Accordia Living, a residential development in Cambridge, recently won the esteemed Stirling Prize for its innovation in design and implementation of sustainable living practices. The Stirling Prize is the UK’s most prestigious architectural award. This is the first time that the honor has been bestowed on a housing scheme.

FeildenCleggBradley Studios planned the Accordia development for Countryside Properties. FCB has been a pioneer for sustainability over the past three decades. Commercial and public projects by Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster were among Accordia’s competition.

Living in the Accordia village has been compared to living in a garden. Accordia developers diligently preserved an avenue of mature oaks in the area as an effort to mold the existing environment. Rather than eliminating the natural surroundings, developers simply added on.

To aid in sustainable living, the Accordia community leaves very little room for driving and parking. Each home has a narrow space for transportation, such that residents may walk or bicycle through the city. Many desirable places are within easy access for community residents.

Keith Bradley, a senior partner for FCB, described the Accordia properties has “layered houses” because many of the homes have ground-level communal gardens, intended as spaces for neighbors to get together, as well as roof gardens and terraces.

Ninety residences – some complete, some under construction – are currently for sale. They range from one-bedroom properties to four-bedroom properties. A representative from Redeham Homes, a second developer for the community, said the company sold six properties in the month of May and five in June.

Accordia’s Stirling Prize has ignited renewed interest in architecture. Despite the UK’s falling residential property market, the government wants to see 3 million new homes built by 2020. Bradley went on to say that he considers this to be a defining moment for residential architecture in Britain. With Accordia’s growing success, it is possible that architects will begin experimenting more with sustainable design.

See the Accordia Living web site or Financial Times‘ article about Accordia for more information.

Do college students know what LEED is? No, but they know what sustainability is. Sustainability is the hottest word on college campuses across the country. It has been proclaimed by administrators, professors and students. College students probably hear the word “sustainability” more often than they hear the word “party.”

If you’ve become worried about society, or this young generation that will soon take over, you should stop worrying. College students have actually become very interested in sustainability and green building. They may not necessarily be informed about LEED, but they understand the overall concept.

Trickle Down Theory: From LEED AP to administrators to students

Courtesy of Elon University

Elaine Durr, a LEED AP, is guiding Elon University through its endeavors to become more environmentally sustainable. President Leo Lambert created the Environmental Advisory Council with faculty, staff and student representation in 2006. Since then, the campus has undergone dramatic changes.

Lindner Hall is the newest, and greenest, building on campus. It is pursuing LEED Silver Certification from the USGBC. The building will have solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, as well as a solar water heating system. The energy created by these systems will be used in the building and reduce the need for fossil fuel-based energy.

Students have adopted two sustainability competitions — RecycleMania and POWERless. Over a 10-week period, U.S. campuses compete in different RecycleMania contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita or have the highest recycling rate. POWERless is an energy competition among the residence halls to increase energy conservation awareness. Students compete to reduce the energy use in their building, based on baseline power consumption. The winner is the building with the largest percentage of energy reduction over the course of the competition.

Courtesy of Elon University

In terms of dining, Elon recently eliminated trays in its dining halls. In 2007, ARAMARK, Elon’s Dining Services provider, conducted a survey of 186,000 meals at 25 colleges and universities (Elon included). They found a 25 to 30 percent reduction in food waste per person on trayless days.

Why college students should be interested in LEED certification

For the most part, these changes have been mandated by Elon University and its administrators. While sustainability has become a large issue, LEED certification has not reached its maximum potential. With new green buildings like Lindner Hall, college students are more likely to learn about LEED certification.

College students should no longer be associated with excessive partying. This young generation has become very concerned about its environment, news and politics and professional advancement. LEED certification should be targeted toward college students because they understand that they are responsible for changing and improving the world as we know it. They want, and enjoy having, this responsibility.

According to EduinReview, more than 80 percent of recent college graduates did not have a job waiting for them in June 2009. Many college graduates are continuing their education not only to prolong the recession-wide job search, but also to gain higher credentials. After years of tests and classes, why shouldn’t college students take advantage of all that LEED certification has to offer them? LEED certification has become the most widely-accepted accreditation for environmental design and green building certification.

Courtesy of Elon University

Obtaining LEED certification should not be a difficult task for college students, especially if universities offer environmental sustainability courses for undergraduates. From there, a student may enroll in an exam prep course by contacting Everblue Training Institute. Once the student completes Everblue’s two-day course, he or she will be ready to take the LEED exam. Upon passage of the exam, the student can add LEED Green Associate to his or her qualifications.

This designation is a valuable and marketable credential to have. Some employers need a LEED-certified person on staff in order to be eligible to complete specific green-building projects. LEED certification gives someone a knowledgeable advantage. With this economy, recent college graduates need all the advantages they can get!

What other universities are implementing sustainable practices or LEED certification courses? We’d like to know. Let us know in a comment.

As a LEED AP, you may be wondering if it will be to your advantage to opt into the new LEED 2009 certification path, thereby becoming a LEED AP+.

From the Green Building Certification Institute:

The LEED AP program has always been grounded in the pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement. To continue to meet these goals, GBCI developed a new, multi-faceted credentialing system that ensures that LEED professionals have the latest knowledge and understanding of green building practices and that they are recognized for distinction.

Changes are significant, such as incorporating new ASHRAE standards, regional credits, and better LEED On-Line software platform.

The LEED AP+ credential is meant for professionals currently implementing LEED or who may in the future, and who therefore require an in-depth knowledge of the core concepts, strategies and implementation process of the LEED rating system. Architects, design professionals, green home builders and legacy LEED APs are some examples of the types of people who may be interested in becoming a LEED AP+. A difference between the current LEED APs and the new LEED AP+ is that you must indicate in which area of specialty the accreditation was earned. Currently, the areas of specialty are the following:

• Commercial building design & construction (BD+C)

• Commercial operations & maintenance (O+M)

• Commercial interiors (ID+C)

• Residential design & construction (Homes)

• Neighborhood development (ND)

The changes to the exam system are reflective of the rapid advances in green building technology and practice in the marketplace.

Currently, you are a LEED AP. Under the new system, you will be known as a “Legacy” LEED AP. This distinction can never be taken away from you. You may still use the LEED AP title but you will no longer appear in the active LEED Professional Directory as of June 2011, unless you gain active status.

As of now, you have two years to opt into the new system. Although retaking the exam is not required, you will need to sign the USGBC disciplinary policy and agree to credential maintenance. Credential maintenance includes participating in 30 hours of continuing education required every two years, with six hours specific to the LEED Rating System, credit categories, and/or LEED updates.

After completing these steps, you will get to use the new LEED AP+ designation and be listed in the active registry. You will not be listed in the active directory with a specialty designation like LEED AP+ BC&C. Retesting is only necessary to advance to a LEED AP+ specialty designation. The LEED AP+ exam will have two portions; in order to obtain the specialty designation, you will only have to take the specialty portion of the exam.

For the first two years, the credentialing maintenance fee is waived. After June 2011, the credential maintenance fee will be $50 every two years for continuing education.

So why opt-in to LEED v3?

Well, you do want to be revered as one of the best and most knowledgeable people in your industry, right?

The general public has finally caught on to the green-building trend. They’re going to progressively need your expertise to help them accomplish new sustainable living goals. Not only will it look distinguished on your part for having gone the extra mile, but you will actually be able to provide more current information that will be relevant to your client’s needs.

The last LEED v2.2 exam will take place on June 30, 2009. If you did not make an appointment by March 31, 2009, you cannot take the LEED v2.2 exam now. The Green Associate courses are already being offered, so if you make an appointment now, you would be making an appointment to take the new exam.

Because its new, you may not know what to study for the specialty portion of the LEED AP+ exam. Everblue Training Institute will be providing exam prep courses to help you out. Green Associate exam dates are already listed. Check back often for the LEED AP+ exam dates.

So, LEED APs, what is your next course of action – to become a “legacy” or a “plus”? Let us know in a comment!

The education provider will make six trips to Maryland before the new year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2009 – Everblue Training Institute, a leading green education provider, has announced that it will begin offering its highly sought-after Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Exam Preparation courses for the LEED Green Associate level in Baltimore, MD. These series of courses will take place at the University of Baltimore, starting on June 29.

The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED and supports Everblue’s endeavors to make green building available to everyone within a generation. LEED certification has become the most widely accepted accreditation for environmental design and green building certification.

The Everblue Training Institute prep course includes a complete review of LEED rating systems, sample questions, worksheets and practical strategies for passing the exam. Experienced LEED Accredited Professionals instruct the two-day course and train students to pass the LEED Exam on their first try. Although the exam has a notoriously low pass-rate, the Everblue Training Institute has a historic 90 percent first-time pass-rate for its students.

After an overwhelming initial response for its training, Everblue has added courses in Cleveland, Corona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Orlando, Phoenix, Providence and San Jose. Everblue will also be expanding to international locations such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Dubai, London and Rome.

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Everblue Energy Inc. is a sustainable consulting, training, and certification company operating in Boston, California, the Carolinas, Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Washington DC. Everblue Energy Inc. offers LEED Certification Exam training, Energy Star Home certifications, Home Energy Audits and Infrared Thermography. Contact Everblue Energy at 888-204-8735 or visit the web site.

Here at Everblue, we are always creating exciting opportunities for our community and aspiring LEED Green Associates. Due to high demand, we’ve recently added more LEED courses throughout the summer. Take a look at the new course times and locations below.

In the US, we’ve added the following LEED Green Associate classes:

• Corona, CA – Aug 3, 4

• Detroit – Aug 3, 4

• Jacksonville, FL – Jul 30, 31

• Orlando – Jul 20, 21

• Phoenix – Jul 16, 17

• Providence – Sept 16, 17

• San Jose – Jul 15, 16

Internationally, we’ve added the following cities (Dates coming soon):

• Beijing

• Hong Kong

• London

• Montreal

• Rome

• San Paolo

• Toronto

Be sure to visit the Everblue Training Institute web site now and check back often for more course updates!

Where else would you like to attend a LEED course? Let us know in a comment!