FAQ on LEED

Building assessment tools are used to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings. LEEDTM, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is one example of an increasingly popular building assessment tool developed by the US Green Building Council A … Continue reading

How does LEED work?

LEED measures and ranks a building’s environmental performance in terms of 6 general categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Design. Points are awarded for achieving specific goals clearly outlined … Continue reading

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How is a building certified?

At the moment, official LEED certification is organized through the USGBC. The USGBC LEEDTM website (www.usgbc.org/programs/leed.htm) provides a summary of the three steps to certification. • source: FAQ on LEED • See also XlnkS4A3

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Is LEED mandatory?

NO. LEED is a voluntary building assessment tool. Some jurisdictions like the City of Seattle; however, have adopted a minimum LEEDTM standard for all new public buildings as a matter of policy. The City of Vancouver is currently considering the … Continue reading

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Does LEED cost more?

The answer to this will come over time as more case studies are documented. The USGBC took a first stab at the question by issuing a memo in August summarizing a number of case studies. In general, they found initial … Continue reading

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Some benefits of LEED

-Simplicity–final results are summarized on a one-page ‘scorecard’, -Not overly prescriptive – room for interpretation, -Potentially significant long-term cost benefits, -Modifiable – can be modified to local conditions & regulations, -Marketable – as it becomes more popular, consumers will begin … Continue reading

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