New credential designed for professionals involved in green neighborhood development

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) announces the launch of a new LEED® Professional Credential™: LEED AP for Neighborhood Development.

The LEED AP for Neighborhood Development (LEED AP ND) credential designates the specialized knowledge and experience of professionals participating in the planning and development of environmentally responsible communities.  The LEED AP ND exam measures knowledge of the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System, introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in April, and the ability to facilitate the LEED project certification process.

“LEED AP for Neighborhood Development professionals will be the driving forces behind future green communities worldwide,” said Peter Templeton, President of GBCI.  “This credential recognizes leading practitioners committed to the principles of smart growth, neighborhood design and green building.”

The LEED ND Rating System was developed by USGBC in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress for the New Urbanism.  It encourages the development of healthier communities by reducing the environmental impact of urban sprawl, increasing alternative transportation choices and promoting neighborhood walkability and access to public space.

LEED AP ND is part of GBCI’s suite of LEED Professional Credentials.  The credentials provide employers, policymakers and other stakeholders with assurance of an individual’s green building knowledge and skills.  They are the mark of the most qualified green building professionals in the marketplace. “LEED Professionals are influential and effective catalysts of change creating a more sustainable built environment for us all,” said Mr. Templeton.

About GBCI
The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) provides third-party confirmation that specific criteria related to LEED building certification and LEED professional credentialing have been met. To underscore this commitment, GBCI is undergoing the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation process for personnel certification agencies complying with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 17024. Early in 2009, GBCI assumed responsibility for administering the LEED building certification program for the more than 30,000 commercial projects seeking third-party verification of compliance with the industry's leading green building rating system. For more information, please visit www.gbci.org <http://www.gbci.org/> .