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What is LEED and what does it stand for?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a consensus-based, third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED was developed by the United States Green Building Council between 1993 and 1997 – the first LEED program was LEED NC, which went from a pilot program to a live program in 1998.
Is there a cost premium to build a LEED-certified project?
Cost impact can vary greatly depending on the size, scope, advance planning and complexity of the project, as well as the level of LEED certification being sought (certified, silver, gold, platinum). The particular palette of sustainable building materials being used will have a budget impact, but numerous tax credits can potentially offset increased costs.
What are the various LEED programs and which one is right for my project?
The current LEED certification programs are:
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Commercial Interiors – for tenant interior projects
- Core & Shell – for developer buildings
- New Construction – for new buildings and major building renovations
- Schools, Retail, and Healthcare
- Existing Buildings – operations and maintenance
- Homes
- Neighborhood Development (in pilot) – for the sustainable development of neighborhoods
The various tracks are relatively self-explanatory, with the exception of Existing Buildings. EB is an operation and maintenance program for buildings already in use. It is not a program for renovation projects.
What are the levels of LEED certification and what is involved in attaining each level?
LEED is a credit-based rating system, with different levels of certification awarded for various tiers of credits earned. Each credit is intended to address a specific environmental impact of a building and documentation must be provided to substantiate each credit applied for by the team. Projects across all LEED programs can earn the following levels of certification:
Certified – lowest level of certification
Silver
Gold
Platinum – the highest level of certification
The credit requirements to attain each level are different for each LEED program. For commercial construction projects, the credits are organized by six categories: Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy & Atmosphere (EA), Materials & Resources (MR), Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and Innovation in Design (ID). In each category there are prerequisites which must be completed, as well as the actual credits. The project team can select which credits are most relevant to their project, since not all credits are attainable for all projects.
Does Commodore have LEED-accredited staff?
Yes. Commodore currently has five LEED-accredited operations staff members. We are committed to ongoing training in LEED and sustainable building practices and will have eight new LEED-accredited staff members by the end of 2008.
What is the contractor’s role in the LEED process? Which LEED credits are the GC/CM responsible for attaining?
The CM’s role in the LEED process is multifaceted and can include the following responsibilities:
- Participate in preconstruction efforts as part of an integrated project team
- Assess cost and constructability implications associated with different credits to determine feasibility
- Ensure that subcontractors are including all specified materials and required administrative efforts in their pricing
- Review submittals for compliance with specified LEED criteria
- Manage construction waste handling to meet project goals
- Manage indoor air quality during construction and before occupancy to meet project goals
- Manage subcontractor compliance with all LEED efforts in the field
- Assist with compilation of documentation for final LEED submission
What LEED products are appropriate for my project?
There are no “LEED-approved” products. LEED and the USGBC do not endorse particular products or manufacturers, although they do make reference to types of products that might contribute to specific credits and sets performance criteria for various materials. It’s important to understand that no single product is “LEED-approved” and no single product or material will “get you a LEED point.”
How do the recent zoning changes in Boston affect my project?
Last year the City of Boston mandated that all new construction projects over 50,000sf and renovation projects over 100,000sf must be LEED Silver “certifiable.”
For more information on the LEED rating system, you can visit WWW.USGBC.ORG
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