subject: What Is Leed? [print this page] LEED is a program developed by the government to help generate awareness and participation in the green movement. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. You can have a home LEED certified or if you are building a non-residential building it can be certified. There are clear guidelines and restrictions that one must follow to be LEED Certified.
Firstly, we must discuss the green movement and what it means to be green. Due to the continuous growth in the world population and strain that we as a society put on our environment activists across the country have united to produce this movement centered on the protection of our environment. To be considered being green a builder would need to use recycled materials and be aware of window placement and the heating and cooling of a commercial building. If the builder was environmentally conscience then they were considered being green.
The problem with this train of thought was that the cost to use recycled or environmentally friendly materials was significantly more expensive and thus deterring contractors and builders to participate in the green movement when building commercial buildings. LEED has changed that. Now the government offers incentives to build LEED certified buildings, and depending on your rating depends on how much of a tax break you get.
LEED allows contractors and builders to build and create commercial buildings, and still be profitable. It allows for innovative thinking and it provides a way for the builders to build and design great structures and have minimal impact on the environment. We only get one world and now the government will help us build buildings that will impact the earth on a minimal level.
The numbers supporting LEED construction is amazing. By 2010 over 30% of all government buildings being built were LEED buildings. The government is leading by example. This not only helps to reduce our impact, but it also provided much needed job boost to the economy. We are an ever growing nation and by having buildings that are not only aware of our planet but that are also energy efficient there is a lot less waste involved.
To become LEED certified requires certain steps that must be taken, and there are a several levels of LEED certification that you can have as well. One person that can help in one aspect of becoming certified is an industrial hygienist. They test the air quality of the buildings to be certain that they meet the standards that the government has set for becoming LEED certified. If you are building a new building and would like to find a firm that help guide you through the LEED certification process click here.
