What is LEED and Why Is It So Important?
Over the years, organizations and construction businesses all over the world have been looking for a more eco-friendly approach to their building projects. That’s when LEED came into the picture. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification program developed by the United States Green Buildings Council (USGBC). It was created to bring awareness regarding greener building projects, including transforming the way we construct, design, and maintain the buildings that we use every single day. The goal of this program is not only to do better for the planet but to also create a positive impact on the occupants inside these buildings. Additionally, as an effort to encourage LEED certification, there are many incentive programs in place, including substantial tax credits, reduced fees, grants and more.
Globally Recognized
LEED is the most popular building rating system on Earth. While being available for just about any type of building, LEED provides a useful framework for construction that is eco-friendly, healthy and cost-effective. LEED certification is recognized across the world, and it stands as a symbol of achieving sustainability and a step towards a healthier planet. Today, LEED encompasses over 14,000 projects in the U.S. and 30 different countries, and it covers a remarkable 1.062 billion square feet of development area. A key factor of LEED is that it involves a very transparent process, where the technical criteria proposed by the LEED communities are reviewed in a public setting by more than 10,000 membership organizations that help form the USGBC.
LEED Accredited Professional (AP)
For those who are very knowledgeable about the LEED rating system, they are awarded with a special professional status among the USGBC. These individuals are permitted to use the LEED Accredited Professional (AP) acronym after their name, meaning they have successfully completed the accreditation exam developed by the Green Building Certification Institute; this is a third-party organization that handles accreditation for the USGBC.
The History of LEED
LEED originated back in 1993, and it was largely due to the efforts made by Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) senior scientist Robert K. Watson. Acting as Founding Chairman of the LEED Steering Committee until 2006, Watson was in charge of a broad-based consensus process that included non-profit organizations, architects, government agencies, engineers, developers, builders, product manufacturers and other industry leaders. Some other notable LEED committee members included USGBC co-founder Mike Italiano, architects Bill Reed and Sandy Mendler, builder Gerard Heiber, builder Myron Kibbe and engineer Richard Bourne. As LEED grew in popularity over the coming years, in 1996, engineers Tom Paladino and Lynn Barker co-chaired the brand new LEED technical committee. And from there, LEED was quickly becoming recognized as a focal point in the building space. From 1994 to 2006, LEED grew from one new construction standard to a comprehensive system of six standards that encompasses every facet of the development and construction process. Furthermore, on the committee side of things, LEED has experienced tons of growth; LEED went from only having six volunteers on one committee to over 200 volunteers on nearly 200 committees, including over 200 professional staff members in Washington, DC.
Leading Goals of LEED
- Provide a definition for “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement
- Raise consumer awareness of green building advantages
- Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- Help encourage green competition
- Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- Transform the building market
Major Areas Used in Rating Systems
- Location and Planning
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation and Design Process
- Regional Priority
Hydrotek International, Inc.
Here at Hydrotek International, we fully support LEED-certified buildings and continue to make strides towards a better future for our planet. Our business develops and manufactures automatic sensor faucets and flush valves for commercial lavatory projects. Not only do we strongly believe in the benefits of touchless restrooms, but we also design products focused on water conservation. Be sure to check out our commercial lavatory products today and see how we’re making an effort towards a better, more sustainable planet.
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