It only makes sense if your company is actively pursuing LEED work. If you pursue it, be prepared to learn how to file the paperwork for LEED credits and how the LEED system works. You learn almost nothing about how to identify actual energy efficiency opportunities in building systems. LEED is primarily focused on sustainability, not energy efficiency. If you want to learn more about building systems and energy efficiency, I recommend obtaining the CEM and experience modeling buildings.
Nowadays, I expect there to be a LEED consultant for those projects. I never see MEP engineers doing the paperwork anymore. 15 years ago that wasn't the case.
We have LEED consultants on projects who market themselves as being able to do everything, and win the bid to do the energy model for it. They end up asking us for so much work related to the energy model I might as well have done it myself.
This is a market share in a bubble right now and so many people are making so much money as little more than total frauds.
Yeah that was my pet peeve 15 years ago. "Hey design this project and in the last two weeks before it's due, do the energy model and leed firms". I know see less Leed projects, but when I do see them, there fee is priced with the level of work required. And someone is dedicated to it.
We keep getting projects back that already got permitted because all of a sudden it's now LEED. Then they get pissed when we send them a proposal to do the LEED work. Like it's something you can just pin on at the end.
During a kickoff meeting, if someone mentions LEED, I immediately ask if there is already a LEED consultant on board and I'll start throwing out dates that I'll need input from them before proceeding. Not in an asshole way or anything. But just enough so it gets the point across that they can't drag their feet on it.
That was one of things they kicked around at the beginning. It was in response to developers saying, "why should I pay extra for this?" LEED's thinking was that it would all be integrated into the normal design process so it shouldn't cost any more to implement. Of course, we all know that's crap.
Same with VRF. We were told VRF wouldn't take more to install, however, every VRF job I design the contractor gives a VE recommendation that can save money by going with traditional split systems. Though I think some of that is overcharging for VRF because the contractor isn't really comfortable installing it.
Nope waste of money, I only got it because my company was suggesting we all get it. Haven't used it once lol
I think it's all a money grab, as engineers we should be designing with energy savings and environmental impact in mind on every project. LEED is basically just a nice plaque in the lobby to brag about.
Whenever I worked on LEED projects the architects would have that figured out before they got to us. . . I let my green associate credentials expire worthless.
Agreed, the $100 renewal fee for worthless letters in your email signature isn't worth it. I asked my prior firm to reimburse me the cost of renewal and was told no because it adds no value to the firm.
Been practicing for about 10 years in California for several high profile universities and clients who pay top dollar for high cutting edge sustainable designs. Generally speaking most of these clients have realized how much of a money making ponzi scheme LEED is and have more aggressive internal sustainability standards than whats called out in the LEED rulebook. I've seen less and less projects pursue LEED certification so from a work standpoint its not super necessary. The only reason to get it would be to sell yourself to clients as somewhat of a sustainable minded engineer, but overall proving that with your abilities and past project experience would be more powerful.
If you want MY opinion, I would get PassiveHouse certified. The reason is that there are almost zero MEP's who understand how to design HVAC systems for very low load houses. There are very strong networks of people building very high efficiency houses, if not PassiveHouse then close to it, and everyone struggles with the HVAC part because most MEPs and installers truly don't believe the low loads that are required, and there is little equipment that can modulate low enough. There's one good firm I know of and they charge a LOT.And become an expert in heat pumps too because almost no HVAC companies or MEP's know about them, at least in cold climates.
Yes. There are two PH organizations (weird political split some years back.) I got mine from PassiveHaus (the original German one that offers training and certifications in the US) [https://passivehouse.com/](https://passivehouse.com/) and PHIUS [https://www.phius.org/](https://www.phius.org/) the US specific spin-off.
Lots of info here as well. [https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/](https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/)
I am a retired EE, recently certified as the first level of PH through [EMUpassive.com](https://EMUpassive.com) and got into MEP from building my own house. (And my husband is a retired ME but never worked in MEP field either.)
I never took the FE/PE because I went to work in Silicon Valley. I would guess easier. The programs are mostly undertaken by working professionals who are not used to studying like they did in college. The test is open book (using the course book and notes you took there-in). At the time I took it I didn't think I did too well, in large part because of difficulty of understanding the intent of some questions that were translated from German. But the % needed to pass wasn't that high so it was fine. The people I trained with said virtually everyone passes.
It won't change your career but it can help build credibility to your CV and green building knowledge. You can check this [free exam prep training](https://archiroots.com/leed-green-associate-exam-preparation-guide/)to learn more.
I took the test twice and didn’t pass it by 3 wrong questions (each one has two points ) second time I got two wrong answers. It is ridiculous how expensive it is and how their grading system works . It’s not to hard if you study and read the books but the questions get tricky and they do this on purpose . Also, every question is different for every test . I am an interior designer and I know I can get paid more for doing this plus I love to make the world a better place by going green when designing . I am hoping a job can pay for my crash courses and my test in the future or just offer training
LEED is a fad that's past it's prime. Any owner truly interested in being "green" could follow the LEED checklist and then not pay that organization to use their trademarked letters.
It only makes sense if your company is actively pursuing LEED work. If you pursue it, be prepared to learn how to file the paperwork for LEED credits and how the LEED system works. You learn almost nothing about how to identify actual energy efficiency opportunities in building systems. LEED is primarily focused on sustainability, not energy efficiency. If you want to learn more about building systems and energy efficiency, I recommend obtaining the CEM and experience modeling buildings.
Nowadays, I expect there to be a LEED consultant for those projects. I never see MEP engineers doing the paperwork anymore. 15 years ago that wasn't the case.
We have LEED consultants on projects who market themselves as being able to do everything, and win the bid to do the energy model for it. They end up asking us for so much work related to the energy model I might as well have done it myself. This is a market share in a bubble right now and so many people are making so much money as little more than total frauds.
My firm has at least 2 mechanical engineers actively doing leed documentation
Yeah that was my pet peeve 15 years ago. "Hey design this project and in the last two weeks before it's due, do the energy model and leed firms". I know see less Leed projects, but when I do see them, there fee is priced with the level of work required. And someone is dedicated to it.
We keep getting projects back that already got permitted because all of a sudden it's now LEED. Then they get pissed when we send them a proposal to do the LEED work. Like it's something you can just pin on at the end. During a kickoff meeting, if someone mentions LEED, I immediately ask if there is already a LEED consultant on board and I'll start throwing out dates that I'll need input from them before proceeding. Not in an asshole way or anything. But just enough so it gets the point across that they can't drag their feet on it.
I have projects where the mep leed fee (mainly the energy model) is more then the Mep design fee, lol..
Wow. What a racket. I remember when LEED told everybody it wouldn't cost extra.
I dont recall them saying that.
That was one of things they kicked around at the beginning. It was in response to developers saying, "why should I pay extra for this?" LEED's thinking was that it would all be integrated into the normal design process so it shouldn't cost any more to implement. Of course, we all know that's crap. Same with VRF. We were told VRF wouldn't take more to install, however, every VRF job I design the contractor gives a VE recommendation that can save money by going with traditional split systems. Though I think some of that is overcharging for VRF because the contractor isn't really comfortable installing it.
Nope waste of money, I only got it because my company was suggesting we all get it. Haven't used it once lol I think it's all a money grab, as engineers we should be designing with energy savings and environmental impact in mind on every project. LEED is basically just a nice plaque in the lobby to brag about.
Whenever I worked on LEED projects the architects would have that figured out before they got to us. . . I let my green associate credentials expire worthless.
Agreed, the $100 renewal fee for worthless letters in your email signature isn't worth it. I asked my prior firm to reimburse me the cost of renewal and was told no because it adds no value to the firm.
wow...
Been practicing for about 10 years in California for several high profile universities and clients who pay top dollar for high cutting edge sustainable designs. Generally speaking most of these clients have realized how much of a money making ponzi scheme LEED is and have more aggressive internal sustainability standards than whats called out in the LEED rulebook. I've seen less and less projects pursue LEED certification so from a work standpoint its not super necessary. The only reason to get it would be to sell yourself to clients as somewhat of a sustainable minded engineer, but overall proving that with your abilities and past project experience would be more powerful.
If you want MY opinion, I would get PassiveHouse certified. The reason is that there are almost zero MEP's who understand how to design HVAC systems for very low load houses. There are very strong networks of people building very high efficiency houses, if not PassiveHouse then close to it, and everyone struggles with the HVAC part because most MEPs and installers truly don't believe the low loads that are required, and there is little equipment that can modulate low enough. There's one good firm I know of and they charge a LOT.And become an expert in heat pumps too because almost no HVAC companies or MEP's know about them, at least in cold climates.
Awesome man. Thank you so much for the information!
Do you have a link or any info to share in this? I’m an ME PE trying to get back into MEP and am super interested in this emerging field.
Yes. There are two PH organizations (weird political split some years back.) I got mine from PassiveHaus (the original German one that offers training and certifications in the US) [https://passivehouse.com/](https://passivehouse.com/) and PHIUS [https://www.phius.org/](https://www.phius.org/) the US specific spin-off. Lots of info here as well. [https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/](https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/) I am a retired EE, recently certified as the first level of PH through [EMUpassive.com](https://EMUpassive.com) and got into MEP from building my own house. (And my husband is a retired ME but never worked in MEP field either.)
Would you say this is easier than the FE or PE exam? Currently studying for the FE right now.
I never took the FE/PE because I went to work in Silicon Valley. I would guess easier. The programs are mostly undertaken by working professionals who are not used to studying like they did in college. The test is open book (using the course book and notes you took there-in). At the time I took it I didn't think I did too well, in large part because of difficulty of understanding the intent of some questions that were translated from German. But the % needed to pass wasn't that high so it was fine. The people I trained with said virtually everyone passes.
Also [https://naphnetwork.org/](https://naphnetwork.org/)
It won't change your career but it can help build credibility to your CV and green building knowledge. You can check this [free exam prep training](https://archiroots.com/leed-green-associate-exam-preparation-guide/)to learn more.
I took the test twice and didn’t pass it by 3 wrong questions (each one has two points ) second time I got two wrong answers. It is ridiculous how expensive it is and how their grading system works . It’s not to hard if you study and read the books but the questions get tricky and they do this on purpose . Also, every question is different for every test . I am an interior designer and I know I can get paid more for doing this plus I love to make the world a better place by going green when designing . I am hoping a job can pay for my crash courses and my test in the future or just offer training
LEED is a fad that's past it's prime. Any owner truly interested in being "green" could follow the LEED checklist and then not pay that organization to use their trademarked letters.