Services Outline
LEED Consulting
Energy Auditing
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LEED Consulting & Certification Coordination
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) began its development in 1994, spearheaded by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Early LEED committee members included United States Green Building Council (USGBC). From 1994 to 2006, LEED grew from one standard for new construction to a comprehensive system of six interrelated standards covering all aspects of the development and construction process. LEED also has grown from six volunteers on one committee to more than 200 volunteers on nearly 20 committees and nearly 150 professional staff.
 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 certified buildings use key resources more efficiently when compared to conventional buildings which are simply built to code. LEED certified buildings have healthier work and living environments, which contributes to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort. The USGBC has also compiled a long list of benefits of implementing a LEED strategy which ranges from improving air and water quality to reducing solid waste, benefiting owners, occupiers, and society as a whole.
Different LEED versions have varied scoring systems based on a set of required "prerequisites" and a variety of "credits" in the 7 major categories listed below. In LEED 2009 for new construction and major renovations for commercial buildings there are 100 possible points and buildings can qualify for four levels of certification:
- Certified - 40-49 points
- Silver - 50-59 points
- Gold - 60-69 points
- Platinum - 80-100 points
Points have been distributed as follows. Required "prerequisites" in each category receive no points.
- Sustainable sites (26 points)
- Water efficiency (10 points)
- Energy and atmosphere (35 points)
- Materials and resources (14 points)
- Indoor environmental quality (15 points)
- Innovation and design process (6 points)
- Regional Priority (4 points)
LEED certification is obtained after submitting an application documenting compliance with the requirements of the rating system as well as paying registration and certification fees. Certification is granted solely by the Green Building Council responsible for issuing the LEED system used on the project.
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