Leonardo Academy Staff Member Participates in Pre-Release Pilot Testing of LEED® Operations and Maintenance Accreditation Exam

Leonardo Academy Staff Member Participates in Pre-Release Pilot Testing of LEED® Operations and Maintenance Accreditation Exam

Leonardo Academy employee Kara Edmonson one of the first recipients of the LEED® AP O+M credentials.

Madison, WI (PRWEB) April 16, 2009

Leonardo Academy employee Kara Edmonson was selected to participate as a Subject Matter Expert in a Green Building Certification Institute event to beta test the soon-to-be-released Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional Operations and Maintenance (LEED® AP O+M) exam. As part of a select group of participants in this process, Ms. Edmonson took the new exam and earned a passing score, thus becoming one of the first recipients of the LEED® AP O+M credentials.

Under the new credentialing system, LEED® Accredited Professionals (LEED® APs) are distinguished from Green Associates by demonstrating a thorough knowledge of green building practices and principles and of the LEED® Green Building Rating System™ and its application in practice. LEED® APs are building professionals who have the knowledge and skills to successfully steward applicants through the LEED® Certification Process. LEED® APs facilitate the integrated design process and streamline the LEED® Certification process for clients.

Leonardo Academy has formally congratulated Kara Edmonson on this accomplishment.

Leonardo Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment. Leonardo Academy is a Think and Do Tank. Leonardo Academy develops and distributes strategies, guidance, metrics, standards, education, and information on how to increase sustainability. Leonardo Academy also helps companies, organizations, families, and individuals successfully promote, encourage, and implement sustainability. Leonardo Academy's integrated approach makes sustainability very practical. Leonardo Academy provides a full range of sustainability services including enterprise sustainability, emissions, supply chain and green buildings. For greening buildings, Leonardo Academy supports implementation and certification under the LEED® Green Building Rating System™. For additional information about Leonardo Academy, visit www. leonardoacademy. org.

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established as a separately incorporated entity with the support of the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC). GBCI administers credentialing programs related to green building practice. These programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating Systems™. For additional information about the GBCI visit www. gbci. org.

The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED®-EB is a USGBC-sponsored program for owners who address sustainable operations and maintenance for existing buildings. The USGBC is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. For additional information about the USGBC visit www. usgbc. org.

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