LEED Certification
From Green Wiki
LEED Certification stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. Certification assures that a building project is environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to work.
LEED is a third party certification system by the US Green Building Council, or USGBC.The USGBC also provides professional accreditation to professionals who demonstrate knowledge of green building practices and principles and who are familiar with LEED requirements and processes.
Ratings exist for the following categories:
- New construction
- Existing buildings
- Commercial interiors
- Core and shell
- Schools
- Retail spaces
- Healthcare facilities
- Homes
- Neighborhood development
LEED-certified buildings:
- have lower operating costs
- have a higher asset value
- conserve water and energy
- are healthier and safer for occupants
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- show the owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility
In addition, LEED-certified buildings qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives.
[edit] Downsides to LEED Certification
While LEED Certification has helped to propel green building strategies into the popular domain, one of the downsides to LEED certification is the cost that can be involved for smaller building owners/builders to become certified. Sometimes builders must decide between implementing more green design strategies, verses participating in the certification process to acheive official LEED certification. It is important for anyone assessing the value of a green building to not do so solely on the basis of certification.
[edit] LEED AP Professional Designation
Since 2001, more than 50,000 environmentally conscious construction professionals have achieved the designation of LEED AP from the United States Green Building Counsil (USGBC). This designation signifies the understanding of history, implementation and process of not only LEED Certification but green building in general. A LEED AP should accurately be able to convey the benefits, strategies and methods of green building that are needed to take a building from concept to completion. Testing tracks are available currently (09/2008) for three LEED platforms; LEED New Construction (NC), Existing Building (EB) and Commercial Interiors (CI). Successful completion of the LEED AP accreditation exam (as given by the Green Building Certification Institute - GBCI) in any of these tracks will reward the tester with the designation of Accredited Professional.
See also: Sustainable design
