LEED is about so much more than energy savings

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:21:02 GMT
From: Jackie Strouble
Subject: Response to Chathammatters

While I am by no means an expert on LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), I am capable of researching and reading up on topics of interest. I find the statements made by “Chathammatters” regarding LEED buildings to be misleading, at best.

First, Chathammatters states that “LEED certification is not an ‘energy efficiency standard,’ nor does it require energy efficiency, you can literally have a LEED certified build with NO energy efficiency improvements whatsoever…”

The facts are these: Energy efficiency is integral to LEED certification, but LEED is about so much more than energy savings. Leed recognizes “strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.” In other words, LEED is integrated into every aspect of building design – saving energy AND specifying environmentally friendly building products AND maintaining the health & well-being of the building’s occupants AND encouraging sustainable development relevant to the larger community. It’s not just about taking existing plans and tacking on some energy-saving accessories – sticking some extra insulation in the roof and specifying LED track lights and ‘energy-star’ microwaves in the employee lunchroom and what have you.

About the actual LEED point system: There are various levels of certification for LEED. You can opt for basic certification, or you can go all the way up the line to “Platinum.” These levels are awarded using a point system. “Points are distributed across major credit categories such as Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.”

This next sentence is critical. “Prerequisites in each category receive no points and are mandatory for all projects.” Simply put, energy efficiency is not one of a ‘choice of side dishes,’ it’s part of the entree. It is one of the mandatory prerequisites, in addition to being part of the menu of credits on the point system where you get to pick and choose what is important to your particular project. Currently there are 100 possible base points across the aforementioned categories, plus a meager six ‘bonus points’ for “Innovation in Design” — the points for so-called ‘creativity.’ This is a very different picture than the one Chathammatters tries to paint for us.

Speaking of paint, I could find no mention anywhere of points for paint color, as stated by Chathammatters. I did, however, find reams of information about the use of paints classified as non-polluting, such as the low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. VOCs are highly toxic compounds, and they, plus other toxic chemicals and minerals in paint, are extremely important. They factor heavily into the poor indoor air quality of a building. In addition, waste products from paints are a significant part of our toxic burden on the environment. It is the pollutants in paint, and in other building materials, which are of major concern in LEED certification.

Chathammatters states that “energy efficient design and construction is very well understood these days by both architects and builders…” Really? That’s news to me. Which architects and builders are we talking about? Where did they get their training and expertise in energy efficient design and construction? Who’s definition of ‘energy efficiency’ are we using? LEED addresses these questions and more by creating a transparent, concise, peer-reviewed “green building code,” which is internationally recognized. Participation is completely voluntary and, once the prerequisites have been met, the point system allows for the flexibility to choose among certain criteria for those most important to a particular project and community.

Last, the costs: It’s always been the case that building responsibly costs more. It’s that old adage “You want it good, you want it cheap, or you want it now? — Pick two!” Since buildings cost a lot and are around for decades, it makes sense to invest up front in well-designed, well-built projects, no matter what your specific criteria. Energy efficiency, water conservation, and occupant health are investments that pay dividends each and every month over the entire life of the building.

You can argue the merits and drawbacks of LEED certification (and I hope that someone else posts who has more first-hand knowledge than I do) but please do not try to instigate a campaign of disinformation and half-truths to further your own agenda. Who are you anyway, Chathammatters? Why must you write under a pseudonym? I don’t know, but given the limited understanding of far-reaching environmental issues and LEED certification that you demonstrated in your post, I sincerely hope that you are not in a position to make decisions that we all will regret for decades to come!