While this is not a complete list, these items will help you get started on your first LEED project.

No. 1 Understand the LEED goals and how you impact them

Meet with the design team and LEED administrator for the project. They are great resources and may have historical information that can help you on the project. They will also understand the strategy the project has to attain the LEED goal.

No. 2 Establish management plans

• Construction waste management: Should be tracked and measured for diversion from landfill. A potential of 3 points are available just in recycling.
• Construction activity pollution prevention: This prerequisite for LEED can typically be fulfilled by using the design for construction storm water management.
• Material content has three different parts: recycled content; regional material that is mined or manufactured within 500 miles of the site (and helps your score); wood certified by the forestry Stewardship Council.

No. 3 Establish a LEED ‘champion’

The champion’s job is to ensure the processes that you set up are followed and tracked. Part of that tracking is to report where you are in relation to your goals at least every month. As the project develops, the ability to attain points can change. You need to know what the project score is so the team can adjust the strategy to attain the LEED goal. In addition to tracking, LEED champions can also help train your staff and subcontractors how to be successful with LEED. A large part of the success on your project will be educating your personnel to follow new processes. I suggest that your champion has LEED AP training and is experienced with sustainability. It’s not required, but will help you be more successful on your first LEED project.

No. 4 Your subcontractors and vendors need to also know what is required

For some, the submittal process may be more difficult because a big part of LEED is understanding which volatile organic compounds, or vOCs, are part of their materials. vOCs are a big driver in indoor air quality and properly managing IAQ will make your job easier. Paperwork is only one part of the process that requires attention. field activities will also need to change for a successful project.

All ductwork should be protected from dust getting inside the duct. That means wrapping the ends of the duct before and after installation to keep the duct work clean. All material should now be stored on dunnage. Many subcontractors do this already but some will need to learn it. A LEED job may also preclude you from using the HvAC system as temporary heat. Given how well our buildings are insulated and sealed, this may become a standard practice on all jobs in the future. Another issue to watch out for is the trip to the lumber yard to get more supplies. The adhesives, paints and wood that we picked up in the past should be checked for compliance so we don’t lose a point by mistake.

The LEED process can be initially confusing and requires attention for you and your project to be successful. There are great resources to help you manage the LEED process that are available online. Tool kits and software with templates and prebuilt processes can minimize the amount of frustration of getting started. The design team and LEED consultant can also help you learn the process. We’ve also found our subcontractors can be great resources in helping us be successful. Depending on the complexity of the project, you may want to hire a consultant who can help you with your project. There are several online templates to help you select a consultant. Another good resource is your local chapter of the USGBC. Your first LEED job will have the steepest learning curve, but also holds the potential and opportunity to build a better project and help you develop processes that will help your company overall.

About the author: As the General Superintendent for The Neenan Company, Jim Ferguson oversees the field operations and is active in the scheduling, staffing, safety, and quality control of projects.

For more information http://www.consupt.com/.

download: Four tips for a first LEED project (94.08KB) added: 11/02/2010 description: by Jim Ferguson oversees field operations, scheduling, staffing, safety & quality control for The Neenan Company