Why You Should Opt In: A Procrastinator's Top Ten

By: Monica Rokicki-Guajardo, LEED AP BD+C, Better Building Works, LLC

"Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold." , The Ghost, Act I of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

To BD+C or not to BD+C? That was my question last year. I figured, what the heck? The worse that could happen is that I won't finish all of the credential maintenance program (CMP) items (30 of them in different categories!) and I'll STILL be able to call myself a LEED AP (Take heed: read to the end for the punchline about this ... or skip the list and register at the end of the article.)

If you're like me (busy!) then you probably haven't had a lot of time to read all the fine print associated with opting into a LEED with Specialty classification at www.gbci.org. And - if you're really like me (a procrastinator) then you've waited until the last minute for some or maybe even all of the CMP credits.

To take the guesswork out of whether you should or should not opt- in and get those CMPs in the bag, here are my top ten reasons why I am definitely enrolling in SWVA's 'CMP-in-a-BOX' program to get ALL of mine within four days - two in September and two in October. (The first nine make the case but I'll bet the last one wakes you up).

10. The best price around for CMPs - it even beats out the boring webinar model.

9. The food is great! And so is the coffee.

8.  Serious in-person, quality education. Brightworks is the best green education provider around with experienced, energetic professionals teaching the classes. (and all credits qualify for AIA and other many other professional CE credits).

7. Proceeds go to a local non-profit charitable 501(c)3 organization: the all volunteer USGBC Southwest Virginia Chapter. This helps them attain their vision of sustainable buildings and industry throughout our region. Green dollars go straight back into the local green economy!

6. I'm out of time. Like a lot of LEED APs who opted in, my deadline is looming. (Double check yours. Even if it's a long way off, you'll never get these CMPs cheaper or easier).

5. The CMP-in-a-BOX series is your personal key to the labyrinth. (And USGBC-SWVA has tamed the Minotaur ... turns out he's a pretty friendly beast after all).

4. All of my smartest and sexiest friends are doing it (or should).

3. Members get a serious discount (10%). Companies who send five get an even more serious discount! (Five employees can attend for the price of four).

2. The green economy is the building industry IPad. All over the country - it is the only segment of the building industry that has seen steady growth over the past difficult years. See what Lowe's has to say. (link to http://www.lowesforpros.com/green-building-survivor-shaky-economy)

1. In LEED 2012, the LEED AP (IP Credit 2) mandates a specialty accreditation for not just one, but for possibly THREE design and building team members. Read here for a rude awakening: LEED AP Legacy Status to be Inactive with Launch of LEED 2012. (link to http://www.bdmdialog.com/?p=271)

So much for procrastinating!! If companies don’t have a LEED AP with specialty on staff, they'll have to hire someone (me!). Don't be like Hamlet's ghost "doom'd for a certain term to walk the night".

PS: (In case you must take the exam, or want to start on the process of becoming a LEED AP, two exam preparation seminars will be offered - one for LEED Green Associate and one for LEED BD+C. Both exams are required to get the specialty designation. But if you're already a LEED AP the price and time commitment will be more than just opting in and getting those CMPs.)

REGISTER!

• CMP-in-a-BOX Tickets (members) (http://usgbcswva.org/cmp-in-a-box-tickets-members)
• CMP-in-a-BOX Tickets (non-members) (http://usgbcswva.org/cmp-in-a-box-tickets-non-members)
• LEED Green Associate EXAM PREP (http://usgbcswva.org/leed-green-associate-exam-prep)
• LEED Building Design + Construction Specialty EXAM PREP (http://usgbcswva.org/leed-building-design--construction-specialty-exam-prep)

Read more... (http://usgbcswva.org/news/in-the-news/100-get-all-30-cmp-hours-in-just-four-days)

Post the Flyer ... (http://usgbcswva.org/downloads/2011/cmp_flyer.pdf)

The Southwest Virginia Education Initiative has officially launched with our promise to all of the LEED APs in our area: Workshops in October and November will enable you to get all of your 30 credit hours of CMP in just four days.

We're also offering the highly effective 'LEED Exam Prep' courses for the LEED Green Associate and LEED Building Design + Construction Exams.

Register Now!! - Menu to the right.

Prices are competitive and Quality unparallelled. 10% off for Chapter Members.

PRICE-BUSTER SPECIAL OFFER FOR AREA COMPANIES: Send FIVE of your employees and pay for only FOUR. Contact Monica to arrange at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 517.402.1404

October Sessions

Wednesday, October 19 CMP-in-a-Box II (Two Sessions, Four Hours Each)

• Water Management (Southwest Virginia specific) (8am-Noon, $99)
• LEED for Data Centers PLUS Indoor Environment Part II: Tools & Techniques (1pm-5pm, $99)

Thursday, October 20 CMP-in-a-Box II (Two Sessions, Four Hours Each)

• Assessment for LEED for Existing Buildings+Operations & Maintenance (8am-Noon, $99)
• Introduction to the Living Building Challenge PLUS Indoor Environment Part III: Post-Occupancy Controls (1pm-5pm, $99)

Friday, October 21: LEED Specialty BD+C Exam Prep (8am-5pm, $250)

November Sessions

Wednesday, November 16  CMP-in-a-Box I (Two Sessions, Four hours Each)

• Biomimicry: Emulating Nature's Genius (8am-Noon, $99)
• Succeed at LEED (Successfully Managing a LEED Project) (1pm-5pm, $99)

Thursday, November 17 CMP-in-a-Box I (Two Sessions, Four hours each)

• LEED for Existing Buildings + Operations & Maintenance, Introduction Overview & Business Case (8am-Noon, $99)
• Project Management & Risk: The Rising Standard of Care PLUS Indoor Environment Part I: Introduction to IAQ (1pm-5pm, $99)

Friday November 18: Green Associate Exam Prep (8am-5pm, $250)

If you'd like to be a part of the exciting, talented and professional group leading this effort in Southwest Virginia, please, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Green Schools Finale at the Hotel Roanoke May 1st was inspiration to all! Congratulations to award winnders Hidden Valley High Schools (Roanoke City), Glenvar Middle Schools (Roanoke County), Central Elementary Schools (Rockbridge County), Bell Heth Elementary School (Radford City), Fishburn Park Elementary (Roanoke City) and Callaway Elementary School (Franklin County). Read more in our Press Release...

And as a follow up, Congratulations to Green Schools Committee Chair, Steve Sunderman for his leadership on the Southwest Virginia Green Schools Challenge and for his election as a member of the 'Green Schools Committee Cabinet', who will work directly with USGBC National's Center for Green Schools to provide objective, construction input and guidance for national programs and initiatives.

Welcome, New Board Members and Chapter Leaders!

This year will be an exciting one and we have the leadership that will make our endeavors a success. Of particular note in 2011 are our Green Schools Challenge and subsequent Legislative Surge - and the roll-out of our Sustainable Buildings Education Initiative. Both began in 2010 and promise to extend the quality, range and value of the Chapter throughout our region. Following are the 2011 Board of Directors:

Zachary Fletchall, LEED AP, Chair of the Board

Monica Rokicki-Guajardo, LEED AP, Balzer & Associates, Immediate Past Chair

Steven Sunderman, LEED AP, RA, RRMM Architects, 2009 Chair and Continuing Board Member

Sean McGinnis, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Continuing Board Member

Hunter Young, PE, Civil Consulting Group, PC, Continuing Board Member

John Garrett, LEED AP, RA, Continuing Board Member

David Roberts, LEED AP, PE, Wiley/Wilson, New Board Member

Corey Barnes, LEED AP, CJMW Architecture, New Board Member

Adam Cohen, Passivhaus Accredited, Structures Design Build, New Board Member

William R. White, Thompson & Litton, New Board Member

Ben Boone, Advanced Building Performance Group, New Board Member

Barry Martin, Advanced Building Performance Group, New Board Member

Josh Holloway, LEED AP, Community Housing Partners, New Board Member

Thanks to Trina Mastran, James Sledd, K. Robin Laing and Todd Owen for their service on the Board in 2010.