The LEED program is shifting their credential requirements this summer. Both the AP New Construction (NC) and AP Commercial Interiors (CI) portions of the LEED program will be replaced with new programs, which come with a new category and test. NC credentials will be replaced by Building Design + Construction (BD+C) credentials and CI credentials with AP Interior Design + Construction (ID+C).
Homeowners who seek green remodeling contractors can take this move as an effort on The Green Building Certification Institute’s (GBCI’s) part to keep contractor knowledge on sustainable building practices, products, and technology current and ever-growing. The green building industry is changing every day, and credential programs must stay up-to-date with these changes. So “credentialing maintenance requirements” will be employed from here on in.
The title of “green contractor” alone does not distinguish one skill set from the next. As a homeowner, you may not know until the contract is signed and the work in progress that your certified green contractor has only basic knowledge. Perhaps this would suffice for a simple upgrade to water-saving bathroom fixtures, but not for the installation of a more complex graywater system.
Every contractor brings a different level of skill and experience to remodeling, and this includes varying skill sets in green remodeling. Changes in the exams will help the Green Building Council determine varying levels of skill, knowledge, and experience in applicants. The new exam and credential system will be multi-tiered to reflect these variables, offering certifications that categorize a professional as “basic,” “advanced,” or “extraordinary” in their levels of knowledge.
Acceptance of applications for the exams for these new credentials will begin early this summer. You can expect the NC and CI credentials to be phased out with the new BD+C and ID+C by the end of 2009.