I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in LEED for Homes projects in each of these roles. I also took a straw poll of folks that participate in each of these roles, just like they did in Iowa recently, to see if my challenges were representative of the industry. It turns out my experiences aren’t just mine.

Top 4 tips for builders of LEED for Homes:

4. While LEED for Homes does not use LEED Online or templates with narratives for the certification process it does have some paperwork involved. Recognize that you will need someone on your project team, who understands LEED for Homes’ processes and paperwork. This is not the Green Rater’s job.

3. Use the integrated design process and move away from design/bid/build. You will get a better product, save money over the life of the project, and your homeowners will be happier creating return customers and a fanatical referral network.

2. Commit to design charrette. A design charrette doesn’t go with a croissant. It is a meeting of all the major subcontractors such as the architect, mechanical engineer, landscape professional, etc. This meeting will put you on the right track for building great homes for your customers and reducing your costs on change orders from the field. This is money and time well spent.

1. Most important, go in with an open mind. You’ll be learning new processes that will take some time and effort, but it will help you streamline your internal processes and build a better product.

As a LEED for Homes Provider, Davis Energy Group has certified 1,500 + units in Arizona and California since the beginning of the pilot in 2005. A LEED for Homes Provider markets LEED for Homes; recruits, trains, and manages a group of Green Raters; and works with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in Washington D.C., to certify the projects. The Provider, along with the Green Rater, sits on the verification team for the project. The most often asked question we get is “How do I get to Platinum?” The second most often asked question is “Am I the first?” To get to Platinum it takes time, dedication and some money (and commitment to an integrated design process, as this will usually save you money). After six years of certifying projects, I’m excited to say that there are very few firsts left, especially in California.

We have been a LEED for homes provider since the pilot program began in 2005. In that time we have worked out a lot of the friction in the system. But there is always the challenge of educating clients and balancing how to charge to remain profitable. Here are a couple of tips, I’ve learned the hard way.

Pepper’s Tips for LEED providers.

1. Balancing support and consulting (education) roles to maintain profitability. All Providers, of which there are 38 across the country, have invested heavily in LEED for Homes and the knowledge base needed to be a Provider. Some Providers have education hours built into their verification services knowing that the builder will need education on the process and what we call “handholding”. Other Providers have separate education hours as part of their contracts with the builders. Either way, make sure you have provisions to handle builder education. Other wise you be profitable and if it’s not profitable, it’s not sustainable.

2. Educating clients on the Provider and Green Rater roles and how the process differs from the LEED commercial process by offering Lunch and Learns for the commercial LEED AP’s. You can also send them to the USGBC website where there are several LEED for Homes videos and webinars available that discuss the LEED for Homes process.

A LEED for Homes Green Rater is a member of the verification team that will work with the project team to hopefully get the project certified. They are there to verify what we affectionately call the “Did you do it” part. Green Raters verify that the credits targeted on the checklist are actually installed in the house. Although there is paperwork the Green Rater will want to see (not necessarily need copies of) the bottom line is, did it get installed in the project.

The Green Rater does not help the project team with the “how you do it” part. They do not design houses or systems in the house or specify materials used. The Green Rater may offer suggestions and options, but can’t make any decisions for the team. For teams new to LEED for Homes I highly suggest they either hire a LEED AP Homes or train someone in house to help with these decisions.

Top 4 Challenges Green Raters face:

4. Constant change over in project teams causing many hours of educating new team members on the LEED for Homes process. Solution: Green Raters need to work with their builders to determine who their liaison is at the builder and have the discussion about employee turnover, as this is quite prevalent. Many Green Raters are now charging the builder for each new liaison they have to spend time educating and getting up to speed on the LEED part of the project.

3. Showing up at the scheduled time for a site visit and the project isn’t ready. Solution: This is a tough one as even with the best communication and a call the day before to confirm, many Green Raters show up to a job site and it still isn’t ready. This scenario should be in every Green Rater’s verification services contract with an hourly rate attached to it. Builders are familiar with these fees.

2. Working with a site superintendent who knows nothing about LEED for Homes and has no idea why they have to put up with you wandering around their jobsite. Solution: Find out who the superintendent is and ask them to meet you and your liaison when you arrive for the first visit. Oh yeah, don’t forget the coffee and donuts. A little sugar goes a long way.

1. Working with clients who are building green because it is dictated by the jurisdiction and don’t want to put any effort into the green aspects of the project. They just want the Green Rater to sign off and go away. Solution: Builders want to make money on their project. Talk to them as a builder and hit their wallet with your suggestions. For example, passing a Quality Insulation Installation Inspection by a HERS rater is one of the areas that most builders fail the first time. Ask them if they’re paying for insulation to be installed correctly. They think they’re getting R-19 walls, but the insulation installation might only get them to R-13. If you can show them how this will affect their wallet, most likely through warranty calls or uncomfortable homeowners, they will start to get the picture very quickly and make the changes.

Every job has its challenges and working in a green industry is no different. Some of the challenges are because it’s new and we’re working with an industry that has been building homes for centuries.

“This is how we’ve always done it” is a favorite line I hear from many builders and trades.

What’s interesting is to look at the homes still standing. You’ll find that they were built with “green” practices. Houses in the south were built to have cross breezes come through to cool the house down through building orientation. Concrete and adobe were used as sustainable building materials and many of those houses are still standing. Old newspapers were used for insulation just like blown cellulose is today. Take a look around your community and look at the older houses that are still standing. You’ll probably find we’ve been building green for a very long time. It’s time to get back to basics and build comfortable, healthy homes for our customers.

About the Author
Pepper Smith is a Leed for Homes Project Manager with Davis Energy Group.