This preview of the CleanEdison LEED for Homes course includes an overview of the LEED for Homes Accredited Professional Exam, how to interpret the reference guide, and how to perform a home size adjustment. The entire course covers two days - what you see here is less than 1/10th of what the entire course covers.

1. LLC
Exam Prep Course
LEED FOR HOMES

2. Learning Objectives
2
 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.

3. 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.

4. Course Outline – Day 1
4
 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

5. Course Outline – Day 2
5
 Materials and Resources
 Indoor Environmental Quality
 Awareness & Education
 Exam Tips and Suggestions.
 Practice Exam
 Q&A

6. LEED for Homes Exam
6
Overview
 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.

7. LEED for Homes Exam
7
Overview
 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

8. LEED for Homes Exam
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Overview
 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

9. How to Interpret the Reference
9
Guide
 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.

10. How to Interpret the Reference
10
Guide

11. How to Interpret the Reference
11
Guide

12. Intro to LEED for Homes
12
 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.

13. USGBC’s LEED Rating System
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Portfolio
 Homes
 Green Building Design & Construction
 New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools,
Healthcare*, Retail*
 Green Interior Design & Construction
 Commercial Interiors, Retail Interiors*
 Green Building Operations & Maintenance
 Existing Buildings, Existing Schools*
*Pilot Program

14. How to Decide Between Rating
14
Systems
 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 leedinfo@usgbc.org for assistance in
choosing the appropriate Rating System.

15. Intro to LEED for Homes
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 Innovation & Design Process
 Location & Linkages
 Sustainable Sites
 Water Efficiency
 Energy and Atmosphere
 Materials & Resources
 Indoor Environmental Quality
 Awareness & Education

16. Intro to LEED for Homes
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 Some credits are worth more than one point.
 Prerequisites are worth zero points
 See LEED credit checklist document
 Certified: 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”

17. How to Participate in LEED for
17
Homes
 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.

18. How to Participate in LEED for
18
Homes
 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.

19. How to Participate in LEED for
19
Homes
 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

20. How to Participate in LEED for
20
Homes
 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.

21. How to Participate in LEED for
21
Homes
 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.

22. How to Participate in LEED for
22
Homes
 4. Certify the Home
 Cerfification Process involves a field inspection
and performance testing

23. How to Participate in LEED for
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Homes
 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

24. How to Participate in LEED for
24
Homes
 5. Market and Sell the LEED Home
 Public Relations Toolkit
 Signage and collateral pieces that highlight LEED
achievement

25. 25

26. The LEED for Homes Quality
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Assurance Process
 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

27. The LEED for Homes Quality
27
Assurance Process
 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.

28. The LEED for Homes Quality
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Assurance Process
 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

29. The LEED for Homes Quality
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Assurance Process
 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

30. Home Size Adjustment
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 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

31. Home Size Adjustment
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 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.

32. Home Size Adjustment
32

33. Home Size Adjustment
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 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:

34. Home Size Adjustment
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 Adjustment for Multifamily Homes
 Weighted average by unit type
 Example:

35. Home Size Adjustment
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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