Your Source for LEED Solutions
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System ® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. For more information visit: The U.S. Green Building Council’s website.
Each LEED certified building is required to achieve a specific number of points in the following categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Materials and Resources, Indoor environmental quality, Bonus credit for process design and innovation.
LEED certification can be achieved at different levels depending on how many points are achieved. Currently, projects can receive certification at the following four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Green Mountain Energy is now aiming to receive the Gold certification for CI (Commercial Interiors) – a very ambitious goal!
How prevalent is LEED Certification?
Across the nation there are 121 buildings certified and about 1,400 more are registered with the USGBC are awaiting verification of their certification. Currently in Texas, there are about 53 registered projects.
In our hometown of Austin, TX, there are at least two buildings that have been designed to receive LEED certification: the new Whole Foods building (office space only) on 5th and Lamar and the new Austin City Hall building.
The City of Austin requires LEED certification of all public works projects over 5,000 SF, so we are sure to see more LEED certified buildings around Austin in the future.
Benefits of becoming LEED Certified
- Decrease a building’s impact on the environment
- Increased water and energy efficiency resulting in operational cost savings
- Improved indoor environmental quality
- Use of sustainable materials from recycled, reused or local and regional sources
- Reinforces your company’s commitment to sustainability, to the community, to stakeholders and to potential customers
- Increased employee satisfaction, health and productivity
