LEED (mini project part I)

1.What is LEED?
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council or USGBC in 2000, and is a green building certification system. This system involves recognizing and applying practical green building designs, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions [1].

2.What are the components of LEED?    
The components of LEED include design, construction, and operations. These consist of homes, neighborhood development, commercial interiors, core and shell, new construction, and schools/healthcare/retail [1]. Furthermore, LEED promotes sustainability in the following areas: site selection, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, locations & linkages (encouraging building on previously developed sites),awareness/education, innovation in design, and regional priority [2].

 3.Give a brief description of the LEED rating system.

The rating system is led by LEED committees and volunteers involved in the building and construction industry. This group ensures scientific consistency and thoroughness, provides opportunities for comments and reviews, allows for ballots of new rating systems, and permits open appeals [1]. There are numerous LEED rating systems specializing in different areas, like commercial interior construction or materials and resources used. Rating systems helps building owners measure operations, improvements, and maintenance, with the goal of maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts through innovation and design. They are also designed to guide and distinguish institutional projects, certify high-performance or green interiors, and help plan master designs [3]. The rating system can be titled as certified, silver, gold, or platinum LEED, which is based on a point system with categories of those mentioned above, like water efficiency of the building.

4.Look at the LEED profiles: What are the categories of profiles on that webpage?

The categories of profiles for LEED are as follows: New Construction, Existing Buildings, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, Schools, Homes, Retail, and Neighborhood Development [4].

5.What is core-and-shell construction?

“Core and shell construction covers base building elements, such as structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC [5].” It is basically a green building system designed to deliver criteria for certifying the design and construction of developments in core and shell buildings. 

6.Pick one category and an example profile in that category.  Mention what the LEED rating is for that project and what made this project LEED certified?

Under the Core and Shell category, the Banner Bank Building in Boise, Idaho project profile was chosen. This particular building has a rating of Platinum with 49 point out of the possible 62 points. The point system is as follows: 13/15 sustainable sites, 5/5 water efficiency,12/15 energy &atmosphere, 6/9 materials & resources, 10/13 indoor environmental quality, and 3/5 innovation design. The Banner Bank building uses 60 to 80% less water than similar innovative buildings due to the catching of storm water and low flush toilets. It also uses “smart” lighting control systems that adjusts to the amount of light outside, which amounts to a 65% reduction in electricity used for lighting. Finishes and paints with low or zero volatile organic compound content and an HVAC system with a high number of air changes per hour and carbon monoxide monitors help contribute to why this building is LEED platinum certified [6].

[1] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). What LEED Is. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988

[2] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). What LEED Measures. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1989

[3] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). Rating Systems. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222&gclid=COqApceC-qsCFQ0CQAod3XA1nQ

[4] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). Project profiles. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1721

[5] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). FAQ: LEED for Core & Shell. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3355

[6] U.S. Green Building Council. (2011). Project Profile: Banner Bank Building Boise, Idaho. Retrieved from https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3939