LEED CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST: GETTING STARTED LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most prominent green building rating and certification system used throughout the world. LEED can be a very beneficial certification to pursue, however understanding the process of getting certified can be confusing, which is why we at the Green Business Bureau have put together this article, to support your certification efforts.
Whether it be a new building or an existing building, the LEED certification process offers a rating system for all different types of construction. Their rating system is based on 110 available points, or credits, with the basic certification only requiring 40. The various levels are as follows:
Certified: 40-49 pointsSilver: 50-59 pointsGold: 60-79 pointsPlatinum: 80+To get started with LEED, one must select the appropriate rating system and register their project . Pricing is dependent on building size and various other factors which can be found here .
This article is meant to focus on the LEED certification checklist for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C). This certification system is used for buildings that are newly constructed or have undergone significant renovation in the past year with “at least 60% of the project’s gross floor area must be complete by the time of certification” which also includes the entire building’s gross floor area. Below is a list of LEED BD+C buildings eligible for this certification.
WHICH RATING SYSTEM FITS MY BUILDING? Criteria for LEED BD+C eligibility includes:
The following building types in the list below are eligible for LEED BD+C certification:
New construction and major renovation – Mainly high-rise residential buildings; this does include buildings that are schools, retail, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, and healthcare facilities. Schools – K-12 schools as well as academic and non-academic buildings used for higher education Retail – Buildings used for retail, direct consumer service areas, and preparation and storage areas Data centers – Buildings designed for computing equipment such as server racks Warehouses and distribution centers – Buildings used to store merchandise, materials, goods, etc. Hospitality – Buildings such as hotels, motels, or any service industry business that serves short-term lodging Healthcare – Hospitals operating 24/7 LEED CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST FOR BD+C There are several different areas in which you receive points for your LEED BD+C project. They are as follows:
Location and Transportation: 15 points Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses: Conserve land and encourage development in areas with existing infrastructure.Access to Quality Transit: Encourage development in locations that have access to various forms of transportation.High-Priority Site: Encourage development in areas with development constraints (i.e. historic district, brownfield site, infill location).Sustainable Sites: 12 points Protect or Restore Habitat: Preserve 40% of the greenfield area on the site being developed.Rainwater Management: Reduce runoff and improve water quality. Rain gardens, vegetated roofs, and permeable pavement are all good strategies.Heat Island Reduction: Minimize heat island effects from new construction. Vegetated roof, undercover parking, solar PV on the roof, and use of reflective roof coatings such as white paint.Water Efficiency: 12 points Indoor Water Use Reduction: Reduce indoor water consumption. Install low-flow faucets, toilets, water-efficient washing machines, and dishwashers.Outdoor Water Use Reduction: Reduce outdoor water consumption. Reduce irrigation in the surrounding landscape and reduce the project’s water requirements by having water-resistant plants and effective irrigation.Water metering: Track water consumption to identify additional opportunities to save water.Energy and Atmosphere: 31 points Optimize Energy Performance: Invest in energy-efficient appliances and create an energy performance target.Enhanced Commissioning: Commissioning process must take place on building projects through at least 10 months of occupancy.Renewable Energy Production: Invest in onsite renewables or purchase renewable energy credits to offset annual building greenhouse gas emissions.Materials and Resources: 13 points Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction: Optimize the environmental performance of products and materials. Examples such as historic building reuse, renovation of abandoned buildings, or building material reuse all meet the requirements.Environmental Product Declarations: Use products that are critically reviewed and have had a life-cycle assessment.Sourcing of Raw Materials: Use products that are sustainably sourced.Indoor Environmental Quality: 16 points Low emitting materials: Use interior building materials that are low emitting such as low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, adhesives, sealants, flooring, insulation, etc.Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies: Naturally vented spaces, improved filtration, carbon dioxide monitoring, etc.Daylight: Reduce the use of electrical lighting by creating spaces that utilize natural light.Innovation: 6 points LEED Accredited Professional: At least one participant of a project team must be a LEED Accredited Professional.Regional Priority: 4 points Address geographically specific environmental issues. This is dependent on the project’s location. To receive certification for each area you are pursuing you must upload documentation proving that you are meeting the requirements for each credit being pursued. Once documentation is submitted and the application is complete, the Green Building Certification Inc. (GBCI) will review the certification to ensure that the documentation is correct and that it meets the proper requirements.
To view in more detail, you can download the LEED certification checklist online.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF How can I benefit from a LEED Certification? What are the costs of LEED Certification and how does this impact my budget? Which rating system fits my building type? Which level of LEED BD+C certification should I pursue (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum)? For those just beginning to green their buildings, basic certification may be a good first step that is relatively easy to achieve.Which credits will be easiest for me to attain? Who will serve as the LEED Accredited Professional on my project team? Who is responsible for providing my building documentation and data? Get certified to communicate your green achievements As one can see, the LEED certification process can become a bit confusing when figuring out which certification matches your building type. Understanding the various certifications available as well as how credits are distributed is crucial to achieving LEED certification for your specific building.
While attaining a LEED certification requires careful planning and time , this certification provides many different benefits. Reduced energy use, less construction waste, cost savings, improved air quality, improved image, and a positive environmental impact are just some of the many benefits that a LEED certification provides. Not to mention, LEED BD+C is often easier than some of the other rating systems such as LEED O+M (Operations and Maintenance).
Developing a construction or renovation plan with the LEED certification checklist in mind can help you cater your project to meet the requirements of this certification. This will help you save money in the long-term as you will be mindful of siting issues, material use and building location as well as not needing to make as many drastic changes during the construction process.
GAIN GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION THAT EXTENDS BEYOND COMPANY-OWNED BUILDINGS Your green building certification goals should be part of a more general green business certification strategy. That is, sustainability extends beyond your company-owned buildings, to include all aspects of an organization.
With this in mind, we want to introduce to you the Green Business Bureau (GBB) and our green business certification platform. With GBB, you can implement green initiatives to extend your sustainability strategy beyond the specific focus of LEED certification. GBB’s EcoAssessment and EcoPlanner house 400+ green initiatives focused on industry-specific and more general business operations.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GBB AND LEED? To explain the difference between GBB and LEED certification, we will quote from our article:
The LEED and GBB programs are similar in that they both establish environmental sustainability as a priority for your company. They are different in scope and focus and understanding the differences will help you select the right program to pursue.
As discussed, LEED is very specific in scope, it covers your building. GBB is very broad in scope. It covers buildings, operations across all functions, policies, and basically all possible green initiatives a company can complete. They are comparable in that both programs will provide you with a blueprint and solid foundation to track and manage your environmental performance. That said, a detailed review of the programs makes it clear that the LEED program is designed for companies that are designing a new building or renovating a current building to be more eco-friendly. It mostly involves facilities leaders.
Green Business Bureau certification involves all departments and hence all employees. It establishes a green culture and makes environmentalism a priority in all aspects of a business. It’s ideal for green teams and sustainability committees looking for a sustainability framework to manage their sustainability program. It will let your employees drive the cause while providing a scorecard to measure progress.
