LEED
ES 238
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Semester Research Paper
12/4/2012
LEED Certification
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a program that provides a third-party verification of buildings that are trying to become more environmentally friendly. The range covered with LEED varies from commercial buildings and homes, to entire neighborhoods and communities. It is generally recognized that buildings consume a large portion of water, wood, energy, and other resources used to sustain the economy. United States’ buildings alone are responsible for more CO2 emissions than those of any other country in the world except China. LEED projects have been successfully established in 135 countries. International projects make up more than 50% of the total LEED registered square footage. For commercial buildings and neighborhoods to earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all LEED prerequisites and earn a minimum 40 points on a 110-point LEED rating system scale. Homes must earn a minimum of 45 points on a 136-point scale [1]. An expansive move to green construction offers a potentially promising way to help address a variety of challenges facing the United States. The cost of green design has dropped in the last few years and the number of green buildings has risen. The trend of declining costs associated with increased experience in green building construction has become more wide spread throughout the states. LEED is transforming the way residential and commercial buildings are designed, constructed, and operated for the better. LEED addresses the entire lifecycle of a building in a comprehensive and feasible manor.
Green buildings are commonly perceived to be more expensive than conventional buildings and often not worth the extra cost. A group of building representatives and architects were contacted and collaborated together to determine the cost of green buildings as compared to the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Semester Research Paper
12/4/2012
LEED Certification
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a program that provides a third-party verification of buildings that are trying to become more environmentally friendly. The range covered with LEED varies from commercial buildings and homes, to entire neighborhoods and communities. It is generally recognized that buildings consume a large portion of water, wood, energy, and other resources used to sustain the economy. United States’ buildings alone are responsible for more CO2 emissions than those of any other country in the world except China. LEED projects have been successfully established in 135 countries. International projects make up more than 50% of the total LEED registered square footage. For commercial buildings and neighborhoods to earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all LEED prerequisites and earn a minimum 40 points on a 110-point LEED rating system scale. Homes must earn a minimum of 45 points on a 136-point scale [1]. An expansive move to green construction offers a potentially promising way to help address a variety of challenges facing the United States. The cost of green design has dropped in the last few years and the number of green buildings has risen. The trend of declining costs associated with increased experience in green building construction has become more wide spread throughout the states. LEED is transforming the way residential and commercial buildings are designed, constructed, and operated for the better. LEED addresses the entire lifecycle of a building in a comprehensive and feasible manor.
Green buildings are commonly perceived to be more expensive than conventional buildings and often not worth the extra cost. A group of building representatives and architects were contacted and collaborated together to determine the cost of green buildings as compared to the
References: [1] https://new.usgbc.org/leed/applying-leed/leed-for-business [2] http://www.bna.com/debate-green-building-b12884910761/ [3] http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc51142.pdf [4] http://www.stanford.edu/class/cee115/wiki/uploads/Main/Schedule/LEED.pdf [5] http://www.dcaaia.com/images/firm/Kats-Green-Buildings-Cost.pdf