LEED is an acronym for identifying buildings, homes, neighborhoods, and construction projects that exemplify Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. There are four certification levels regarding LEED, which “rank” where the building stands in its energy efficiency, environmental impact, and sustainability. A building that is certified in LEED offers a variety of benefits, both immediate and long-term. Look deeper at LEED and highlight some buildings that meet each level.
Categories of LEED
New construction projects are ranked on a tiered system and must fall within 1 of 4 categories. These categories are Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum (Platinum being the highest, Certified being the lowest). Placement is based on the number of credits accrued in five categories of green design.
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Sustainable sites
Benefits of LEED?
It is certified as a LEED building and offers benefits. For one, the costs associated with building operations will cost less due to the efficient use of energy and water. Besides, the building will be valued higher because it is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and resource-efficient. You will also be recognized publicly for being a leader in energy and environmental design (who would have thought?!), a prestigious and honorable award.
Improving the Environment – Inside and Out
It should be noted that the inside of the office building should also be environmentally friendly. As one of the five green design categories includes indoor environmental quality, LEED may attract additional employees to the workplace. Having high air quality within the office interior is something that not many employees get to experience. Still, when a construction project is certified, it is just an added benefit included.
Buildings LEED Certified
- Taipei 101: Platinum (Taiwan)
- Bank of America Tower: Platinum (New York City, NY)
- Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability: Platinum (Vancouver, BC)
- RBC WaterPark Place: Platinum (Toronto, ON)
Since its creation in 1998, LEED has been implemented in 30 countries and applied to thousands of building projects here in the U.S. Four states have banned LEED in public building projects for various reasons, but the case remains solid for LEED as an environmentally friendly and ecologically advantageous system.
