LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) is the building green rating system. It was created by the US Green Building Council and has now been adopted by the Canada Green Building Council (CGBC) as well. LEED is the internationally accepted benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high performance in green buildings as well as it is a building certification process. This will define what is green by providing common framework and verifies performance through benchmarking and measurement.
The rating system has five areas which are: human and environmental health; sustainable site development; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality. This rating system was created to provide consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building.
There are many steps that need to be taken for LEED certification; the first one would be to register a building project. Registering during the early phases of project design will maximize the potential for achieving certification. In order to earn certification, a building project has to meet certain prerequisites and performance benchmarks within each category. Depending on the number of credits projects receive, they can be awarded certified, silver, gold, or platinum certification. LEED professional accreditation will confirm a contractor has the skills and knowledge to create and construct buildings that will meet the LEED certification process.
LEED has been successful in reduced operating costs, healthier and productive occupants, and conserving natural resources in the United States. LEED has also been able to drive innovation, enhance building performance and lower lifecycle costs.
Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3993/is_200710/ai_n21137729/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1
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