What are the advantages for FMs of going through the LEED Accredited Professional process for themselves and their staff?
From an organizational perspective, if a LEED-EBOM initiative is to be undertaken, it is obviously very important for everyone on the team to know what they’re doing. Becoming a LEED Accredited Professional with an Operations and Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) credential will provide the base knowledge necessary to deliver a cost-effective solution for the facility. Additionally, by providing the necessary training for the FM project team, the company will be driving home the importance of completing the LEED-EBOM project for the organization while communicating in detail, the sustainability initiatives laid out for the project.
From a personal perspective, the LEED Accredited Professional for Operations & Maintenance credential is widely accepted in the industry as a standard for FMs who have, or want to be involved with LEED projects in the future. The market potential for LEED-EBOM projects is roughly 80 times greater than the LEED for New Construction market, so achieving a LEED AP with the O+M specialty not only opens your career to a whole new industry, but also provides the knowledge base necessary to provide job security.
Answers provided by Charlie Popeck (charlie@egreenideas.com), President, Green Ideas Sustainability Consultants.
The First Steps Of A LEED-EBOM Initiative
The Advantages of the LEED Accredited Professional Program
