How LEED Certification Works

Let's say you're building a house . You want to "build green " because you're trying to be more
environmentally responsible -- and you also wouldn't mind saving some money on utilities and
maximizing the home's resale value. Where do you start? ost li!ely" you'll turn to L##$.
%n &''(" the Washington" $.). " trade association *.+. ,reen -uilding )ouncil developed the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design .L##$/" which has become the authority 0or
builders who want to wor! with the environment. L##$'s green building re1uirements can be applied
to new construction or older homes" but only new homes can be o00icially certi0ied. 2he regulations
are designed so that construction is healthy and durable 0or the occupants and the environment.
+ome cities have ta!en the initiative to adopt green techni1ues as part o0 their city building codes. 3or
instance" in arch 4556" 7asadena" )ali0." became the 0irst local government to re1uire L##$
certi0ication 0or private construction. 8s o0 9ctober 455:" 44 states and :; 8merican towns and cities
have adopted policies to re1uire or encourage L##$'s green building practices.
+ome ma<or new buildings in =ew Yor! )ity have also turned to L##$. %n +eptember 4556" the
>earst 2ower received the 0irst gold certi0ication in the city" in part 0or its innovative 0rame" which
uses much less steel than a traditional s!yscraper . +even World 2rade )enter" the 0irst o0 the
W2) complex to be rebuilt" also got a gold rating 0or its air-1uality improvements" water and
energy conservation measures and waste reduction. With the renovation o0 the *nited =ations
head1uarters" +ecretary ,eneral -an ?i oon says he hopes the *.=. campus will "become a globally
acclaimed model o0 e00icient use o0 energy and resources" @sourceA *.=. $ivision 0or +ustainable
$evelopment B. 2he goal 0or the buildings is a silver L##$ certi0ication.
2here are a 0ew categories o0 L##$ certi0ication -- 0or schools" retail buildings and commercial
interiors" 0or example -- but in this article" we'll be tal!ing about LEED for Homes. We'll go step by
step through the chec!list" which includes a number o0 areas in which to earn points 0or certi0ication.
-ut what i0 you already own your home? )urrently" the L##$ 0or >omes certi0ication is only 0or new
home construction or gut renovations" but plenty o0 the recommendations can be applied to existing
homes" especially i0 you want to wor! on green landscaping and materials" water and energy
conservation" and indoor air 1uality.
Location
+ome L##$ location speci0ications are more di00icult than others to meet. 2he L##$ neighborhood
development pro<ect .LEED-ND/" which certi0ies environmentally 0riendly" sustainable communities"
is in the pilot program stage" so there aren't many around yet. +ome o0 the other rules are easier to
comply with because they're lin!ed to environmental laws that could already be in place.
1 -uy your home in a L##$-=$ certi0ied development.
2 $onCt build on wetlands or on 0armland.
3 -uild within existing communities.
4 -uild within a hal0-mile o0 existing water and sewer lines.
5 +et your home near resources li!e supermar!ets and libraries or near public transportation.
6 +elect a site within a hal0-mile o0 a community-based open space" li!e a par!.
Sustainale sites
8gain" some o0 these items could be di00icult or impossible 0or current homeowners .increasing the
density o0 housing units on your property would mean getting into zoning issues/. -ut adding mulch
around your plants is a lot more doable -- and it won't upset the neighbors as much.
7 )hange as little o0 the land as possible to avoid disrupting the ecosystem.
8 inimize the need 0or water by mulching and using native plants. 8 compost heap does
double duty" eliminating garbage and producing mulch.
9 7lant native trees and bushes to shade patios" sidewal!s and driveways to reduce heat islands
-- hot spots that raise the overall temperature in a metropolitan area" re1uire more water to cool o00
and increase energy demand.
10 %nstall open pavers" retaining walls and rainwater cisterns to prevent erosion and runo00.
11 *se native plants and pest-resistant materials li!e cement and stainless-steel screens to cut
down on the use o0 chemicals in your garden. 7lant shrubs and trees at least 4D inches 0rom the
house so pests donCt have a chance to hop 0rom a tree to your basement.
)onserve land by increasing the density o0 housing units .donCt use E5 acres 0or your own private
compound/.
Water efficiency
2here are many new innovations that will help you reduce water use" and most o0 them are
inexpensive and easy to implement. +ome communities o00er treated gray water .waste water/ to
homeowners as an alternative to using municipal 0resh water supplies.
1 *se rainwater or gray water 0or landscape irrigation. 8 rain arrel is an increasingly popular
alternative 0or collecting water. -asically" it's a plastic or clay barrel that you place under a gutter
downspout to catch rainwater. You can cover it with a screen 0ilter to !eep out leaves and debris"
and putting a lid on it a0ter it rains can prevent some evaporation. Fain barrels range in cost"
depending on the size and 0eatures" but they generally start around G&55.
2 %nstall a high-e00iciency irrigation system with moisture-sensor controls that minimize
evaporation and overwatering.
3 %nstall high-e00iciency 0ixtures" li!e low-0low showerheads" 0aucets and toilets . 3ixing
lea!y 0aucets and pipes can save gallons o0 water a day.
12
!reening "p# $echni%ues
Energy and &tmosphere
2his category includes some o0 the most well-!nown "greening up" techni1ues and some o0 the most
e00ective ways to save energy and money. -y now" most people are 0amiliar with #nergy +tar-rated
appliances and those compact 0luorescent bulbs " but there are many simple ways to ma!e a big
di00erence in this area.
1 )omplete re1uirements 0or an #nergy +tar home" including third-party inspection. You can
0ind #nergy +tar builders in your area by chec!ing out the government's #nergy +tar Web site.
2 %nstall insulation to meet at least ,rade %% speci0ications .0ew gaps or holes in insulation/.
3 Feduce heat and cooling loss by "sealing the envelope" .the outer shell o0 your home --
walls" windows " doors/.
4 *se #nergy +tar-labeled windows and solar-window screens" which can bloc! out not only
the summer heat" but also harm0ul *H rays.
5 #nsure that ducts 0it snugly to prevent lea!age" and insulate ducts.
6 %nstall heating ventilation and air conditioning .>H8)/ systems that meet or exceed
#nergy +tar re1uirements. 3or around G&55" a programmable thermostat will allow you to turn
o00 the air conditioning .or turn down the heat/ when you're not at home.
7 Water heating uses about &E percent o0 the energy in *.+. homes" according to the
$epartment o0 #nergy . %nstall an energy-e00icient water distribution system -- !eeping the
water heater close to the plumbing 0ixtures and using low-0low 0aucets and alternative water-
heating methods li!e solar and tan!less water heaters.
+olar water heaters typically cost G&";55 to more than GE"555" and tan!less water heaters can cost
0rom G'55 to GD"555" not including installation costs. %0 you decide to stic! with your old water
heater" consider water heater lanket" which wrap around the heater to prevent heat 0rom
escaping. You can typically get one 0or less than G4; at a hardware store" and most estimates say it
will pay 0or itsel0 in utility-bill savings within a couple o0 months.
8 *se energy-e00icient 0ixtures and controls" li!e motion sensors on outdoor lighting" #nergy
+tar-labeled 0ixtures and compact 0luorescent bulbs.
*se energy- and water-e00icient washing machines " dishwashers " re0rigerators "
0reezers and ceiling 0ans. #nergy +tar appliances use &5 to ;5 percent less energy and water than
standard models. 2hey're more expensive" but you'll ma!e up 0or it in energy-bill savings.
%nstall a renewale electric-generation system" li!e wind or solar power. You're going to
need some space 0or wind power" obviously .it re1uires about an acre/" but it has been e00ective in
the =ortheast and idwest *nited +tates . #xpect to pay about GD5"555 to have a wind system
installed. 8ccording to the 8merican Wind #nergy 8ssociation " "Well-sited small wind
turbines can usually pay 0or themselves within &; years" about hal0 their serviceable li0etimes" i0
the right @taxB incentives are applied."
%0 you want to use solar power" costs have gone way down in the past 0ew decades -- as much as
'5 percent less by some estimates. 7lus" many states now re1uire utility companies to charge
homeowners 0or only the energy they consume beyond their solar production. 2his means that
solar users won't be stuc! in a cold" dar! house on a rainy day. 8nd some solar panels produce
enough electricity to allow users to sell energy bac! to the utility company. %nstallation costs
are still high -- in the thousands o0 dollars -- but they can be o00set by tax incentives and rebates
in some states.
*se non-)3) re0rigerants in >H8) e1uipment .)3)s" or chloro0luorocarbons" contribute to
ozone depletion and are lin!ed to global warming /.
L##$ 7oints
When construction on your home is complete, your builder will fill out a LEED checklist. There are
129 aailable points in the LEED for !omes cate"ory, and the re#uirements are wei"hted. $sin"
renewable ener"y like wind or solar power, for e%ample, can "et you 1& points, while
installin" e%haust fans in your bathroom is "ood for one point. ' LEED(certified inspector will then
award a leel of certification.
Certified )*+(+9 points,
Silver .65-:D points/
!old.:;-(' points/
'latinum .'5-&4( points/
-oints can be added or subtracted from this total based on the s#uare foota"e of your home.
.heck out the chart in the L##$ 0or >omes 7rogram 7ilot Fating +ystem manual for more
information.
(ore LEED Categories
(aterials and resources
*sing recycled materials in a home re1uires some investigation" re1uiring you to as! about
products you might not be 0amiliar with. While many people 0eel com0ortable researching
re0rigerators " deciding whether to use plastic or real lumber can be a little more daunting. L##$
notes that many o0 these products -- li!e linoleum 0looring -- were once considered in0erior" but
they've made aesthetic strides in the past 0ew years.
1 *se less lumber and try modular 0raming and materials.
2 *se salvaged" reused or wood-alternative 0looring and walls" and products with low H9)
.volatile organic compound/ emissions. 8void tropical rain0orest wood products. 2ry synthetic
materials li!e linoleum 0looring and composite dec!ing" renewable resources li!e bamboo and
<ute" and recycled carpet -- either 7#2 .see sidebar/ or carpet with reused bac!ing.
3 -y using products manu0actured within the region" you'll 0urther cut down on pollution 0rom
transportation.
4 Feduce <ob-site waste to no more than 4.; pounds per s1uare 0oot o0 0loor area by recycling or
reusing wood" drywall" metal and cardboard.
)ndoor Environmental *uality
2here are a number o0 culprits that increase indoor air pollution" including poor ventilation and high
temperature and humidity levels. 2he exposure to poor air 1uality can increase long-term health
problems li!e respiratory and heart disease .
5 *sing a moisture-control" heating" cooling and ventilation system -- li!e #nergy +tar's
%ndoor 8ir 7ac!age -- can prevent mold" pests and airborne pollutants.
6 Hentilators 0or 0ireplaces and stoves remove toxic gases 0rom the interior o0 the home. 8nd
you can install carbon monoxide detectors" which start around G45.
7 %nstall a humidity control system -- use a humidi0ier in dry climates and a dehumidi0ier
in wet climates.
8 *se an outdoor air system to ventilate indoor air. You can purchase speci0ic devices to 0ilter
the air as it's entering your home" or you can open a 0ew windows .
9 %nstall exhaust 0ans in !itchen and bathrooms to reduce pollutants and moisture.
10 $esign your air-duct system so air 0low is evenly distributed among rooms.
11 %nstall air 0ilters. echanical" electrical and ionic air puri0iers are available" with a wide
range o0 prices.
12 You can protect indoor air 1uality 0rom outside contaminants with permanent walk-off mats
.which are larger and more durable than traditional door mats/ and central vacuum systems .
%0 you're in the design stage o0 building a home" L##$ recommends including a space at the
entrance 0or removing and storing shoes to prevent bringing outside contaminants into the home.
3lush the house o0 construction contaminants by running the >H8) system 0an 0or one wee!
while the windows are open.
13 +eal the 0oundation o0 the home and install a radon detector. #very state has a regional
#78 o00ice" which can help you 0ind a 1uali0ied radon testing company.
14 +eal an attached garage .and the carbon monoxide emissions 0rom cars / 0rom the home by
painting the garage walls .carbon monoxide can penetrate un0inished drywall / and installing
weather stripping around the doors.
)nnovation and Design 'rocess
2his group has to do with educating the consumer and design innovation --it's really 0or new
homeowners who want to ma!e a long-term investment and get L##$ certi0ication.
15 *se a team o0 architects" energy engineers and land planners and implement per0ormance
testing. 8n energy engineer" an architect and a land planner" 0or example" can wor! together on
how to place solar panels on a house without ma!ing it unattractive.
16 *se high-1uality" durable materials according to your speci0ic area's needs 0or the 0oundation"
exterior walls" roo0" air sealing and mechanical systems.
17 ,et creative and go above and beyond L##$ standards 0or bonus points. .You'll need to
contact L##$ to see i0 your ideas 1uali0y./
3inally" your builder should provide you with a L##$ 0or >omes rating certi0icate" the completed
chec!list and general guidance 0or e1uipment and appliances" as well as a wal!-through be0ore
completion.
2o learn more about L##$ certi0ication" chec! out the lin!s on the next page.
1
Lots (ore )nformation
Felated >ow+tu00Wor!s 8rticles
>ow to a!e Your >ome ore #nergy #00icient
>ow to +ave oney on >ome #nergy
>ow +mart Windows Wor!
>ow the #78 Wor!s
>ow 3luorescent Lamps Wor!
>ow 8ir 7uri0iers Wor!
>ow >ouse )onstruction Wor!s
>ow 7re0ab >ouses Wor!
>ow Water >eaters Wor!
What can you do to your home to save energy?
What is gray water and can it solve the global water crisis?
ore ,reat Lin!s
,reen -uilding %nitiative
*.+. ,reen -uilding )ouncil
*.+. #nvironmental 7rotection 8gency
>ome #nergy +aver
)hec!list 0or L##$ 0or >omes 7rogram
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lost." 3ast)ompany.com" 9ctober 455:.
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$ecember 6" 4556.
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