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.
The building’s energy consumption and the use of energy-efficient technologies are major criteria for LEED Certification. It must include the following:
The building must contribute to the health and wellbeing of its users. IEQ must include the following:
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:
The criteria involve the water consumption of the building throughout the construction process. The credits for efficient water usage are as follows:
It encourages the use of materials with low environmental impact, recycling, and the use of locally sourced products. The following are the credit criteria:
The criteria involve sustainable site selection and its impact on the environment. The credits are as follows:
It involves innovative design strategies throughout the construction process. The credits are as follows:
It involves recognising environmental issues that are specific to a certain region and climate zone.
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.
Also Check Out >>> IGBC Certification: Tool Kit for Architects on Green Projects
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
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
The design of the house prioritises connectivity to nature by incorporating green elements like vertical gardens or landscaped courtyards. This is achieved through various means, such as large windows framing scenic views, outdoor living spaces seamlessly merging with the surrounding landscape. The emphasis on connectivity to nature creates a serene and harmonious environment, fostering a […]
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. Editor’s Note: “Viraam is not just a house, it’s a pause. A place to […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]