LEED® Certification

Brief description of LEED® V3

LEED is a certification system that evaluates sustainable buildings.

LEED encourages the development of projects in an integrated manner in such a way as to permanently maintain the flows of information between the different specialties, taking advantage of the synergies between them by maximizing their coordination.

The LEED assessment system is driven and supported by the US Green Building Institute and is currently the world's leading system in green building certification.

Its objective is to encourage and accelerate the global adoption of sustainable green building practices and development, through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted criteria and capabilities.

LEED is:

An internationally accepted certification program and benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The De Facto Standard in Building Construction in the United States

LEED gives building owners and their operators the tools they need to have an immediate, measurable impact on their building's capacity.

LEED promotes a comprehensive approach to sustainability, recognizing capabilities in five key areas for human and environmental health:

Sustainable site development, Water savings, Energy efficiency, Selection of materials and Indoor environmental quality.

The LEED evaluation system, in its 2009 version, considers nine Categories of Sustainable Projects:

LEED for New Buildings and Major Renovations LEED for Leed Core & Envelope for LEED Schools for HEALTH Institutions LEED for Retail LEED for Commercial Interiors LEED for Retail Interiors LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED Operations and Maintenance for Existing Schools.

The LEED evaluation system delivers four levels of certification according to the degree of application of the sustainability recommendations of the evaluated building: Certificate, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

These certification levels can be obtained in different categories of buildings, namely:

New Buildings or Major Remodeling Core and Envelope Schools Health Institutions (Clinics and Hospitals) Retail Interior of Commercial Buildings Existing Buildings.

Benefits and Objectives of LEED:

Reduction in basic consumption Reduces operational and building maintenance costs Better quality of the work space Increased productivity Increases the value of assets Increases occupancy rates Worldwide recognition of sustainability. Reduction of environmental impact.

LEED Requires compliance with eight prerequisites to qualify for certification:

SS P1 Pollution and Erosion Prevention Plan WE P1

Reduction in the use of water EA P1  Fundamental commissioning of energy systems EA P2 Comply with Minimum energy performance of the building EA P3 Fundamental Management of Refrigerants MR P1 Have Storage System and collection of recyclables EQ P1  Minimum Behavior in Indoor environmental quality EQ P2  Environmental control of tobacco smoke.

The score necessary to qualify for the different levels of certification is distributed among the following credits or requirements, in the categories indicated:

 Certificate: 40-49 points, Silver: 50-59 points, Gold: 60-79 points, Platinum: 80 and more

Benefits of LEED certification:

Immediate Benefits:

Validation of achievement by a third party Example of environmental awareness Contribution to a growing knowledge base LEED certification plate to install in the building Official Certificate International exhibition of the project through the USGBC website Case study and announcements in various media.

Added Value: Reduction of operating costs, energy and water. Healthier environment for occupants, and better productivity in employees. Reduces the burden on local infrastructure and contributes to quality of life Community recognition and environmental commitment authorities Increases asset value. Reduces waste production Reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Minimizes emissions that deteriorate the ozone layer Demonstrates the Client's commitment to the environment and social responsibility.

Written in LEED Rating System | Tagged Architecture, Architecture, Ecologico, Environment, Green Building, LEED, Environment | Leave a comment

Authors: josedsalinas

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