Construction, Real Estate and Land Use information from an attorney and member of the Maryland and DC Bars practicing Construction, Real Estate and Land Use Law with an interest in green construction, real estate and development.
Today's post is courtesy of Lance Surety Associates.
Contractor’s FAQs for Surety Bonding The amount of paperwork required to bid on a construction project can, at times, be overwhelming. A common prerequisite for many public construction projects is to acquire a surety bond. Although their presence is common within the construction industry, many contractors know little about the services and benefits surety bonds provide. To help dispel myths and misunderstandings, the following is an insider’s look into contractor’s most frequently asked questions regarding surety bonding.
In simple terms, surety bonds are a form of financial guarantee. They help ensure stakeholders that contractors will complete work and play suppliers and laborers per the specifications of the contract. Surety bonds are an agreement between three parties: • An obligee – the project owner • A principal – the bond purchaser or bond owner • A surety – the company who sells the bond and ensures the contract is followed
Where did surety bonds originate?
The origin of surety bonds dates back to 1935 with the passage of the Miller Act. This required performance and payment bonds on federal construction projects which exceed $100,000. With the Miller Act’s passage, several state legislatures also adopted similar regulations for smaller projects. These rulings are known as Little Miller Acts. What is the difference between contract bonds and contractor bonds? In short the answer is “nothing.” These terms are used interchangeably to refer to various types of construction surety bonds. The most common types of contract surety bonds are bid bonds, performance bonds and payment bonds. • Bid Bonds : guarantees the contractor will enter into a project for the amount he/she bid upon • Performance Bonds: these bonds protect project owners from contractor default or if work is not performed as outlined in the contract • Payment Bonds: these ensure that all parties involved in the project will be paid appropriately. Often, performance and payment bonds are issued jointly as a single surety bond.
How much do surety bonds cost?
Surety bond costs range depending upon the geographic region the bond is required, the financial history of the applicant and the surety’s policy. Those with strong credit ratings will receive the most competitive rates, however those with weaker financial histories are eligible to purchase a bond through a surety company’s bad credit program. Rates range between 1 to 3 percent of the contract amount while high-risk applicants may spend as much as 20 percent of the bond cost.
One of the most commonly asked questions for surety bonding is how it differs from insurance policies. The main variant between the two is how risk is assessed. For insurance, individuals pay a premium to their insurance company which transfers most risk to the agency that is overseeing the policy. Should a claim be filed, it is the insurance company’s responsibility to ensure all parties are financially compensated. With surety bonds, the element of risk continues to lie with the individual who owns the bond, or the principal. If a claim is filed against the contractor who owns the bond, the principal will be expected to repay damages.
Vic Lance (vic@suretybonds.org) is the owner of Lance Surety Bonds a nationwide surety agency. He helps advise contractors and small businesses on the bonding process.
The Maryland House of Delegates concurred with amendments approved by the Senate last week and Maryland has become the first state in the country to approve the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).
The IGCC has been developed by the International Code Council, in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects; ASTM International; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; the U.S. Green Building Council; and the Illuminating Engineering Society to establish a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings addressing green building design and performance.
Builders should always follow the legislative session; however this year in particular there are a number of bills of interest, including the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011.
Click the title link above to read an opinion piece on the subject.
The departments of Interior and Energy announced a $50 million research and development commitment to jump-start offshore wind energy projects and said the government could begin leasing sites off the mid-Atlantic coast by the end of this year or early next.
June 4, 2010 | www.abc.org Nonresidential Construction Employment Falls in May
"A combination of factors, including still tight credit and high commercial vacancy rates, conspired to reverse what had been growing construction employment momentum." —ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu
Employment in the nation’s nonresidential construction industry fell by 4,200 jobs in May after an across-the-board jobs gain the previous month, according to June 4 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. Since May 2009, the nonresidential building construction sector has lost 55,400 jobs, or 7.5 percent, and the employment stands at 684,300. (See Analysis below)
Hardest hit was the nonresidential specialty trade sector where employment fell by 16,500 jobs for the month and 251,700, or 11.3 percent, since May 2009. The heavy and civil engineering construction sector lost 7,400 jobs in May and 53,200, or 6.2 percent, since the same time last year. Residential construction employment slipped by 3,300 jobs last month and has lost 66,400 jobs, or 10.3 percent, since May 2009. The construction industry as a whole lost 35,000 jobs in May – the first monthly job loss since February. Over the past twelve months, the industry lost 529,000 jobs, or 8.6 percent of total employment. The national unemployment rate for the construction industry in May is 20.1 percent. Overall, total employment for all industries was up by 431,000 jobs in May, with temporary Census workers accounting for 411,000 of those jobs. Private sector employment gained 41,000 jobs for the month. On a year-over-year basis, total employment is down 585,000, or 0.4 percent, and the nation’s unemployment rate in May stands at 9.7. Analysis “At first glance, today's jobs report could be viewed as very positive. However, nothing could be more disappointing,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Almost all of the jobs added are temporary federal government positions, and for the construction industry as a whole, last month represented a setback. “Undoubtedly, a combination of factors, including still tight credit and high commercial vacancy rates, conspired to reverse what had been growing construction employment momentum,” said Basu. “In addition, the lower unemployment rate for the industry tells us that more people have given up trying to find construction jobs." “Meanwhile, the financial markets are responding badly to today's employment release. The data indicates that the nation’s economic recovery remains fragile and has not yet become self sustaining,” Basu said. “It will be interesting to see if job growth numbers turn negative again later this year once Census Bureau hiring begins to trail off.”
I am pleased to have a guest post today by Kevin Kaiser of suretybonds.com. Please feel free to contact Kevin at: kevin@suretybonds.com
Surety Bonds Explained
While many people may not realize it, surety bonds of all descriptions are a critical component of business today in the United States. A wide variety of industries are required to carry surety bonds, and a variety of business types from construction companies to retirement communities are built upon surety bonds. But what are surety bonds and how do they work?
A surety bond is essentially an agreement between three parties: the principal (the party required to have the bond), the obligee (the party requiring the bond), and the surety bond company (the party who sells the bond). The bond represents an agreement between these three parties that the principal will adhere to the terms set forth in the bond (generally that they will perform their business practices ethically and in accordance with federal, state, and local laws) and that if they do not, a claim will be filed against the bond by the obligee in order to receive restitution for the wrongdoing. In the event of such a claim, the surety company pays the obligee damages and then requires reimbursement from the principal.
In most cases, surety bonds work synergistically with the business practices of most industries, and the bond is in place merely to ensure that the bonded company behaves ethically and according to the legal standards for its profession. However, there are occasional exceptions to this situation, and sometimes new business practices and surety bond regulations can clash, as is the case with green construction bonds.
Nearly every construction project undertaken in the US today requires a surety bond, which has been the case for nearly a century. As the construction industry has evolved to include greener, environmentally friendly methods of construction, the industry has found a conflict between the required performance bonds for these projects and the third-party certifications often necessary to qualify a project as green. Surety companies usually rely on a construction company’s financial health, work history, and expertise to issue a bond, but in the case of a green project, the responsibility for the project’s success no longer rests solely on the construction company in question, but instead partially on a third party’s approval. As a result, many surety companies will not bond a green construction project. Legislation is currently being constructed to accommodate this discrepancy between the reality of the construction industry and the requirements of the surety bond industry, but until the matter is resolved, many green building projects have had to take a necessary hiatus.
Here is an update on Green Building Legislation. If you want more information, please contact me.
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2010 SESSION PENDING BILLS RELATING TO GREEN BUILDING
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 215, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicability to Recipients of State Aid LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Brian Frosh SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of state aid to specified grantees. Definitions of “Grantee” and “State Aid” are incorporated by reference to the State Finance and Procurement Article, Section 7-406(a)(3) and (5). “Grantee” is defined as a for-profit or non-profit entity or association that receives State aid during a fiscal year, not including a unit of State or local government. “State Aid” is defined as a contribution, grant, or subsidy of $50,000 or more provided through the State operating or capital budget or by the action of a unit of State government from State funds appropriated to that unit, not including reimbursements to providers participating in a State program. INTRODUCED: 1/21/10 COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation ACTION: 2/2/10 Committee Hearing
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 234, High Performance Buildings Act – Applicable to Community College Capital Projects LEAD SPONSOR: Senator James Robey SUMMARY: Amends the existing High Performance Buildings Act, the law requiring state-owned buildings to meet or exceed a LEED Silver rating or an equivalent, by making the requirement applicable to community college capital projects that receive State funds. INTRODUCED: 1/22/10 COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation ACTION: 2/10/10 Committee Hearing CHAPTER POSITION: Support http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0234.htm BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 224, Plumbing – Greywater Recycling LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dan Morhaim SUMMARY: Prohibits counties from adopting or enforcing provisions of a local plumbing code that prohibit a system that recycles greywater. “Greywater” is defined as used, untreated water generated by a clothes washing machine, shower or bathtub. INTRODUCED: 1/22/10 COMMITTEE: Economic Matters ACTION: 2/3/10 Committee Hearing
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 705, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Dana Stein SUMMARY: Requires state and local governments to post, in a building’s public area, the Energy Star ratings of government-owned buildings. Effective October 1, 2010 for state government buildings of 100,000 square feet or more. Effective October 1, 2011 for local government buildings and state government buildings of less than 100,000 square feet. INTRODUCED: 2/4/10 COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations ACTION: None
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 656, Energy Performance Ratings – State, County and Municipal Buildings (Cross-file of HB 705) LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Mike Lenett SUMMARY: See HB 705 above INTRODUCED: 2/5/10 COMMITTEE: Education, Health and Environmental Affairs ACTION: None
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 277, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: Accelerates the percentage of electricity that utilities must derive from solar energy in meeting the State goal of 2% derived from solar energy by 2022. Increases compliance fee utilities must pay when failing to meet the solar energy requirement. INTRODUCED: 1/22/10 COMMITTEE: Finance ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0277.htm BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 471, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar Energy (Cross-file of SB 277) LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: See SB 277 above. INTRODUCED: 1/29/10 COMMITTEE: Economic Matters ACTION: 2/16/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0471.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 479, State Capital Projects – High Performance Buildings – Green Globes Rating LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Lowell Stoltzfus SUMMARY: Alters the definition of "high performance building" in the State High Performance Buildings Act to include a building that achieves a rating of at least two Green Globes according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative. INTRODUCED: 2/1/10 COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation ACTION: None http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0479.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 287, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010 LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: Extends the Clean Energy Incentive Tax Credit, set to expire at the end of 2010, for an additional 5 years. Offers state income tax credit for electricity generated by qualified resources of .85 cents per kilowatt hour, and .50 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity generated from co-firing a qualified resource with coal. INTRODUCED: 1/22/10 COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0287.htm BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 464, Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 287) LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: See SB 287 above INTRODUCED: 1/29/10 COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Economic Matters ACTION: None http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0464.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 285, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 LEAD SPONSOR: President Mike Miller (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: In order to better coordinate and target existing State community revitalization programs to achieve investment in housing, historic preservation, economic growth and transportation development…provides for designation of certain areas in the State as “sustainable communities” eligible for certain State programs. Re-establishes and alters the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program. Provides for an additional Sustainable Communities tax credit to commercial rehabilitations that achieve a LEED Gold or equivalent rating. INTRODUCED: 1/22/10 COMMITTEE: Budget and Taxation ACTION: 2/17/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0285.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 475, Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 (Cross-file of SB 285) LEAD SPONSOR: Speaker Michael Busch (by request of Administration) SUMMARY: See SB 285 above INTRODUCED: 1/29/10 COMMITTEE: Ways and Means; Environmental Matters ACTION: None http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0475.htm BILL NUMBER/TITLE: SB 355, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit LEAD SPONSOR: Senator Paul Pinsky SUMMARY: Provides that a utility “customer-generator” with a net metering contract or tariff who generates electricity from a renewable source shall be credited at the same retail rate that they pay for electricity consumption. A customer-generator served on a time-of-use tariff shall be credited using time-of-use rates. INTRODUCED: 1/28/10 COMMITTEE: Finance ACTION: 2/9/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0355.htm
BILL NUMBER/TITLE: HB 701, Energy Companies – Net Energy Metering – Payment for Accrued Generation Credit (Cross-file of SB 355) LEAD SPONSOR: Delegate Sue Hecht SUMMARY: See SB 355 above INTRODUCED: 2/4/10 COMMITTEE: Economic Matters ACTION: 3/2/10 Committee Hearing http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0701.htm
I took a brief hiatus from blogging over the holidays and enjoyed a short vacation. Now with the new year upon us, I intend to reinvigorate this blog and hopefully turn itself into something more useful for those in the construction industry. I am also working on a construction law website which I intend to roll out later this year.
The Maryland General Assembly is now in session, as of yesterday. I am going to track and comment on some bills which have been introduced in the House or Senate which might affect the construction and real estate industries. This might not be inclusive as things change frequently.
SB 23- Relating to Green Energy Senator Mooney ENERGY COMPANIES – NET ENERGY METERING – CREDIT TRANSFERS Authorizing specified not–for–profit customers to transfer all renewable energy generation credits from net energy metering to specified properties; and requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt specified regulations. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010 PUC, § 7-306(a) and (i) - amended and § 7-306(i) - added Assigned to: Finance
SB 50-Relating to Green Energy Senator Mooney ELECTRIC COMPANIES – NET ENERGY METERING Repealing a limitation on the period of time that a specified eligible customer–generator may accrue specified generation credit; repealing a limitation on the time that a specified electric company is required to carry forward a generation credit or a negative kilowatt–hour reading; requiring a specified electric company to carry forward a specified generation credit until specified events occur; etc. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010 PUC, § 7-306 - amended Assigned to: Finance
SB 103- Landscape Architects STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS – SUNSET EXTENSION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION Continuing the State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act (sunset law) by extending to July 1, 2024 the termination provisions relating to specified statutory and regulatory authority of the Board; requiring that an evaluation of the Board and the statutes and regulations that relate to the Board be performed on or before July 1, 2023; and requiring the Board to submit a specified report on or before October 1, 2011.
HB 29 Delegate Braveboy REAL PROPERTY – CONDOMINIUMS AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS – PRIORITY OF LIENS Establishing that, in a foreclosure sale of a condominium unit or a lot in a homeowners association, a portion of a contract lien consisting of not more than 6 months of specified unpaid assessments, including attorney’s fees or specified costs, has priority over the claim of the holder of a first mortgage or deed of trust recorded against the unit or lot after October 1, 2010 under specified circumstances; establishing that a lot owner in a homeowners association is liable for specified assessments and charges; etc. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010 RP, § 11-110(d) -
HB 42 Delegate Conaway REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS – KNOWLEDGE OF VALUE OF REAL ESTATE – PROHIBITED Prohibiting specified real estate appraisers from providing real estate appraisal services under specified circumstances in which the specified real estate appraisers know the asking price or the selling price of the real estate being appraised; providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor; and establishing penalties. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010 BOP, § 16-705.2 - added and § 16-706 - amended Assigned to: Economic Matters
HB 64 Delegate McConkey REAL PROPERTY – RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES AND DEEDS OF TRUST – FORECLOSURE SALES Creating a rebuttable presumption that a foreclosure sale of specified residential real property is invalid if the sale begins more than 30 minutes after the scheduled time for the sale. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010 RP, § 7-105 - amended Assigned to: Environmental Matters
HB 80 Chair, Economic Matters Committee (By Request – Departmental – Labor, Licensing and Regulation) STATE BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS Requiring the State Board of Professional Engineers to adopt regulations to require a demonstration of continuing professional competency for a licensee as a condition of renewal of a license subject to specified exceptions; authorizing the Board to issue a retired status license to specified individuals; prohibiting the holder of a retired status license from practicing professional engineering; authorizing the holder of a retired status license to use a specified designation; etc. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010 BOP, § 14-314 - amended and § 14-316 - added Assigned to: Economic Matters
HB 84 Chair, Economic Matters Committee (By Request – Departmental – Labor, Licensing and Regulation) STATE BOARD OF HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR–CONDITIONING, AND REFRIGERATION CONTRACTORS – MEMBERSHIP Increasing the number of members of the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air–Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors to include two additional contractor members; and requiring that the two additional Board members be appointed without regard to geographic region or location in the State. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010 BR, § 9A-202 - amended Assigned to: Economic Matters
It's still early and surely there are more to come.
Click the link above to go to the MGA website. If you have any questions, let me know.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a report on Chinese drywall today. The study of fifty-one homes found a strong association between the problem drywall, the hydrogen sulfide levels in homes with that drywall, and corrosion in those homes. The study included homes in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi. While the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has aggressively pursued a detailed investigation into the Chinese drywall supply chain, it remains difficult to estimate the total number of homes that could contain problem drywall. From the consumer end of the chain, CPSC has received over 2000 consumer reports from thirty-one states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. According to the CPSC, only two reports have come from Maryland. The reported problem drywall was installed in homes mostly between 2006 and 2007. The CPSC has a website devoted to the issue. http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html.
If you are a contractor who may have purchased and used Chinese Drywall or believe you have Chinese Drywall in your home and have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
American Community Properties Trust, a diversified real estate organization and the master developer of St. Charles, a planned community in Charles County, said Gov. Martin O’Malley will announce on Monday the creation of a “Green City” in St. Charles.
In a release, the company said it will be “an international model of how to design and build an economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable community.” In addition, thousands of existing homes will be retrofitted to take advantage of current and future green technologies and services.
When completed, the community will include nearly 25,000 homes and 9 million square feet of industrial, commercial and retail space.
I came across a post from another blog that I found useful. When a construction company or owner comes into my office with a potential dispute, they save themselves time and money if their project has been well documented and such documents are well organized. In some instances it can make or break your case.
Thanks to Timothy Hughes for these basic tips. Click on the title link to read more.
Is the housing market recovering? For Toll Brothers, Inc. a regional construction company, it seems to be. "We have definitely progressed from one year ago,” said Toll Brothers CEO Robert Toll." It's fourth quarter results have jumped approximately 42%. The positive sentiment amplifies that of Reston-based Comstock Homebuilding Cos. Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) which returned to profitability during the third quarter and said the homebuilding industry is on the mend.
Will the rest of the construction industry follow? Probably, but it's too soon to tell how quickly.
Click on the title link to read the article in the Baltimore Business Journal.
Are good things on the horizon for the construction industry?
According to ABC, "the performance of non-residential contruction remains solid" which could be an indicator that some other segments of the industry will see better months ahead. What do you think?
See the entire article from ABC.org below:
June 1, 2009 Construction Spending Posts Fourth Straight Increase
"While it is true that economic conditions continue to batter office and commercial construction by a combination of job declines, diminished consumer and business spending and tight credit, other nonresidential segments have more than compensated for lost dollar volume in those categories." —ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu
For the fourth straight month, private nonresidential construction spending increased, rising 1.8 percent in April, according to the June 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is up 2.0 percent. Overall, total nonresidential construction spending increased 0.8 percent on the month to $712.3 billion, up 2.5 percent from April 2008. (See what this means below)
Construction subsectors posting the largest gains from the previous month were power plants, up 7.2 percent; communication, up 6.0 percent; and manufacturing, up 3.8 percent. Meanwhile, construction subsectors posting the largest gains from one year ago were manufacturing, up 70.3 percent; power, up 25.9 percent; and conservation and development construction spending, up 16.7 percent.
In contrast, those construction subsectors posting decreases in spending from last month were water supply, down 5.9 percent and commercial construction, down 2.6 percent. Since April 2008, communication construction spending is down 26.1 percent, commercial is down 24.4 percent and office construction spending is down 10.5 percent.
Public nonresidential construction spending fell 0.5 percent for the month, but is still up 3.3 percent from April 2008. Residential construction spending finally increased for the month, up 0.6 percent from March, but still down 34.4 percent from a year ago. Overall, total construction spending increased 0.8 percent on the month, but is down 10.7 percent from April 2008. What This Means
“In light of the historic downturn in the national economy, and the ongoing credit crunch, the performance of nonresidential construction remains remarkably solid,” said Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While it is true that economic conditions continue to batter office and commercial construction by a combination of job declines, diminished consumer and business spending and tight credit, other nonresidential segments have more than compensated for lost dollar volume in those categories. “Particularly exceptional is the performance of manufacturing and power-related construction, which is a reflection of the enormous transformation taking place in those segments of the economy,” added Basu.
“Undoubtedly, today’s data release will be considered another “green shoot," indicating that the US economy is now on the mend. However, much of the focus remains on residential construction because its value has not significantly increased since August 2008,” said Basu. “With the overwhelming majority of stimulus dollars yet to be distributed and spent, many nonresidential construction segments can expect even better months ahead, though office and commercial construction will likely lag for the foreseeable future.”
For those of you interested in working LEED projects or any other project for that matter, you may find this helpful.
"ASHRAE Launches Commissioning Agent Certification The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will offer a new exam, starting in June, for Commissioning Process Management Professionals. Intended to help building owners and others find qualified people to conduct project commissioning. "
LEED v3 launches April 27, 2009. What does it mean for you?
Current LEED projects can be transferred from v2 to v3 between April 27 through October 26th free of charge. Projects that remain registered under version 2 will be unable to use the new version of LEED online.
For those of you considering doing LEED projects, registration for v3 begins April 27th.
There is a new credentialing system as well. You can no longer register for the LEED AP v2 Exam. What does that mean for current LEED AP's? There is a 2 part test which will be available Summer 09 and there will be new designations. Pratical experience on LEED projects will be required.
