LEED: BETTER HOMES BETTER WORLD
LEED abbreviated for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is one of the most appropriate certification in Environment Friendly building design and construction in present discussion. LEED is a certification system designed for every kind of constructions assuring that they meet the environment supporting methods and technologies( more specifications still going on ). LEED development became necessary, as the health hazards of buildings were growing and the material used in the construction were more responsible. The paints containing lead pigments, the plasters containing the cynoacrylates and other solvent chemical like xylene, toluene, etc, were making the indoor pollutant level high enough by 100 times then recommended. The technologies used by these homes were raising the level of green house gases and heat (air conditioner, refrigerators, and gas heating equipments).
LEED came in choices to every body as it was left over to get decided by the open forums and commercially viable credit rating methods, that what the standards of a GREEN HOUSE should mean to an average person to live healthily and happily with a support to the environment. USGBC has taken the initiative to take control of the certification system. To get a certification of LEED you have to first submit and register your project with USGBC. Then USGBC will issue you the guidelines according to the type of project you wish to handle like commercial, residential, schools, other purpose buildings etc. In general, The LEED certification ensures that the building uses
1. The optimization program for the water usage, electricity usage
2. The materials used in construction of buildings are biodegradable,
3. Usage of recycled and biodegradable products (cost saving) in the building premises,
4. Installation of clean energy generation sources (solar, wind),
5. Waste management as to support the environment
6. Reduction of Green House gases emission.
Along with this, an unwritten ethical code in LEED certification is to maintain and sustain this attitude of environment friendliness forever. LEED certification ranges in four categories Platinum (highest) Gold, Silver and Certified, according to the credits the project has gained and retained. LEED credit rating system is as follows
1. From 26 to 32 points –Certified
2. From 33 to 38 points –Silver
3. From 39 to 51 points –Gold
4. From 52 to 69 points –Platinum
LEED certifications available are LEED NC v2.2 (New constructions and Renovations), LEED CS v1.0 (Core and Shell), and LEED CI v1.0 (Commercial Interiors), LEED EB v1.0 (Existing Buildings), LEED Canada NC v1.0 (Canadian Regulations), LEED for Homes, LEED for Neighborhood Development, Guidelines for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects . Moreover, specific programs like LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Schools, and LEED RETAIL for commercial interiors, LEED RETAIL for New Development are being developed for specific needs. LEED, however is a voluntary program, but its crucial technicality and ease to implement has made is a very successful Green Building assessment program. Thirteen Countries including high developing economies like India and China have expressed the interest. Federal Agencies under US government have started implementation of LEED programs for their 8300 buildings. This has arrived when GSA (General Service Administration) US Government land management department has released the research report that “LEED as most efficient and viable credit rating system among five other similar programs.”
The LEED certified buildings have benefits of reduced operating costs; have initiated the healthy and productive work atmosphere and maintained the natural resources conservation. One better example of LEED is ADOBE incorporation have saved $728,000 against investment of $650,000, a clear gain by 115%.
Sources:
[1]http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPR/is_11_23/ai_n16910728
[3] http://www.concretethinker.com/Papers.aspx?DocId=249
[4] http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200612/120506LEED.html