What is LEED?
The United States Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System™ is an international benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the "best practices" in architecture, mechanical and electrical design, landscape architecture, construction management and facilities operations. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Projects are awarded four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum depending on the number of practices implemented to save energy, use renewable and green power, reduce water use, use of local and recycled materials and improve indoor comfort and environmental quality of the occupants. These measures directly relate to reduced operating costs, productive and healthy environments for occupants and better stewardship of our natural resources.
Many government authorities are recognizing the value inherent in LEED certification. The GSA and City of Fort Collins have recently initiated a minimum LEED Gold certification requirement for all new government office buildings. The GSA also now requires that all future premises leased by GSA meet a minimum LEED Gold level certification.
The Cascadia Chapter of the USGBC has initiated a challenge to the membership called the "Living Building Challenge". This will be a step above LEED Platinum and require not only a “net zero” energy building but also a building that has a positive impact on the community not only in environmental impact but also in intrinsic beauty.
Given that LEED is the best practices in the built environment, we support the slogan:
Why not LEED?
LEED Case Studies: