Getting to Know LEED

In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was formed to promote sustainable building design and construction of all types. One of the non-profit’s most recognized programs is LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

This tool rates the green value of a building such as a distribution center or warehouse. “LEED certification offers third party validation of a project’s green features and verifies that the building is operating exactly the way it was designed to,” says the USGBC.

LEED is a point based system that allows a project to earn points for meeting various green building criteria. The six categories are: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. Points are awarded and the project receives a final rating: basic, silver, gold and platinum.

Projects can be new construction as well as existing structures. Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to promote sustainability.

Since 2000, 167 buildings have been LEED certified. More than 1,800 are reportedly in the pipeline.

Although performance standards are already set, they are not static.

Last year, USGBC’s membership voted to further increase energy performance requirements. The result will be 14% higher energy performance for new buildings and 7% for existing buildings.

Similarly, the USGBC has set a lofty goal to reduce CO2 emissions. All new commercial LEED projects are now required to reduce CO2 emissions 50% from previous standards.

Visit www.usgbc.org to learn more.

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