Today, let’s take a look at LEED. Which is a green accreditation used within architecture and building.
But, what does LEED exactly mean for the consumer, the builder and the home owner? Not sure? Well lets dig a little deeper and uncover exactly what LEED is and what it can mean to you.
Let us look at how it can be used to influence design and help create an eco responsible, sustainable future for ourselves and the generations that follow.
Our planet needs us! She needs us to be better and by better, I mean SO SO much better than our current impact on the environment.
Take for instance the recent horrific bush fires, that are currently occurring in Australia. Why is this happening? Because our world is heating up and heating up fast, as we continue to use more resources than the earth can currently provide. Due to this, we desperately need to look at ways we can create sustainable, green responsible gorgeous looking, modern architecture. Why? Because, we need to slow down the change of our atmosphere and protect this beautiful world, we could sadly lose one day.
LEED is basically an acronym for:-
LEED was first developed in 1993 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC); a non profit company and has now grown to being one of the most widely used green building rating systems in the world. It has been since 1998, that LEED has consciously evolved to accurately represent and incorporate emerging green building technologies.
Think about it! As humans we spend a lot of our time in buildings and this can greatly impact our health and well being, both physically and mentally. Buildings also have a huge impact on the earth and its occupants, big and small. They, use a great deal of resources, generate significant waste and are expensive to operate and maintain.
So, this is why the USBG developed and championed “Green building”. Green building is the practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings that will maximize an occupants health and productivity. The building will utilize fewer resources, significantly reduce waste and the negative environmental impacts, thus decreasing the life cycle costs.
LEED is composed of a rating system, which is now in its 4th revision (V4) since its introduction in 1993.
The great thing is, there is a LEED guideline for every type of project. And these have been divided into eight succinct areas.
Building Design and Construction
Interior Design and Construction
Building Operations and Maintenance
Neighborhood Development
Homes
Cities and Communities
LEED Recerification
LEED Zero
The titles are pretty self explanatory and no stone is left unturned.
Projects pursuing LEED certification can earn points across several categories. These are as follows:-
~Location & Transportation
~Sustainable Sites
~Water Efficiency
~Energy & Atmosphere,
~Materials & Resources
~Indoor Environmental Quality
~Innovation and more
Based on the number of points achieved, a project can earn one of four LEED rating levels.
Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum
Okay, do you need further convincing that this is the future? That this is the responsible way to design and build a habitat or workspace? Yes? Well, let me break it down further for you.
What will a LEED accredited design and build provide you the consumer?
~Instant recognition for your building
~Faster lease up rates
~Higher resale value
~Healthier indoor space
~Lower use of energy, water and other resources
~Better living for building occupants, the community and the environment
~Enhances your brand and establishes you as a leader in green building – and that cannot be bad? Right?
Quoted from the U.S. Green Building Council website, Want to know more, there is an abundance of great reading material on this site.
LEED strives to provide innovative solutions to support health and the environment, while saving money.
The team at Hlevel Architecture have you covered for all your green build / LEED needs. Currently on the team we have a Green AP and two members with technical LEED accreditation. But, we also offer LEED and additional energy / green certifications in close collaboration with a local company who specializes in that area.
Just give us a call to discuss all your needs, we can direct you to the correct experts in that field and help you build your dream green vision.
I hope this helps to explain what LEED is and how it can be utilized within building design.
On our next post we will head outside to look at landscape Urbanism.
