Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design. The system is credit-based, allowing projects to earn points for environmentally friendly actions taken during construction and use of a building. LEED was launched in an effort to develop a “consensus-based, market-driven rating system to accelerate the development and implementation of green building practices.” The program is not rigidly structured; not every project must meet identical requirements to qualify.
These LEED products are currently available:
- LEED - v3.0 for New Construction and Major Renovations
- LEED - for Homes
- LEED - for Core and Shell
- LEED - for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintanance
- LEED - for Commercial Interiors
- LEED - for Schools
- LEED - for Retail
- LEED - for Healthcare
- LEED - for Neighborhood Development (in pilot stage)
Detailed information on the LEED program and project certification process is available from USGBC at http://www.usgbc.org/. The program outlines the intent, requirements, technologies, and strategies for meeting each credit. Credits are broken down into individual points. A building requires at least 40 points for certification in LEED-NC v3.0. Silver, gold, and platinum levels are also available.
LEED Certification Levels
LEED is a voluntary program; however, obtaining a LEED certification projects a positive environmental image to the community. Additionally, using many green building practices can result in energy and cost savings over the life of the structure. Other advantages include better indoor air quality and plenty of daylight. Studies have shown that workers in these environments have increased labor productivity, job retention, and days worked. These benefits contribute directly to a company’s profits because salaries—which are about ten times higher than rent, utilities, and maintenance combined—are the largest expense for most companies occupying office space. In addition, students in these environments have higher test scores and lower absenteeism. Retail sales are higher in day lit buildings.
LEED certification can be attained on four different levels, which are determined by a credit, or point, system. The levels of LEED certification are Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. A building or project can attain LEED certification by submitting an application that documents compliance with the requirements set for in the LEED rating system. The Green Building Council issues LEED certification upon satisfactory application, review and compliance verification. There are fees associated with LEED certification.
While design and construction of buildings have used environmentally friendly practices in the past, LEED was developed to provide a streamlined set of building standards. The government has worked to model sustainable green building by achieving certification on many of its state buildings. In order to increase the number of new and redeveloped buildings eligible for LEED certification, the government also offers many incentives within the building industry, including grant funding and tax breaks based on the level of LEED certification attained.
LEED professional accreditation is also attainable by individuals, contractors, project managers, and other industry professionals. Professional accreditation demonstrates that an individual or company is well-versed in the LEED system and can work with other individuals and developers to oversee the building process and follow guidelines to attain LEED certification.
Some of the practices utilized or observed for LEED certification include the use of recycled material, eliminating or reducing the amount of waste leaving a job site, re-using existing material, using sustainable green building material, and using low-emitting materials such as caulk and sealers.
LEED certification can be achieved in both new construction, as well as renovations.
Landmark Electromechanical believes that sustainability is economic benefit through energy conservation achieved by practicing a triple bottom line philosophy in our design: Planet, People, and Performance.
Landmark Electromechanical conducts the LEED Certification Process for Building Owners who want the design and construction of their projects to receive the LEED Certification. Landmark-EM works with your design team to allocate the systems and procedures and manage the documentation and monitoring process that is required by the Green Building Council to achieve the LEED Certification. Our project management technique for LEED Certification emphasizes the use of green-buildings to address any design constraints in the project and promote design innovation.