value and Choice

I expected the USGBC would state they got the new fees right. They didn't. There is another way to do this that does not crush small firms.

Silver (Silver Provisional) level starts at $300. If no projects are registered or certified using the firm's LEED membership then the membership fee remains at $300 and is classified as Organizational.

For each project registered or certified there is no member rate discount until the $1,500 Silver membership fee is reached. Then the membership is classified as Silver.

Why the above makes sense for small business owners, is that the membership discount is not always used, and the number of projects a firm has is too small. In other words, small businesses paying the $1,500 annual fee will likely end up paying more fees over time to the USGBC/GBCI than of the firm opted out the Silver membership.

Before the USGBC states, "just opt out then, that is your choice," reconsider the negative financial impact on small businesses. If the the USGBC doesn't change the new fee structure, at least I will consider the organization to have transitioned from a small business supporter, to on that doesn't care much for small business, and is now supporter of the largest firms.

Sarah -

This is simply too much of a fee change for the smallest USGBC members.
500% grossing under $250k.
300% grossing under $1M.
200% grossing under $5M.
Same fee grossing under $25M.
40-70% reduced fees for all firms grossing over $25M.

I have been a USGBC member since 1997. I have also donated more than 3,000 hours of my personal time to the development of LEED; as vice-chair of the IEQ TAG (Technical Advisory Group), as a developer of LEED CI, as a member of the WE TAG before one officially existed, and as a (mostly unpaid) developer of the LEED CI Pilot Reference Guide. I also sat in several Board Meeting Conference calls as part of the TAG work I did.

What I can tell you is that the statement I in this thread "The way it used to be..." is reasonably accurate to what was stated to me, and others, when membership fees first started.

Small firms have no guarantee the fee discounts will be used often enough to justify the cost. The LEED market is heading down and fast.

I offered a fairly reasonable solution: Provisional Silver. It protects the smallest businesses. It helps earn more money for the USGBC.

Sarah I think perhaps you all believe that there is a "value" to me as a consultant that should be included in my membership fees. LEED clients include LEED APs on their teams right now just to get a credential posted and get the member fee discounts. Design firms (and others) currently offer that person's "involvement" regardless of whether a true LEED professional actually hepls out in the design an dplanning process. Usually the LEED AP is stuck with simply corraling data and working online where the design architects and engineers don't want to waste their time.
When a project team engages a true LEED consultant who can work across all the disciplines, facilitate the desired LEED Online engagement by the right team members, and deliver a successful and sincere green project, they shouldn't be penalized by having to pass through a higher cost (or eating it) for their certificaiton. I truly believe that much of the USGBC staff is simply not aware of how the LEED process works today - even in your largest most visible design partners. And I know this firsthand - I'm not whining about competition - just pointing out that the Beltway Bubble might be at work even in our green world.
I also do not agree with Hernando's psoposed solution for the same reason - why penalize my costs? Simply put - there should be an organizational level for organizations who want to participate but will never have to pay the cert fees on actual projects. Another level for small dollar firms - maybe $600 but certainly NOT $1,500 for heaven's sake - who do pay the certification fees. Is noone in DC hearing the biggest complaint about actual LEED certification is the fees the projects have to pay to USGBC? Do you not hear the endless comments about how much money USGBC is raking in in fees for this and that? There is a ton of skepticism out in the country that needs to be addressed before you hike project costs. THanks!

Karen,

The correct answer is limit membership fees increases to no more than $100, or 25% max.

I offered an alternative because I know the management at USGBC and how they operate. More money is the key. The people running the show have backgrounds in sales, not in green architecture and engineering.

We won't get anywhere insisting on a smaller fee change. The decision has been made, and like the USGBC has worked for the last 10 years, once they make a decision they will not change their minds. Not about financial issues, not about certification reviews, not about the rating system changes they decide LEED must have.

How about a $500 option for firms that just want the existing discounts, voting, and membership directory? More value and choice.

It's about who needs who more. Does USGBC rely on small consultants more or do the small consultants rely on USGBC more?

@ Hernando, Like most decisions it just about how to spin it so people accept it. Even if it's just a griping acceptance. There's not exactly a level field to negotiate fee rates.

I have done a lot of marketing for the USGBC to clients. I have also donated an extraordinary amount of my personal time to the USGBC.

I pass on the member discounts entirely to the owner. I charge 0% markup on the fees. So, my firms gets ZERO benefit. The owner gets a benefit to help convince them to purse LEED at all. Yes, the amounts to an owner are small, but the savings is being passed on from an owner with higher income, as a new added cost to a small consultant with low income.

The new fees are anti-small business. Larger firms get a huge benefit, reduced fees.

P.S. To compete with large firms small businesses need to swallow a new USGBC fee which is a much larger percent of the gross income of the small business.

All – we appreciate the comments and dialog. You’ve provided a number of great suggestions that we are considering as we seek to address these concerns. We plan to reach out to all member organizations prior to their renewal in order to ensure that they understand the new structure and how their organization fits. If the new membership packages don’t meet the needs of your organization, we encourage you to contact us so we can find a solution that does. Your feedback is a vital part of this transition and it will only serve to strengthen the new membership offerings.

Thanks for posting, USGBC. If you log in to your personal account while accessing LEEDuser through IP authentication, then we can know who you are on the forum!