LEED by Example

That is the message the government is sending out to new and existing building owners.  LEED is a rating system to measure how “green” your building is.  There are multiple tiers to the grading scale and with each added level; there are additional tax breaks and incentives from the government.  Certification is no easy feat and must be actively pursued in order to meet the specifications required. 

It seems that being “green” is a buzz word in current terminology, but how do you define “green”.  What requirements are needed to call your product green?  The fact is that this loosely held term can mean thousands of things to thousands of people.  The government has devised a rating system based on the categories:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Material and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.  Each category is then weighted based on the number of points achievable in that category, with a total score being 100.  For instance, Energy and Atmosphere is worth a possible 37 points, whereas Water Efficiency is worth a possible 11 points. 

A LEED certified building must be confirmed by a professional that is LEED certified and taken the proper training.  The LEED Professional will test and measure for each of the categories.  A LEED Certified building has a rating of at least 40 points.  A Silver building achieves a minimum of 50 points.  The Gold level is achieved only with 60 points or over.  The highest rating is the Platinum level with 80 or more points.  Ten additional bonus points are also available which address regionally specific environmental issues, making the total number of possible points, 110. 

Each tier comes with additional zoning or tax benefits.  The government is providing these incentives for buildings that make have higher cost initially during construction or renovation, but can offset the higher cost with lasting benefits for the future.  The environmentally conscience effort now has financial benefits, in addition to being responsible parts of the global community. 

Many of new construction buildings for the United States Government are pursuing some form of LEED certification to pave the way for new methods and techniques for construction.  In the United States, buildings are responsible for 13% of water consumption, 39% of CO2 emissions, and 40% of energy consumption.  A LEED certified building can make a significant environmental impact in improving the environment. 

Click hereto get in contact with a LEED Professional in your area for additional information on LEED Certification.