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Allen asks: Today's featured question asked if a GA could lead a LEED certification project. Although you allowed that "a LEED GA may work on a LEED registered project," the answer was no.

The 'no' part is clear enough. But can you elaborate on just how the GA "may work on a LEED-registered project" ?

What type of roles or functions ARE appropriate? Some basic GA entry-level examples would be helpful, as well as higher-level possibilities. For instance, is it within the GA's purview to provide documentation management and/or team facilitation if, say, s/he is already an experienced project manager or team leader or has similar professional background and expertise?

Answer: Allen, a LEED project is the perfect opportunity for a LEED GA to gain the important experience required so they can build up to taking the LEED-AP exam.

As far as specific roles are defined for a LEED project, I can honestly say that they are whatever you want to make them and any member of the design team can participate in any way that the person managing the project’s certification process (typically a LEED-AP, the project Architect, or designated LEED coordinator) sees fit.

Typical LEED project roles in terms of who is responsible for what certification documentation, you’ll need to designate at least the following:

- Owner or Owner’s Representative: responsible for credits applicable to how the building will be operated or is currently operating

- Project Architect: responsible for credits that deal with project design, specifications for many credits under MR category

- Landscape Architect: responsible for site credits, landscaping, sometimes irrigation-related credits

- Civil Engineer: responsible for erosion control credits and some site information

- Mechanical Engineer: responsible for credits dealing with HVAC and plumbing systems, more often than not, also responsible for energy modeling

- Electrical Engineer: responsible for all lighting and power related credits

- Commissioning Agent: responsible for fundamental and enhanced commissioning credits

- General Contractor: responsible for implementation and documentation of all construction-related credits and practices such as waste reduction, IAQ during construction, etc.

- Project Team Administrator: this is the LEED-AP in charge of registering the project and overseeing the certification process

- Project Team Manager: the same role and authority as the Project Team Administrator, if the Administrator delegates the oversight to another LEED-AP.

If the LEED GA in question is none of these people, they can provide support to the team in terms of helping them complete documentation and making sure that all materials documented comply with LEED requirements, but they can’t sign off on any credit templates if they’re not part of the team mentioned above.

I don’t want to overstep my bounds here, since I haven’t completed certification for a LEEDv3 project yet, but if role definition is similar to how it’s been in the past, a GA may participate in the role you describe above, but they cannot manage the project in the same way a LEED-AP could. And, if the GA has as much experience as you state in your question, they should be well on their way to becoming a LEED-AP soon enough!

Good luck!
Sarah Gudeman, LEED AP

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