is larger than the size shown in the

bottom row of the applicable column, refer to

the following chart to estimate the threshold

adjustment or to Equation 1 to calculate the

adjustment:


Adjustment for Multifamily Homes

Weighted average by unit type

Example:


Example (Continued)

(1BR score x 1BR units) +(2BR score x 2BR units) +(3BR score x 3BR units)

Total Units

Overall Home Size Adjustment

(-2 x 10) +( 0 x 10) +(-3 x 30)

50

-2.2 …round to -2

CleanEdison LEED for Homes Course Overview

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