Do LEED APs Get Higher Wages?
Douglas Reiser, who publishes at the Builders Counsel Blog, recently posted an interesting question regarding Davis-Bacon wage determinations for green building projects:
"What do you think about Davis-Bacon worker/payment classifications for 'green building' specialists or professionals? Should there be a classification for your project's LEED AP? How about for any independent raters? I am thinking that there might be a debate about HVAC, electrical, and plumbing workers who are trained in sustainable practices - do they require higher wages than your normal subcontractors?"
I have previously discussed the delay to the Department of Energy's weatherization program caused by the Department of Labor's wage determinations. In December 2009, the Department of Labor came out with new wage determinations for weatherization work.
In its Virginia wage determinations (PDF), the Department of Labor explained that it "does not issue separate wage determinations based on a worker's skill, experience or individual training." As LEED AP involves a workers "skill, experience, or individual training," I do not anticipate the Department of Labor will adjust wage determinations for LEED AP status.
The wage determinations are broken down into six categories that constitute a number of "green jobs":
- Weatherization worker
- Doors & windows replacement worker
- HVAC, furnace, heating & cooling repair, installation and replacement worker
- Carpenter
- Electrician
- Plumber
Contractors working on federal green building projects need to be aware of new wage determinations that will impact your project.
Related Links:
Virginia Residential Weatherization Wage Determination
(DOL)(PDF)
Generally speaking, it is not a requirement of the LEED rating system that tradespeople be LEED AP’s. In fact, it is not even “required” by the LEED rating sytem although you do get 1 point for it under the Innovation in Design category -
“At least one principal participant of the project team shall be a LEED Accredited Professional”
The cost of the LEED AP or the Green Globe rater would go into the project overhead as any QA/QC person would and would be a non-issue for Davis-Bacon requirements.
Any training that the field labor force might receive would not be anything much more than procedure for disposing of construction waste, etc. which would require the same effort as safety training. MEP contractors would be installing equipment and systems in a very similar way as any other project.
Thanks Chris for taking on the question! I agree with you that the DOL is not making wage determinations based upon training and skill - which undoubtedly involves LEED/Green contractors.
To make such a determination would likely open a can of worms that could never be solved. But, it appears that the separate Weatherization classifications do something similar: take a sect of workers and set a new wage table.
Its a lot to think about. Weatherization workers are separate than normal DBA laborers - so why can't a LEED rater/AP be a separate class?
Food for thought.
Thanks again Chris.