Top Ten Things to Know About LEED Certification
Want to learn more about LEED? Wondering if it is worth your while to pursue certification for your project? Here is the ten-point lowdown on L.E.E.D. certification: what it is, and what it means for your project, your clients, and the environment.
Who started LEED? The LEED certification system for buildings was created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization comprised of more than 20,000 member businesses and organizations and 78 local affiliates. LEED certification for buildings and professionals is managed by the Green Building Construction Institute (GBCI), an offshoot of the USGBC formed in 2008.
What types of projects are able to be considered for LEED? There are different categories of LEED for different types of projects.
- LEED-EBOM (Existing Buildings – Operations & Maintenance)
- LEED for Homes
- LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development)
- LEED-ID&C (Interior Design & Construction)
- LEED-BD&C (Building Design & Construction)
What about these changes I hear about? LEED v3 (also known as LEED 2009) is the most recent version of the LEED certification system. LEED v3 brought about changes to make LEED certification carry more meaning. The certification system has been redesigned to be more regionally specific, more responsive to emerging technologies and practices, and more cognizant of ongoing performance over time.
How is the LEED rating system organized? The LEED system has four certification levels for construction: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These levels correspond with the number of credits achieved in five categories: Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Based on the various measures taken during design and construction, each project will achieve a different combination of points in these categories.
Why go through the certification process? Buildings that are LEED certified almost always use resources more effectively when compared to conventional buildings that are built to code. In turn they are better for the environment, and with a growing concern towards the environment, LEED certification comes up as a win-win situation.
Will the clients notice a difference? LEED certified buildings often provide healthier work and living environments, contributing to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort.
Isn’t certification expensive? Even though additional expenses may be incurred by LEED projects early on, the investment will often pay rewards as lower utility bills and higher rents and resale value.
How many buildings and homes have received LEED certification? As of January, 2009, more than 20,000 building projects have been LEED-certified nationwide. The US Green Building Council has stated a goal of achieving 100,000 LEED-certified commercial buildings and one million certified homes by 2010. 284 million square feet of LEED-certified construction has been built, a 92% increase over just two years ago. The popularity of the LEED credential is growing quickly, with over 120,000 people becoming LEED Accredited Professionals since 2001.
With LEED’s popularity, is it becoming standard? LEED has become the model for green building projects, meaning that attaining LEED certification in building projects is rapidly becoming the norm, rather than the exception.
What else does LEED certification do for my building? LEED certification offers compelling proof to you, your clients, your peers, and the public at large that you’ve achieved your environmental goals and your building is performing as designed. Getting certified has advantages in terms of attracting local and state government support for your project.
The first step in being able to participate in LEED-certified projects is via passing the LEED certification exam and becoming a LEED accredited professional! Visit the Everblue Training Institute’s website for a LEED exam class near you.
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