LEED is a great learning tool to help both experienced and young design practitioners understand the benefits of integrated design, however a green building rating system is not a cure-all. Many designers are still operating as usual with limited understanding or desire to maximize thermal envelope designs, understand basic MEP systems, or consider the impact of their designs during operation. The USGBC is caught between those who think the rating system doesn't demands enough while others rightly complain the revisions are too often or arbitrary.
Energy Standards, whether voluntary or code compliant, require additional education and training for designers, code officials and building owner/operators. Too many professionals think their CEU's should come from a $20 lunch meeting rather than the in-depth study it takes to implement and enforce a higher standard of care. Adoption of a pending new energy code or voluntary standard can only provide meaningful results with a shift in the status quo on many fronts; Design, team education, integration of systems, operation top my list.
LEED AP specialties and CEU requirements are needed to deliver a better building, not improve a firm's marketing status. Forget focusing on the numbers of LEED AP on staff, many AP's don't know how to log onto the web page much less manage a successful project! A LEED AP in a management roll should be a senior position, not delegated to a first year intern or worse someone without any education or experience managing multiple design disciplines.
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Mary Pat Crozier AIA
Architect, LEED AP BD + C
Crozier Architecture
Greenville SC
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