IPpc90 Social Equity within the Project Team - Option 1

Our team has pursued the Social Equity within the Project Team pilot credit on higher education LEED projects in varying stages of review. We have observed that the St. Louis, MO area is a strong union region with at least almost all workers on site part of a union. Nearly all construction trade unions have significant training programs. Many of our projects, including the one we applied this pilot credit to (and especially those that are funded in part with public monies) have a requirement to pay at least prevailing wage. For this project, completing the paperwork for this pilot credit was not considered an undue burden by the CM. However, on another project for a community college client, but performed by a different construction manager, the CM declined to participate in the pilot credit because they felt documenting the required data was too difficult or may expose them legally in some way, even though we were confident the credit could be met.  

Our team has pursued the Social Equity within the Project Team pilot credit on a LEED BD+C higher education project. We have observed that achieving pilot credits is sometimes difficult due to project type and cost considerations. However, we have seen that IPpc90 is best applied to projects in the St. Louis region due to the strong union workforce presence. In our experience with this particular project, the CM was willing and able to document Option 1 requirements.