| It is an acronym for The Leadership in Energy and | | | | occupant benefits provide a good argument to |
| Environmental Design (LEED) . It was developed by | | | | traditional building practices. |
| The US Green Build Council (USGBC) and provides | | | | However, Green buildings cost more in design and |
| standards for green sustainable construction. Since its | | | | construction costs. The last project I quoted for |
| inception in 1998, LEED has spread to all 50 US | | | | LEED as an alternate for design added $50,000 to |
| States and 30 countries. The best part about LEED is | | | | the Design contract alone. The cost of designing a |
| that it allows all the stakeholders from the owners to | | | | LEED certified building is higher because of all the |
| the contractor to participate in an open process | | | | additional submissions and certifications the A/E has |
| where the technical criteria proposed by the LEED | | | | to do because we do not have a LEED AP in-house |
| committees are reviewed at every stage of a | | | | to be the gate keeper for the submissions to USGBC. |
| project. | | | | Commissioning also plays a role in the cost. However, |
| People Who sit for and pass the written exam are | | | | I view this as money well spent and will help avoid |
| recognized as LEED Accredited Professional (AP) | | | | costly problems at occupancy. |
| acronym after their name. Certification of green | | | | On the construction side of LEED, most of the time, |
| buildings is a great benefit which in part provides the | | | | the additional costs can be offset in the form of life |
| result of implementing a green design. LEED certified | | | | cycle cost of the building, the economic gains will be |
| buildings are a better environment for work and living, | | | | noticeable in lower operational costs and employee |
| which is shown to contribute to higher moral in | | | | productivity. Another resource I found on line was a |
| employees. The Council compiled a long list of | | | | book called Building Technical Manual for Green |
| strategies related to improving air and water quality | | | | Building design. It contained information that gets into |
| to reducing waste. The reduction in impacts to the | | | | the nuts and bolts of green building. |
| environment in addition to all of the economic and | | | | |