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what is LEED?
LEED, the Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design, Green Building Rating System is the nationally
accepted standard for measuring the green strategies used in your building.
LEED was developed by the USGBC
(US Green Building Council) in 1999. The USGBC is an organization based in
Washington D.C. that supports eco-friendly construction.
LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing
performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable
site development, water savings, energy efficiency, indoor environmental
quality, and materials selection.
LEED is a performance based system with four levels of certification:
certified, silver, gold, and platinum. Certification is achieved by earning
credits in the five key areas of human and environmental health.
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steps to LEED
certify your project
1. Set project goals
a. Does the owner want to be LEED certified?
b. What category of certification is desired?
c. What are the committments regarding time and cost?
2. Register your project with the USGBC (US Green Building Council)
a. Registration fee required
3. Develop a strategy for certification
a. Select level of implementation
b. Make tough decisions
c. Use credit rating system
4. Certification and documentation process
a. Certification fees required
i. less than 50,000 s.f. = fixed rate
ii. 50,000 - 500,000 s.f. = rate based on s.f.
iii. more than 500,000 s.f. = fixed rate
b. Application documentation submittal
c. LEED technical reviews
d. Certification award
e. Appeal submittals
f. Platinum certification rebates |