Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:36:26 -0400
From: Richard D. Allen, Esq.
Subject: “What LEED Measures”
What Mr. or Ms. “Chatham Matters” has to say about LEED certification isn’t wholly wrong. It is a little misleading, though. LEED certification is not just about saving money through energy conservation. It’s also about sustainability (for instance, through using green building materials) and promoting a holistic approach to energy conservation (by doing things like encouraging bicycling through awarding points for bike racks).
It’s also somewhat about marketing and the fact that there are bragging rights attached to saying your building is LEED certified. That’s more valuable for developers leasing space to high-end retail clients (see the brand-new, LEED certified, very successful East 54 development in Chapel Hill) and perhaps less valuable when you’re building a library.
I think it’s correct that LEED certification is not the best yardstick if you’re looking for pure dollars-and-cents energy savings. However, it’s not silly or a scam. I’m posting a list of LEED factors from the LEED website for informational purposes so people can see exactly what the standard evaluates.
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LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in key areas:
Sustainable Sites
Site selection and development are important components of a building’s sustainability. The Sustainable Sites category discourages development on previously undeveloped land; seeks to minimize a building’s impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; controls stormwater runoff; and promotes reduction of erosion, light pollution, heat island effect and construction-related pollution.
Water Efficiency
Buildings are major users of our potable water supply. The goal of the Water Efficiency category is to encourage smarter use of water, inside and out. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings inside and water-conscious landscaping outside.
Energy & Atmosphere
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced each year in the United States. The Energy & Atmosphere category encourages a wide variety of
energy-wise strategies: commissioning; energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, systems and lighting; the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, generated on-site or off-site; and other innovative measures.
Materials & Resources
During both the construction and operations phases, buildings generate a lot of waste and use large quantities of materials and resources. The Materials & Resources category encourages the selection of
sustainably grown, harvested, produced and transported products and materials. It promotes waste reduction as well as reuse and recycling, and it particulary rewards the reduction of waste at a product’s
source.
Indoor Environmental Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors, where the air quality can be significantly worse than outside. The Indoor Environmental Quality category promotes strategies that improve indoor air as well as those that provide access to natural daylight and views and improve acoustics.
Locations & Linkages
The LEED for Homes rating system recognizes that much of a home’s impact on the environment comes from where it is located and how it fits into its community. The Locations & Linkages category encourages
building on previously developed or infill sites and away from environmentally sensitive areas. Credits reward homes that are built near already-existing infrastructure, community resources and transit – in locations that promote access to open space for walking, physical activity and time outdoors.
Awareness & Education
The LEED for Homes rating system acknowledges that a home is only truly green if the people who live in it use its green features to maximum effect. The Awareness & Education category encourages home builders and real estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with the education and tools they need to understand what makes their home green and how to make the most of those features.
Innovation in Design
The Innovation in Design category provides bonus points for projects that use innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance well beyond what is required by other LEED credits, or to account for green building considerations that are not specifically addressed elsewhere in LEED. This category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction process.
Regional Priority
USGBC’s regional councils, chapters and affiliates have identified the most important local environmental concerns, and six LEED credits addressing these local priorities have been selected for each region of the country. A project that earns a regional priority credit will earn one bonus point in addition to any points awarded for that credit. Up to four extra points can be earned in this way. See the Regional Priority Credits for your state
Richard D. Allen
Durham, NC
(919) 886-5005
http://www.allenlawnc.com
Twitter: @allenlawnc
Legal representation for small businesses and individuals.