Headship in Vigour and Environmental Chart (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Budding Building Council (USGBC). It provides a framework for implementing sustainable practices into building designs. Receiving a LEED building evaluating is the product of passing a rigorous sustainability certification transaction. LEED is internationally recognized and is aimed at providing the elite practices for pressure funds, imbue efficiency, CO2 emissions discount, bigger indoor factor and the Correct governance of congenital funds in buildings and environmental systems.
Development
Amassed weight is liable to credits deemed to be of better assessment such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, access to public transportation and water conservation. A building project must satisfy all requirements and obtain a minimum level of points in order to be certified.
Areas of Performance
Ratings
LEED ratings are obsessed on a 100 purpose scale (110 with bonus points). Certifications are awarded as certified, silver, gold and platinum. The credit categories, complete points available, and points required for Everyone award alike are the alike regardless of the type of building or certification requested.The framework of LEED is Supple Sufficiently to occupation with all interpretation sites, from commercial to residential. While the Mass of the duty is in a building's advance, the framework provides guidance throughout the building's life-cycle. By looking at sustainable building strategies in the advance cycle, project owners are able to revenue service of early adoption. Big stakeholders, such as the developer or owner of the Belongings, architect, engineer and Belongings director, should be involved in implementing an integrated gate to a greener project sketch before the project begins.
LEED measures nine areas for performance: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, locations & linkages (how well does the building fit into the community), awareness & education (implementation tools), innovation in design (bonus for innovation technologies that go beyond LEED requirements); and, regional priority (act global, think local mentality).
Fees
Registration fees are paid upfront. The cost is $450 for USGBC members and $600 for non-members. Certification fees are based on the rating system the project is applying under. Rates vary for multiple building projects.
Minimum Program Requirements
Each project must meet minimum requirements in order to quality for certification. All projects much comply with environmental laws, be a complete permanent building or space, have a site boundary (distinct property lines), have minimum floor area requirements (1,000 gross floor area), comply with minimum occupancy rates, commit to sharing whole building energy and water usage data, and comply with a minimum building area to site-area ratio.
