LEED Certification
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It was formulated by the U.S. Green Building Council. Based in Washington D.C., the Green Building Council is a nonprofit coalition developed by the leaders of the building industry. LEED is a nationally recognized certification program that has produced a standard in green development and building designs. It promotes the use of environmentally-friendly products and materials used to development sustainable green buildings. Green building construction uses these materials to make healthy environments for humans and pets, to conserve water and energy, and to use materials that have a low impact on the integrity of the natural environment. Obtaining LEED certification can be accomplished by following the LEED guidelines.
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Identification
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LEED certification is the worldwide standard for sustainability in building design and construction. Obtaining LEED certification for your project lets the industry know that you have developed a green building. As the standard for green construction, the LEED certification will serve as a seal of approval that both the well-being of the environment and humans was not, and will not be compromised by the structure and materials of your green building.
Function
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LEED certification is being used to bring sustainability into building design, through a nationally recognized standard of excellence. This is a high standard that, if met and certified, more buildings will be officially safe for both the environment and the people who use them. This is a massive effort that involves the federal, state and local governments adopting green standards in building codes, as well as banks who approve the funding for such green projects. The application of green standards is incorporated into the plans of architects and engineers, and construction managers and interior designers coordinate the use of materials and build according to code and plans. The LEED objective is currently implemented both domestically and internationally, so this is a worldwide effort to change the environment of the world, one green building at a time.
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Benefits
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The LEED certification is an involved process of verifying and certifying the total design of your building project. The certification of the efficiency of your building allows you to take advantage of benefits of going 'green,' including state and local incentives, not to mention the efficiency of the building itself. Certification can be acquired on four different levels, each based on the grade in sustainability, efficiency in water usages, atmosphere and energy, materials and resources, and the quality of the indoor environment. The levels are certified, silver, gold and platinum for new construction projects, and will soon include commercial, new home and neighborhood development projects.
Features
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The LEED certification tools and resources are available at the LEED U.S. Green Building Council website. There, you will find information about the process of obtaining LEED certification, LEED reference guides and other documents, as well as the green industry standards for new commercial construction projects, major renovations, existing buildings and personal homes. Information is also available on neighborhood development and other projects. The website will also provide lists and directories of projects certified by LEED, training workshops and professionals accredited by LEED. LEED also conducts conferences, and the website provides a calendar of these conference events designed to provide the industry updates and latest advances in green design and building.
Preparation
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If you are ready to pursue LEED certification, prepare your project for the LEED process. Do your homework and utilize all the reference materials to become well-informed of the LEED certification process. Think about the type of LEED certification you will want to achieve for your project, and set your design and budget around that goal. Budget additional expenses if deciding on a higher LEED certification level. Plan to work with the environment at every stage of the project. Consider such things as waste disposal, chemical usage and recycling materials at every stage of your project's design and build.
Considerations
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The LEED certification is a process that will examine the green integrity of your project's design, building process, use of materials, impact on the environment and the overall integrity at the completion of the project. At each stage, it offers credits towards the final certification, for the proper use of environmentally friendly products in your building design. Consider hiring a professional accredited by the LEED process. LEED professionals include engineers, architects, environmentalists and others who will walk you through the design and build process of your project. This may also save you the cost of having to redo portions of your project with more efficient materials. Visit the LEED website for more information about LEED certification.
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