Hi there, I'm acting as a LEED consultant for a large California business. We asked USGBC about membership benefits and they would like the business owner to join USGBC. But, it seems like the benefits go to the LEED professional, and that it would be more appropriate for me to join. Thoughts?
My second question is at what point a membership starts to pay for itself. We have a new construction project and an existing building project to register, but I think that it will be two years before both are certified. Should I wait on the membership until the certification year? Or spend two years ($3000) of membership fees to get registration and certification fees discounts?
Any thoughts on either of these topics are appreciated.
Thanks and best regards!
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Greg Hamra
Senior Educator & Lead LEED instructorEverblue
8 thumbs up
June 4, 2013 - 2:32 pm
Katherine - Did you speak to the national USGBC or to your local USGBC chapter? It sounds like the latter. Individuals can join local chapters while your organization can become a USGBC national member. Employees of USGBC member companies also enjoy some local chapter benefits; generally, a discount on the local chapter membership. However, the national USGBC membership you enable your company to enjoy other benefits including:
► discounts on reference guides
► discounts exam fees (for member company employees)
► you can display the USGBC Member logo on your website and other marketing collateral
► it's a great way to show your company’s commitment to sustainability, and be seen as an industry leader
► discounted project registration.
So if you're going to register a LEED project or two, wouldn't you rather enjoy the member discount? Why wait?
While I realize it's sometimes difficult to put a price-tag on the value of your company's image, USGBC membership certainly enhances your brand. In fact, one job might come from this alignment w/the USGBC that could easily pay for the entire membership. A few years ago a LEED student of mine told me (and the whole class) that his company's USGBC membership paid for itself "ten times over."
► This 2-min. video might help you decide: https://vimeo.com/65578066
Katherine Carlin
4 thumbs up
June 4, 2013 - 2:46 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I am going to look into this issue of national vs. local chapter membership.
Hernando Miranda
OwnerSoltierra LLC
344 thumbs up
June 4, 2013 - 2:58 pm
Greg,
One job does easily pay for a $1,500 Silver Membership. A $300 membership, yes.
I've been working on LEED projects since 1999. I have owned a consulting company for the last 11 years. Projects are multi-year time investments: 3-5 years each, sometimes longer.
The number of LEED projects is decreasing in the U.S., and significantly so in the State of California, where I work, since the State mandated CalGreen.
If you commit to a membership discount as part of your agreement to consult on a LEED project, and the number of projects you can get decreases, then the best solution is to pay the $300 membership fee, and in later years decide whether enough building owners will continue with LEED or not to make the higher membership fee financially worthwhile.
LEED projects are down. Many of my best clients have opted completely out of LEED. Their decisions to cease were based on the expense of getting through the onerous LEED reviews. Until the USGBC sees the business problem I've been seeing first-hand for the last few years--fewer projects, ugly reviews--, it is best to not make a hard ($1,500) membership commitment to the USGBC. Only the largest companies can afford to take the risk. Actually, the USGBC granted the largest companies a huge membership fee discount, unfortunately, at the expense of smaller businesses.
Katherine Carlin
4 thumbs up
June 4, 2013 - 7:02 pm
Thank you, Greg. I'm aware that the membership pricing issue has been controversial (and heartbreaking for some). I appreciate your response.