In order to design a green building, architects require an updated version of the LEED Certification Checklist, i.e., LEED v5. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, aka LEED, is the most popular green building rating system in the world. A LEED Certification Checklist simplifies referring to and building environmentally conscious buildings while honouring architects for the same.
Since its inception in 1993 by the USGBC, there have been more than 100,000 projects in about 180 countries. Considering India, there are 146 buildings, and it ranks third in the Top 10 countries in 2021. For this purpose, there are four levels of certification given to deserving buildings: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.As a result, the LEED Certification Checklist on the USGBC website might be quite overwhelming. So, here’s a compact guide for your next LEED-rated building.
Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the private organisation responsible for awarding rating systems. There are 4 Rating Systems, where the maximum score is 110.
1.Energy and Atmosphere: 33%
The building’s energy consumption and the use of energy-efficient technologies are major criteria for LEED Certification. It must include the following:
2.Indoor Environmental Quality: 16%
The building must contribute to the health and wellbeing of its users. IEQ must include the following:
3.Location and Transportation: 16%
The criteria cover the impact location and transportation can have on the building. Its involvement can be taken from the site development stage itself and is as follows:
4.Water Efficiency: 11%
The criteria involve the water consumption of the building throughout the construction process. The credits for efficient water usage are as follows:
5.Materials and Resources: 13%
It encourages the use of materials with low environmental impact, recycling, and the use of locally sourced products. The following are the credit criteria:
6.Sustainable Sites: 10%
The criteria involve sustainable site selection and its impact on the environment. The credits are as follows:
7.Design Innovation: 6%
It involves innovative design strategies throughout the construction process. The credits are as follows:
8.Regional Priority: 4%
It involves recognising environmental issues that are specific to a certain region and climate zone.
9.Integrative Process: 1%
The category covers overall strategies related to the design and construction of a building. It involves the following credits:
Here is an interactive scorecard to see if your building can achieve LEED Certification:
As an architect or interior designer, one can step into the world of green design by obtaining a LEED Credential. Obtaining a credential can help one understand the rating criteria and make obtaining the certification much easier. LEED Accreditation can be made simple by utilising the exam preparation package offered by USGBC.
According to USGBC, one must clear two levels, which can either be taken separately or together.
1.LEED Green Associate (LEED GA):
Clearing LEED GA is the first step to getting a certification. It assesses the general knowledge of green building practices. The examination will take place online, with the option to attempt it from a test centre or from home. The time duration is two hours with 100 multiple-choice questions.
2.LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP): LEED AP is an advanced level examination that focuses on five specialities based on expertise, which are as follows:
Similar to LEED GA, it gives an option to attempt from a test centre or from home.
Here are the Minimum Program Requirement For LEED Certification:
Once you become a LEED-accredited professional, you need to decide the project category. There is a LEED category for every project:
1. Decide the LEED project typology or category for certification. This LEED Rating interactive tool can help you decide your project type:
2. Select the right LEED Rating System using the 40/60 rule. The rule helps to choose the appropriate rating system when a project is applicable to multiple rating systems. It involves comparing the total floor area (TFA) of the project as follows:
3. After deciding, it is time to start a LEED project, which involves continuous evaluation. Visit the USGBC links for the following categories:
4. To know more about the points for each criteria, refer to the credit library: LEED Credit Library
To conclude, keeping a LEED Certification Checklist in hand can help make designing green buildings much easier. When it comes to green design, LEED Certification is credible proof for your clients that the building adheres to sustainability standards. LEED has various proven benefits to not just the environment but also the owner, as it will increase the value in the market.
But should LEED Certification be the prime measure for sustainable design?
The aim must not be to cross out each criteria in the LEED Certification Checklist, as it might miss out on the human touch. As long as the architect is true to one’s ideology of a green future, the design will naturally be sustainable.
Text By: Gopika Pramod
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