Florida LEED for Homes

Process & Roles

Roles of Key Stakeholders

Provider

Recruitment of projects
Coordination and oversight of Green Raters
Certification of LEED homes
(via USGBC)
Quality assurance for the certifications
Coordination with USGBC, local chapters, & other stakeholders.

Green Raters

Field inspections and performance testing
Assist design and construction team to meet goals
Must remain third-party

Project Team

Develop, design, specify, build, market, and sell Project.
Prepare LEED for Homes documentation for inspection/collection by Green Rater.
Marketing the Project.

Learn more about each key role & the certification process!

Step 1: Project Registration

1.1	Projects should familiarize themselves with required and optional measures contained the LEED for Homes Rating System to ensure it is a good fit for the project. This LEED for Homes process should be initiated prior to construction. If construction has already begun, contact FSEC to determine if certification is still plausible. LEED for Homes is primarily for new residential construction with a maximum of 3 stories. If the project is 4-6 stories, contact FSEC to discuss. Projects over 6 stories are not eligible for LEED for Homes. LEED for Homes was not designed for renovation to existing homes. If the project is a “gut level” rehab, which is defined as exposing the underlying wall structure from either the outside or the inside so that insulation improvement can be assessed, the home may participate in the program.
1.2	Project registration is completed online through USGBC website. Click here to register.
1.3	“Project” is defined as a single family home or multi-family building. A large number of homes or buildings may be registered using a special “volume” process. Contact FSEC if your project is of volume size.
1.4	Project must discuss eligibility with a Provider prior to registering. Name of chosen Provider indicated during project registration.
1.5	Registration fee paid directly to USGBC by Project.
1.6	Provider notified of Project registration and payment.
1.7	Provider invoices Project for verification fee. Project is notified of the Project Terms and Conditions. Verification fee paid prior to Step 3 commencing. Verification fee only covers Required elements of steps below. Verification fees can be found by clicking the “Fees” tab above. Project is responsible for any other costs.
1.8	Project chooses a Green Rater and a Florida Energy Rater.

Step 2: Project identifies team and continues/begins planning and design

2.1	Team should be multi-disciplinary.
2.2	Team develops goals and identifies challenges.
2.3	Team works with LEED for Homes rating system in preparation for Preliminary Rating meeting (see Step 3 below).
2.4	Team completes required LEED for Homes Durability Planning and associated forms.
2.5	Team understands the Energy Rating process and a preliminary Energy Rating is conducted on the design by an Energy Rater.
2.6	Required – Provider and Green Rater support Project Team during this time by answering questions and providing interpretations and general guidance.
2.7	Team seeks additional technical assistance and consultants as necessary. Green Raters may provide additional technical assistance but it is not required. For example: Detailed plan review of a builder’s home design to identify / prioritize additional measures. Detailed technical assistance (for example, site inspection or performance testing of a typical example home). Conduct or attend Project charrette. Coordinate implementation of key steps and strategies affecting LEED for Home certification. Energy Rating services.

Step 3: Preliminary Rating - Required (with Green Rater) Design is nearly complete; construction has not begun, or is in a very early stage.

3.1	Understand LEED for Homes program, rating system, forms, and verification requirements.
3.2	Review plan for achievement of all prerequisites.
3.3	Review plan for achievement of all other desired credits.
3.4	Identify need for and develop any Credit Interpretation Requests (CIR) and/or Innovation in Design (ID) credit requests.
3.5	Develop verification plan and schedule and assign responsible party to each aspect.
3.6	Identify and facilitate any additional technical assistance needs.
3.7	Calculate preliminary LEED for Home score / rating and preliminary checklist.
3.8	Submit preliminary checklist, completed durability template, and any CIR/ID requests to Provider. Provider reviews all information with Green Rater.

Step 4: Project is constructed (by Project Team)

4.1	Project Team fulfills their roles as responsible parties to aspects of verification at appropriate times.
4.2	Any changes to the Project affecting Preliminary Rating, verification plan, or verification schedule are immediately reported to the Green Rater.
4.3	Required – Provider and Green Rater supports Project Team during this time by answering questions and providing interpretations and general guidance.

Step 5: Onsite Inspections – Required (by Green Rater) The Green Rater will schedule necessary site visits and other documentation activities with the project as construction progresses. At a minimum, the Green Rater will visit the site just prior to installation of drywall, and again near the end of construction.

5.1	Pre-Drywall Inspection - (after insulation and mechanicals are installed) Visual inspection conducted for certain appropriate credits. Review/Collection of appropriate documentation for certain appropriate credits. Green Rater will begin completing FSEC LEED for Homes Verification Checklist. Meeting with Project Team representative onsite to review any changes that have occurred, corrections that need to be made, and remaining elements of verification plan.
5.2	Final Inspection – (after all elements contributing to LEED for Home certification are completed) Visual inspection conducted for certain appropriate credits. Review/Collection of appropriate documentation for certain appropriate credits. Green Rater will have completed FSEC LEED for Homes Verification Checklist. Meeting with Project Team representative onsite to review any changes that have occurred, corrections that need to be made, and remaining elements of verification plan.

Step 6: Project Certification and Marketing – Required

6.1	Project pays certification fee directly to USGBC.
6.2	Green Rater completes project documentation file and remaining documentation activities and reviews with Provider.
6.3	Green Rater collects any outstanding required LEED for Homes forms and reviews with Provider.
6.4	Provider and Green Rater determine final LEED for Homes score and rating.
6.5	Provider presents project documentation file to USGBC and participates in quality control certification meeting. This meeting can take up to 2 weeks to schedule and complete.
6.6	Project is certified, information put on website, and certificates printed and mailed. Project receives certificates 2-3 weeks after certification.
6.7	Project markets the home. Tools to market your LEED for Homes project.