What exactly is LEED?
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. There are four levels of certification available; Certified, Silver, Gold and the highest, Platinum. The first Green Cottage home is pursuing LEED certification at the gold or platinum level.
There are eight categories used in the rating process:
- Innovation and Design Process: Special design methods, unique regional credits, measures not currently addressed in the Rating System, and exemplary performance levels.
- Location & Linkages: The placement of homes in socially and environmentally responsible ways in relation to the larger community.
- Sustainable Sites: The use of the entire property so as to minimize the project's impact on the site.
- Water Efficiency: Water efficient practices, both indoor and out.
- Energy & Atmosphere: Energy efficiency, particularly in the building envelope and heating and cooling design.
- Materials & Resources: Efficient utilization of materials, selection of environmentally preferable materials, and minimization of waste during construction.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: Improvement of indoor air quality by reducing the creation of and exposure to pollutants.
- Awareness & Education: The education of homeowner, tenant, and/or building manager about the operation and maintenance of the green features of a LEED home.
Please view this document from the U.S.Green Building Council for more details on the LEED rating system.
Achieving LEED certification on all of these categories is a significant accomplishment. LEED certified homes have been third party inspected; performance tested and certified as a truly green home that will perform better than standard homes. Occupants of green homes will see the benefits of LEED certification in various aspects of their life.
