You may have heard of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or as it is more commonly referred to, LEED. As sustainability professionals, we know it has become synonymous with green building, defining a set of standards and best practices for building design, construction, and operation. You probably also knew that LEED has become the most sought after credential a professional can attain in the green building space.
But did you know that demand for LEED APs and LEED Green Associates has exploded by nearly 50% in the past year? Or that LEED credentials are becoming requirements not only in obvious industries, such as architecture and design, but also in software development, sales management, property management, and interior design? LEED accreditation is quickly transforming the job marketplace and giving applicants a leg up on the competition. Here are three reasons why LEED is integral to all sustainability professionals:
1. Join The Movement:
LEED is the most widely used green building system in the world. As of August 2015, over 72,000 LEED building projects existed in over 150 countries and demand is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2015 alone, nearly 5,000 projects were certified worldwide representing over 800 million square feet of space. With this kind of momentum, LEED is not disappearing anytime soon and sustainability professionals are bound to come across LEED one way or another.
2. Become More Competitive:
A 2014 study by Pearson found that demand for LEED credentials grew by 46% over 12 months. Employers get that LEED credentialed professionals deliver greater value by effectively communicating sustainability concepts to investors and teams. And of those organizations that already employ LEED credentialed professionals, 91% would recommend the designation to peers and 71% were likely to make the designation a requirement in the future. Even corporate sustainability positions are increasingly seeking LEED credentials in their hires as a method of ensuring that candidates speak the common language of sustainability.
3. Demonstrate Leadership:
A LEED credential not only validates professional credibility, it demonstrates commitment to being at the forefront of sustainability knowledge. And through the ongoing education requirements, LEED credentialed professionals are exposed to the most current knowledge available. Employers see this and tout their LEED credentialed employees as evidence of their commitment to hiring the best talent and their leadership within their industry.
Like what you just read? Don’t forget to join Presidio GreenBuild Thursday February 18th, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. for an in-depth discussion of LEED, job searching, and more featuring Alex Spilger, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Services at Cushman & Wakefield. For more information and registration, visit our signup sheet.
