LEED For Neighborhood Development: Update and Free Certification Exam

By Jessalyn Dingwell on December 6, 2009 1 Comment carbon emissions, carbon footprint, Climate Change, Congress for the New Urbanism, corporate social responsibility, density, energy efficiency, environment, environmental, EPA, foot traffic, global warming, green building, green certification, green economy, green infrastructure, green jobs, green professionals, greenhouse gas emissions, LEED, LEED for Neighborhood development, LEED ND, mother nature, Natural Resources Defense Council, nature, neighborhood design, new urbanism, public transit, renewable energy, sidewalk, smart grid, Smart Growth, solar energy, sustainability, sustainable building, U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, vehicle miles traveled

The Green Building Certification Institute (USBGCI) is accepting applications from professionals interested in taking the LEED AP Neighborhood Development beta exam and potentially earning the credential for free. You must submit the application and required documentation online by December 15th. The final, balloted version of LEED for Neighborhood Development was recently released with a few interesting changes including new requirements for certification of at least one green building, walkable sidewalks, increased density, and an allowance for minor construction such as boat access ramps in green buffer areas that encourage human interaction with nature.