Professional Courses
Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design to help professionals and graduates upskill for real-world careers.
Categories
Interactive Games
Fun, engaging games to boost memory, math fluency, typing speed, and English skills—perfect for learners of all ages.
Typing
Memory
Math
English Adventures
Knowledge
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to LEED
Unlock Audio Lesson
Good morning class! Today we are going to learn about LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Can anyone tell me why we might need a system like this for buildings?
To make sure buildings are environmentally friendly, right?
Exactly! LEED helps us design and maintain buildings to be more efficient and sustainable. It provides a framework for evaluating a building’s environmental performance. Now, can anyone mention some features or criteria that LEED covers?
Maybe energy efficiency and water conservation?
Yes! Those are two key areas. LEED is based on several credit categories including Sustainable Sites, Energy and Atmosphere, and more. Let’s remember the acronym 'SEWMII' for those categories: S for Sustainable Sites, E for Energy, W for Water, M for Materials, I for Indoor Quality, and I for Innovation.
What happens if a building earns points in those categories?
Great question! As they earn points, buildings can achieve various certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. At the end of this lesson, I will recap these points to reinforce your understanding.
Types of Buildings That Can Use LEED
Unlock Audio Lesson
In our previous session, we talked about what LEED is. Now, let’s discuss the kinds of buildings that can apply for LEED certification. Can someone share a type of building?
How about schools?
Absolutely! LEED certification is available for schools, as well as new constructions, major renovations, and commercial interiors. The goal is to improve sustainability across all types of buildings. Does anyone know how widespread LEED certification usage is?
I heard it was used a lot, but I’m not sure how much.
Currently, there are over 4.5 billion square feet of space certified under the LEED system! By using the mnemonic '4.5 BILLION' you can remember it’s a very expansive program!
So, it’s not just limited to one specific type of building?
Exactly! It includes a variety of building types, aiming for broader environmental impact.
LEED Certification Levels
Unlock Audio Lesson
Let’s dive deeper into how LEED certification works. Can anyone tell me what the different certification levels are?
I think there are levels like Certified and Gold?
Correct! The levels are Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level requires a certain number of points, starting from 40 points for Certified and going up to 80 points for Platinum. Let's remember this with the rhyme: ‘From Four to Eighty, be the best, then LEED the rest!’
What do they get for getting certified?
They gain recognition for their sustainability efforts, which can lead to higher property values and more tenant interest. Let’s summarize: LEED certification can enhance a building’s reputation and marketability!
Introduction & Overview
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
Quick Overview
Standard
LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a framework for assessing the environmental performance of buildings through various credit categories. It grants certification based on points earned for sustainable practices across multiple building types.
Detailed
What is LEED?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification system established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It serves as a framework for designing, constructing, and operating buildings that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. LEED is based on a point system where buildings earn points by meeting a variety of prerequisites and achieving specific criteria across several categories.
Key Components of LEED:
- Certification Levels: Buildings can achieve four certification levels: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80 points and above).
- Building Types: LEED certification is available for a wide range of building types, including new constructions, existing buildings, and specialized facilities like schools and healthcare centers.
- Credit Categories: The LEED rating system evaluates projects based on six major areas: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design.
Overall, LEED aims to drive market transformation towards sustainable building practices, breathing life into the concept of green construction.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Introduction to LEED
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
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.
Detailed Explanation
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.
Examples & Analogies
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.
Types of Buildings Eligible for LEED
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
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.
Detailed Explanation
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.
Examples & Analogies
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.
How LEED Works
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
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.
Detailed Explanation
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.
Examples & Analogies
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
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
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.
Detailed Explanation
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.
Examples & Analogies
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.
Importance of Green Building Materials
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
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.
Detailed Explanation
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.
Examples & Analogies
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.
Definitions & Key Concepts
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
-
Sustainability: The practice of maintaining processes without depleting resources.
-
Certification Levels: Categories denoting the degree to which a building meets sustainability criteria.
-
Point System: Framework through which buildings accumulate points toward certification.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Examples
-
A new school building designed with LEED principles will use energy-efficient materials, conserve water, and maintain good indoor air quality.
-
A commercial office building aiming for Gold certification may include green roofs, renewable energy sources, and sustainable sourcing of materials.
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
🎵 Rhymes Time
-
From Four to Eighty, be the best, then LEED the rest!
📖 Fascinating Stories
-
Imagine a realm of buildings where they grew trees on rooftops, saved water with innovative designs, and everyone applauded their efforts—you've just entered the world of LEED!
🧠 Other Memory Gems
-
Use 'SEWMII' to remember the categories: Sustainable Sites, Energy, Water Efficiency, Materials, Indoor Quality, Innovation.
🎯 Super Acronyms
'LEED' stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—a key term to always remember!
Flash Cards
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
-
Term: LEED
Definition:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a rating system for green buildings.
-
Term: USGBC
Definition:
U.S. Green Building Council, the organization that developed LEED.
-
Term: Certification Levels
Definition:
Different levels of certification based on points earned – Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
-
Term: Point System
Definition:
A system where buildings earn points for meeting green building criteria.