LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized green building certification system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
What are the components of LEED?
The components of the process include a balanced and transparent committee structure, technical advisory groups that ensure scientific consistency and rigor, opportunities for stakeholder comment and review, member ballot of new rating systems, and fair and open appeals.
What are LEED rating systems?
LEED promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. The LEED rating systems are developed through an open, consensus-based process led by LEED committees, diverse groups of volunteers representing a cross-section of the building and construction industry.
LEED Project Profiles
There are many types of projects to which LEED can be applied. LEED projects apply to new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell construction, neighborhood development, retail buildings, schools and homes.
What is core and shell construction?
Core and shell covers base building elements such as structure, envelope and the HVAC system. LEED for Core & Shell is designed to be complementary to the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system, as both rating systems establish green building criteria for developers, owners and tenants.
Core and Shell project example
An office building in Golden, Colorado earned a platinum rating in LEED for a core and shell construction in 2007. The project site includes a pervious pathway, bioswales for managing stormwater and native grasses that require little irrigation. This reduced irrigation—combined with dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals, low-flow showerheads, and low-flow faucets with automatic controls—was expected to reduce the project’s use of potable water by 47%. A low-velocity underfloor system provides heating, cooling, and ventilation to most spaces. Perimeter areas are conditioned by radiant heaters and chilled beams. Other energy-efficiency strategies include low-emissivity glazing, an outside-air economizer, and a sophisticated building-automation system. Signature Centre was expected to use 37% less energy than a comparable conventional building, saving more than $80,000 each year. The project team located all air-supply intakes on the building roof, away from traffic exhaust, and ensured that all restrooms, janitor closets, and kitchens vent directly outside. The team also selected paints, adhesives, sealants, carpeting, and composite-wood products for their low chemical emissions. Additionally, more than 20% of all materials, by cost, were extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, and half of all wood was certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards.
