LEED the way for the Future

LEED is a program sponsored by the United States Government to put a rating system to how green building is.  LEED creates an incentive program for a building reducing their impact on the environment around them and for reducing their carbon footprint.  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced on July 18, 2012 that there is a significant number of groups pursuing LEED Certification.  The focus on green and high performance buildings have drastically increased.

The voluntary rating system has caught the attention of many throughout the community.  1.5 million square feet of commercial real estate are being LEED certified each day.  Many in the private sector are seeing the long term tax and zoning benefits of the different levels of LEED certification.  The incentives were placed to help offset the initial construction cost.  Long term benefits of lower utility bills for the life of the building is another major advantage.

LEED Certified buildings use less water and electricity by utilizing different techniques.  A low flow shower head helps reduce water used, while energy efficient light bulbs reduce energy cost.  It is estimated that 8 million jobs are created with the LEED Program and contributes $554 billion to the US Economy each year.  Government buildings that are Certified also save taxpayers 10s of millions each year. 

The LEED Certification process starts during the planning phase of the construction of the building.  The desired level of Certification is chosen and a plan is implemented to achieve that level.  Many steps for water and energy efficiency must be taken to get the appropriate number of points in each category.  A LEED Certified Professional would visit the construction site many times to inspect and verify each step.  The final inspection results in an overall rating determining the level of Certification.  Different tax and zoning advantages hinge on the rating received. 

Click here to contact a LEED Certified Professional.  The Professional may also be able to provide tips and techniques to be used during the construction phase of the building.  The LEED Certification Program has quickly become the most widely used voluntary program ranking system.  The market implemented the program at a higher adoption rate than ever before.  The benefits have long term gains to any company’s bottom line and can save bundles each and every month.  Building techniques continue to be developed, refined, and shared in the community to help aid in the Certification of future building projects.

Reference: Leighanna Cumbie