What is LEED? ®?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is essentially
a green building rating system. In North America, buildings account for over 1/3rd of all energy use and consume roughly the same percentage of raw materials. Buildings are also responsible for nearly a third of all greenhouse gas emmissions.” So LEED program criteria and the overall rating system is extremely important-- and a great step in the right direction. It motivates and helps architects, builders and owners to develop plans that reduce their building’s environmental footprint on the environment.
LEED was created to accomplish the
following:
- Define "green building" by
establishing a common standard of measurement
- Promote integrated, whole-building
design practices
- Recognize environmental
leadership in the building industry
- Stimulate green competition
- Raise consumer awareness of
green building benefits
- Transform the building market
LEED® Canada Structure
The Prerequisites and Credits are organized in
the six principal LEED® categories:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation and design process
Project ratings are certified by the
Canadian Green Building Council's (CaGBC) based
on the total point score, following an
independent review and audits of selected
Credits of documentation submitted by a design
and construction team. With four possible levels
of certification (certified, silver, gold and
platinum), LEED® is flexible enough to
accommodate a wide range of green building
strategies that best fit the constraints and
goals of particular projects. |
