| LEED stands for The Leadership in Energy and | | | | guarantees you, your clients, your peers and the |
| Environmental Design. It is a Green Building Rating | | | | public at large that your building has achieved |
| system set up by the U.S. Green Building Council | | | | appropriate environmental objectives and that it is |
| (USGBC). This system sets certain standards on how | | | | performing as designed. Certification not only opens |
| environmentally viable is a particular construction. This | | | | doors to an environmentally safe habitat but also |
| council was founded in the year 1988. Since then it | | | | allows you to take complete benefits from a growing |
| has worked on over 14,000 projects in the United | | | | number of state and local government incentives and |
| States and 30 other countries totally covering 1.062 | | | | might also encourage press interest in your project. |
| billion sq. ft. of development area. It is internationally | | | | There are levels of certification that are - Certified |
| recognized and gives a third-party verification on | | | | (26-32 points), Silver (33-38 points), Gold (39-51 |
| buildings and communities. | | | | points)and Platinum (52-69 points) that correlates to |
| The main aim of this organization is to keep a check | | | | the number of credits obtained in five green design |
| on factors like energy saving capability, water | | | | categories such as sustainable site, water efficiency, |
| efficiency, carbon dioxide emission reduction, | | | | energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and |
| improved indoor environmental quality, preservation | | | | indoor environmental quality. Amongst the various |
| of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. LEED Is | | | | projects covered by LEED are new commercial |
| applied to both residential and commercial complexes. | | | | constructions, major renovation projects, interiors |
| It works during the whole lifecycle of building | | | | projects, and existing building operations. There is |
| construction, including design and construction, | | | | another affiliate for LEED called the LEED for |
| operations and maintenance, tenant fit out and | | | | Neighborhood Development that extends its benefits |
| significant retrofit. Besides these LEED also aims at | | | | and serves the buildings and constructions in the |
| promote integrated and whole-building design | | | | neighborhood. |
| practices, recognize environmental leadership in the | | | | In order to get your LEED certification, the first and |
| building industry, stimulate green competition, increase | | | | foremost step that you need to take is to set a |
| consumer awareness of green building advantages | | | | target as to what level of LEED certification are you |
| and modify the construction market. | | | | aiming for and what is your overall budget. Higher |
| LEED certification is obtained when the particular | | | | levels of LEED certification, like LEED Platinum, do |
| building is claimed to be eco-friendly by satisfying the | | | | need significant financial investment and should be |
| above criteria. This practice not only advocates | | | | thus budgeted accordingly. Take necessary steps to |
| design and construction process that increases | | | | see that both the environmental and the economic |
| profitability but also reduces negative environmental | | | | factors that help building your LEED certified |
| impacts of the various constructions and enhances | | | | construction goes hand in hand. Make sure that the |
| the occupant's health and well-being. LEED certification | | | | entire project team is focused on meeting your LEED |
| that includes a third-party commissioning process, | | | | goals within your estimated budget. |