I spent about a week and a half reading this thing cover to cover to prepare for the LEED exam. While it was really awful to get through, I did pass the test, so I guess it was worth it.
Really, though, this thing should only be used for reference with LEED projects. Hopefully if they come out with a Reference Guide for v3.0, they will edit it a little better. There were lots of typos and a some of it is written in a way that makes you have to reread it a few times to understand what its saying.
Just as difficult to read as the others, and now made obsolete by LEED 2009. But getting easier the more comfortable I get with the material and concepts.
This book changed my life! I’ve aged 14 years and my IQ has dropped 27 points. It’s a bitch. Essentially a code document, this should only be referenced, not read (it should be "used" in the parlance of my friend Sean)…but, of course, we have to for this insane exam. The exciting content inside is well-conveyed by the photo on the book’s cover. Here we see some plump, middle-aged Realtor Association president in suit and tie with the US Capitol in the background. You just know strangulation via red tape awaits. One could imagine a velvet painting version as the ultimate cult icon for technocrats.
Admittedly it’s written and organized well, with the exception of a peculiar, typo-riddled paragraph on page 167 where they m ust haveexp erienced earthqu aketrem ors. Otherwise it has a boring consistency that was somewhat refreshing after recently trudging through nine Kaplan study guides for the ARE. Coming in at a whopping 422 pages, this still somehow manages to elide one of the four topic areas of the exam called “Implement LEED Process.” But that’s ok – you should utilize the strategy of answering all options that outline how much money you have to pay USGCB and forgoing any options that mention USGBC customer support. That put me at 80%. It’s all very Inside-the-Beltway after all.
More importantly, if you think reading this book will teach you something about sustainable design, then you would be mistaken. This is simply about checklist-architecture: Bicycle storage – one point. Reusing 75% of a building - one point. Never having to read this crap again – priceless.
This book has been kicking my ass for a couple of years now.
My favorite quote is "This project would need to meet 2.5% of its annual energy costs ($45,000) with renewable energy systems to earn one point under EA Credit 2. The project plans to install a 300 kW PV system that is predicted to produce 450,000 kWh/yr. Using the defauld cost of electricity for New York state in TABLE 5 ($0.1113/kWh) this system will provide $50,085/yr of electricity or 2.7% - Enough for one point under EA Credit 2."
Another favorite quote " A parameter between 0 and 1 (or 0% and 100%) that indicates the ability of a material to shed infrared radiation (heat). The wavelength range for this radiant energy is roughly 3 to 40 micrometers. Most building materials (including glass) are opaque in this part of the spectrum, and have an emittance of roughly 0.9"
It's thermal emmitance in case you were wondering.
I love the idea that LEED brings out. If are looking for some light reading I would opt to not read this resource guide. If you are looking to pass the LEED AP test I would suggest other means of studying/learning in addition. I imagine on a day-to-day basis working with building projects seeking certification this is extremely helpful but after 4-5 really heavy weeks (after work and weekends) studying this guide(and some other materials found on the internet) the book seems a little over rated. But that might be no fault to the guide but simply that which is it describing.
Good Lord! Finishing this book was like pulling teeth! However, it is required material for passing the LEED AP v2.2 test, so for as much as you hate technical reading, you just have to buckle down and finish it. And for what it is, it is actually broken down to as easy of a read as possible. I'd recommend it to anyone trying to learn about building "green" and who is looking to take (and PASS) the LEED test.