Todays Class:

First 20 minutes: Introduction to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Following 20 minutes: Exam

Students interested in sustainable building design, construction and

operation should know about

LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designhttp://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988

• “an internationally-recognized green building certification system”

• voluntary “standard”

• managed by U.S. Green Building Council

Sustainable building design

How would you define Sustainability?

• “Sustainable means using methods, systems and materials that won't deplete resources or harm natural cycles" (Rosenbaum, 1993)

• "identifies a concept and attitude in development that looks at a site's natural land, water, and energy resources as integral aspects of the development" (Vieira,1993)

• "Sustainability integrates natural systems with human patterns and celebrates continuity, uniqueness and placemaking" (Early, 1993)

• “the responsible management of resource use”

Many more definitions

Why buildings?

LEED is an effort to integrate sustainability into building industry

“It promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance”

LEED refers to

LEED affects• Sustainable Sites• Water Efficiency • Energy & Atmosphere • Materials & Resources• Indoor Environmental Quality • Locations & Linkages• Awareness & Education• Innovation in Design• Regional Priority

LEED Certification is a Rating System that Evaluates:

• Sustainable Site• Water Efficiency • Energy & Atmosphere • Materials & Resources• Indoor Environmental Quality• Locations & Linkages• Awareness & Education• Innovation in Design• Regional Priority

USGBC established four levels of LEED

LEED rating system

Different for•New Construction•Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance• Schools •Retail •Healthcare•Homes •Neighborhood Development

Note that

• Energy and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) count for 50 points out of 110. - Silver Certification

LEED is not perfect!

• It has many positive sides, but negative too

• Current problem with LEED:• An average LEED building is

more efficient, but 28–35%

of LEED buildings use more

energy than their conventional

counterparts

• LEED is still developing

As ARE junior and senior, you will have an opportunity to learn more about LEED and evaluate different solutions