 LEED ® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. It rates building performance in six categories:
- Sustainable site development - How well does the development optimize density and transportation and improve land use, stormwater management, and the urban heat island effect?
- Energy use and atmospheric impacts - Does the building reduce energy consumption by at least 25% compared to Code and are there measures in place in to ensure the performance of mechanical systems?
- Water efficiency - Will the building reduce potable water consumption for domestic and irrigation uses?
- Materials and resource consumption, use and disposal - Does the project avoid sending waste to landfill? Is there a high level of recycled content in the building's materials?
- Indoor environmental quality - Does the building have low-emitting materials, interior finishes and safe storage of required maintenance chemicals? How much daylight penetrates the interior and are there effective occupant controls on ventilation, heating and cooling?
- Design innovation - How many truly innovative features were designed into the building?
Buildings are rated according to a detailed scorecard that is verified and certified after construction. |
