So now that you’ve at least heard of these organizations, you’re probably wondering what they’re all about, besides promoting green building of course. Well, the following should answer several basic questions about who is involved in these organizations, what LEED and the USGBC do, and why their work is so important.
Who is Involved:
The concept of LEED got its start in 1994 with Senior Scientist Robert K. Watson of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). USGBC was already established at that point, and co-founder Mike Italiano, two architects, a builder and an engineer were included in the LEED founding committee.
After a few years of conceptualizing, the idea for LEED began to grow and two more engineers, Tom Paladino and Lynn Barker joined the team in 1996 as co-chairs of the technical committee. In 1998, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) officially deemed this idea of a Green Building Rating System ‘LEED,’ or The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Since it became officially recognized, LEED has become the nationally accepted standard for design and construction of green buildings. In its short history, LEED has already certified over 14,000 projects in the United States as well as 30 outside countries. Today LEED guidelines are followed voluntarily by contractors of commercial and residential buildings, and it is the preferred building method of almost all building and architecture companies.
What LEED Does:
LEED qualifications focus on five main areas of human and environmental health. These include sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Designers and Builders must take these five main areas into consideration and implement the necessary measures to achieve LEED certification for their building.
Certification for LEED buildings exists on four levels, with each level indicating how green the building is. For example, in version LEED for Homes there are 129 points available, and the levels are broken down as follows:
- The Certified level (entry level) requires 45-59 points
- The Silver requires 60-74 points
- The Gold requires 75-89 points
- Platinum Level (highest level) requires 90-129 points.
Clearly builders strive to have the highest level of certification, but sometimes something is better than nothing, so lower levels are necessary.
Why LEED is Important:
There are a few bonuses to having a LEED House or LEED Building. For one, they lower operating costs and increase asset value. A LEED building also reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills after construction is complete.
Through the use of Energy Star windows, appliances, and light fixtures the building saves water and energy. LEED buildings also reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that are emitted into the environment, which is a major issue today.
Most cities provide tax rebates and zoning allowances for LEED Buildings, which is an added benefit for the person or company building their green haven. However, the greatest thing about LEED certified building is that it shows the owners commitment to environmental health, safety and responsibility.
