Changes to Recognition Package

I think USGBC is a missing a huge marketing opportunity- the cost of a plaque is cost effective advertisement.

Thanks for the reply Erin. I'm still puzzled by this policy change. Pre-2009 project teams have always been under the impression that project fees included a plaque once certified. Now it appears that those fees paid by all project teams do not cover these costs. Perhaps pre-2009 teams will now be refunded $390 for the plaque and associated shipping costs? And if I’m not mistaken project fees have increased and not remained the same as you stated.

I understand that $390 is a relatively minimal cost when looking at the total budget for many LEED projects, but the failure on the part of GBCI and USGBC to communicate this policy change, to project administrators at a minimum, is worrisome. What other ‘surprise’ fees will project teams and clients encounter as they attempt to certify projects? I know USGBC and GBCI pride themselves on ensuring transparency, excellence in service, and building relationships with those served, but the policy change in question, subsequent lack of communication, and justification that this will somehow enhance the quality and speed of the certification review process do not live up to the standards that USGBC and GBCI profess.

Erin – Thank you for your posts and for letting us dialogue on it. I was frankly very shocked to see this news and was even more surprised at the timing. I have an RSS Feed on My Google Home Page for GBCI and this announcement did not show up during Greenbuild (October 3rd). It only showed up afterwards (10th). I heard no scuttlebutt about it during Greenbuild. If I had, I would have shared my dismay at the policy change when I spoke to Sarah Alexander, GBCI Director of LEED Certification, on Friday, October 7th at the Knowledge Bar.

As Brian suggested, v2 Project Administrators should have been notified directly. It was painful for me to tell one client who has been working for LEED certification for 3 years that the rules have changed and now they have to buy a plaque. While I wanted to apologize for the change, it was not my doing and a wise consultant told me that 2 years ago she quit apologizing for USGBC/GBCI, which makes sense to me. I hope USGBC/GBCI will think about those of us who are trying to represent the organization as professionally as possible and walk a mile in our shoes. While this change may have cut down on confusion on your end, it created a bit on ours.

I just found out about this change from a Facebook post by LEEDuser, not by formal communication from USGBC or GBCI (thank you, LEEDuser!). I am Project Administrator for three LEED v2.2 projects, all of which have very long time frames for both design and construction. It is unfortunate that these projects will not receive plaques for their acheivements, especially since these clients have been challenging in terms of their experience with green building and their ability to see the value in LEED certification. (Purchasing plaques will not be an option for these owners.) I would encourage the USGBC/GBCI to be a little more forthcoming with their Project Administrators in the future.

I still do not understand the impetus for this change in policy, for V2 as well as V3 projects. I agree with whomever said that the USGBC is missing a huge marketing opportunity by no longer providing the plaque as part of the fee for certification. Let's be honest, the plaque was never free, so why not just raise the review/certification fees a little more and cover the cost of them instead? That part of the process at the end of an often long journey of the certification process really went a long way to extend goodwill towards many of my clients and made them feel even better about the LEED process. They felt they were getting this as an award for their achievement.

I can guarantee you that many projects will opt not to purchase the plaque now.

I implore the USGBC/GBCI to re-think this.