Chris asks: Why would someone want to have the LEED AP+ Homes credential when certified Homes must be processed through a LEED for Homes Provider (and not just through the AP)? I would love a better understanding. Thanks.

Answer: Chris, I personally wonder the same thing. As someone with a desire to gain as much experience working with as many LEED rating systems as possible, LEED for Homes still remains somewhat of an anomaly compared to the others. It is the only rating system which requires users to work with ‘pre-approved’ entities (LEED for Homes Provider and Green Rater). I’m not sure what the reasoning for this was, but it does seem to change the role of the LEED-AP to almost optional.

I personally haven’t worked on a LEED for Homes project, and imagine the most likely scenario where I would is if I built my own house. So I’ll have to fall back on the USGBC descriptions (http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147).

LEED for Homes Providers: are ‘who you call first to get started with the process. They provide administrative and technical support and prepare the final submittal package to USGBC’. They also overlook the services of the LEED for Homes Green Rater. They pass on the submittal package from the Green Rater to the USGBC.

LEED for Homes Green Raters: come out to the project site and actually ensure that green measures are installed (similar to the Green Globes rating system), that all performance testing is complete and that the performance benchmark is met. Green Rater might also provide assistance in understanding the LEED for Homes Program and should be included in your project from the very early design phase. They provide the LEED for Home final project checklist, the completed and signed accountability forms and durability evaluation form and inspection checklist.

LEED-AP + Homes Specialty: someone that might be ‘particularly helpful’. (I am not making this up, this is the actual description).

I believe that maybe the choice was made to make things easier for the consumer for this rating system, which really seems to be the builder/developer. If you take a look from the consumer/home buyer point of view, with the relative scarcity of LEED for Homes Providers and difficulty in becoming one, you have to wonder who this rating system was set up to benefit, at least I know I do.

As someone who feels like I have adequate experience with implementation and review of the LEED rating system, I don’t understand why LEED for Homes needs to be so different than all the other rating systems. And I can honestly say that if I was the one footing the bill, I’d probably forgo the LEED-AP with Homes specialty (assuming the Green Rater and LEED for Homes Provider have an adequate knowledge of LEED).

Good luck!
Sarah Gudeman, LEED AP

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