Whether you’re building or renovating, you’ve probably already heard the term LEED standards tossed around at least once or twice. Not sure what they are? You’re not alone. This quick guide can help.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It’s a green building certification program through the US Green Building Council. The idea behind these standards was to literally transform the construction industry to create a greener planet. It considers how buildings are designed and constructed as well as how entire communities are created on a global scale.
LEED certified buildings help to save resources (and money in some cases), because they’re designed with renewable energy in mind. Not every building can be LEED certified, though. Instead, there are certain prerequisites that have to be satisfied and a number of different points to be earned in certain areas to get to various levels of certification.
Should You Bother?
If you’re building a new facility or you’re having an older facility renovated, you can certainly choose to go with LEED certification. There are a number of reasons you may want to consider it. LEED certification is a mark of achievement unlike any other, and if you’re serious about a green commitment within your company, it’s something you’ll want to consider. LEED certification means that you’re going to conserve energy and resources every step of the way. You’ll be able to provide employees and customers alike with better indoor air quality thanks to your building material choices, and you’ll achieve real returns throughout the life of the structure because it costs less to operate and reduces energy and your water bills.
Interested in becoming LEED certified with your upcoming project? Contact us today to learn how we can help ensure your project meets the requirements.