14.4.2. What is LEED?

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.

LEED is a system created to assess how environmentally friendly a building is. It was established by the US Green Building Council to guide architects, builders, and developers toward creating buildings that are better for the planet. By using this rating system, projects can be recognized for their effort in being sustainable and minimizing their impact on the environment.

Think of LEED as a grading system for buildings. Just like students receive grades based on their performance, buildings are rated based on how efficiently they use resources and how much they care for the environment.

LEED certification is available for all building types including new construction and major renovation; existing buildings; commercial interiors; core and shell; schools and homes. LEED systems for neighborhood development, retail and healthcare are currently pilot testing.

LEED certification isn't limited to just one type of building; it can apply to various structures. This includes everything from completely new buildings to older ones that are being renovated, as well as commercial spaces like offices and retail shops. The flexibility of LEED allows it to adapt to different contexts and types of construction, making it a comprehensive approach to sustainable design.

Imagine if schools, hospitals, and homes could all get grades for how eco-friendly they are. Just as we have different subjects in school, LEED recognizes that every type of building can make strides towards sustainability and deserves acknowledgement for those efforts.

LEED is a point-based system where building projects earn LEED points for satisfying specific green building criteria. Within each of the seven LEED credit categories, projects must satisfy particular prerequisites and earn points.

The LEED rating system operates on a points system. Buildings can earn points by meeting certain environmental standards, and these points fall into different categories such as energy efficiency and sustainable site development. To attain certification, projects must not only meet specified basic requirements (prerequisites) but also accumulate a minimum number of points across these categories.

Think of earning LEED points like collecting stickers for completing tasks or challenges. Each green action taken on the building site is like getting a sticker, and after accumulating a certain number of stickers, the building earns a special badge or recognition for its sustainability. Just like kids aim for badges in their activities, builders aim for LEED certification.

LEED certification levels: four progressive levels according to the following scale: Certified 40–49 points, Silver 50–59 points, Gold 60–79 points, Platinum 80 points and above.

LEED certification comes in four tiers: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level corresponds to the number of points a building earns. The more points a building collects, indicating better environmental practices, the higher the certification level it can achieve. This tiered system encourages projects to strive for excellence in sustainability.

Just like a race where participants are awarded medals based on how quickly they finish, buildings receive 'medals' (certification levels) based on how well they perform in terms of environmental impact. Think of Platinum as the gold medal in the Olympics of sustainable building.

Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants: Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building, Energy conservation, Improved occupant health and productivity, Lower costs associated with changing space configurations, Greater design flexibility.

Utilizing green building materials not only benefits the environment but also the occupants of the building. These materials can lead to lower maintenance costs and energy savings. Health also plays an important role since using non-toxic materials can improve indoor air quality, further enhancing the well-being of everyone in the building.

Selecting green materials is like choosing the right ingredients for a healthy meal. Just as fresh, natural ingredients lead to better nutrition, using sustainable materials leads to a healthier, more efficient building. If you cook with good ingredients, you end up with a meal that's good for both your health and your wallet.

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