Introduction to LEED and Sustainable Design

Introduction to LEED and Sustainable Design.

Bri Dazio Sustainable Design and LEED ITDS 4114

2Project:

Montgomery College Rockville Science Center

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The USGBC and LEED

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Why Green Buildings?

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Certification Part 1: Accreditation for Professionals

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Certification Part 2: Certified Buildings

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The Process Behind LEED

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The LEED Credit Categories

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The Overall Goal of LEED

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References and Resources

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4Project:

USGBC Headquarters

The USGBC and LEED Rating System.

In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) private certification program. The program is hailed as “a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of highperformance green buildings” (USGBC). Today, LEED is a well-known and respected program that aims to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated. The USGBC oversees the LEED rating system to establish a standard for green building and innovative sustainable design and construction. In essence, this rating system provides verification of green buildings. Projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve one of the levels of certification. As a whole, LEED helps guide the construction, maintenance, and operation of green buildings internationally.

The goal of the certification is to promote a more environmentally, economically and socially responsible environment. This triple bottom line ideal strives to improve the quality of life. While the idea of “green” design is not new, the USGBC recognizes its importance, as buildings account for a high percentage of resources and waste. In fact, in the United States alone, the built environment accounts for 14% of water usage, 39% of waste output, 38% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 72% of electricity use. As such, buildings are responsible for an enormous amount of pollution. Through the LEED certification system, buildings can be designed with efforts to minimize their contributions.

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6Project:

Montgomery College Rockville Science Center

What, exactly, are “Green Buildings”?

First of all, a green building is defined as a “holistic concept the starts with the understanding that the built environment can have profound effects, both positive and negative, on the natural environment, as well as the people who inhabit buildings every day. Green building is an effort to amplify the positive and mitigate the negative of these effects throughout the entire life cycle of a building” (USGBC). In other words, having a “green building” is about creating a place that is not only environmentally responsible, but also provides and promotes healthy lifestyles to its users.

As a result of buildings’ current operating methods, the Earth suffers.

Society’s current building habits are extremely detrimental to the planet.

For instance, clearing vast amounts of land to build new destroys wildlife habitats. Extracting, manufacturing and transporting materials causes pollution, which in turn releases harmful greenhouse gases into the air. Daily building operations use astronomical amounts of energy, only to produce large amounts of waste. Buildings are not the whole problem. In fact, they offer an opportunity to be part of the solution.

Since LEED’s creation, green buildings have become more common.

However, it is important to note that green buildings existed before both LEED and the USGBC. The formation of USGBC and LEED simply ensures effective implementation and structure around green buildings.

Today, a LEED certification plaque within a building is a pristine honor; it symbolizes the building’s committment to healthy operations. Scientists and researchers have observed positive impacts through their studies of green buildings. A recent report showed green buildings use 24% less energy, report 27% higher occupant satisfaction, have 14% lower maintenance costs, and reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 33%. Today, there are more than 90,000 international commercial projects participating in LEED. Each of these green buildings strive to maintain the Triple Bottom Line, by contributing to economic prosperity, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

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Certification Part One: Professional Accreditation.

The LEED certification system is twofold. Firstly, there is LEED accreditation for professionals. Accreditation denotes an understanding of green design, construction, and operations. Becoming accredited is a process which involves education.

Professionals seeking accreditation must learn about LEED itself, as well as core concepts and sustainability.

After preparation, professionals can sit for the LEED Green Associate (GA) exam.

The Prometric Testing Center monitors the two hour exam, which involves 100 multiple choice questions. Within these, there are three types questions: recall, application, and analysis. The domains of these questions include the LEED process, integrative strategies, location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and project surroundings and public outreach. While there is a vast amount of information, the USGBC offers materials to help prepare. Study materials include the LEED GA Candidate Handbook, LEED v4 Rating Systems, and the LEED GA Exam Prep guide.

A passing score of 170 out of 200 is needed to obtain accreditation.

Upon becoming a LEED GA, professionals must continue to stay educated on the topic. A minimum of 15 hours of continuing education is required within two years.

Professionals may also increase their knowledge through the rating systems adaptations. These adaptations include becoming an Accredited Professional (AP) with a specialty. There are five specialty options: Building Design and Construction (BD+C), Operations and Maintenance (O+M), Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), Neighborhood Development (ND), and Homes. Upon becoming a LEED AP, professionals must earn 30 hours of continuing education within two hours of passing. Similar to the GA exam, the USGBC offers study materials for the APs.

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Building Design and Construction

Certified 40-49 Points

Interior Design and Construction

Silver 50-59 Points

Project: USGBC Headquarters

Certification Part Two: Building Certification.

The second portion of LEED involves certification for buildings. In this aspect, the design team and owner select the best fit for their project to ensure rating is properly calculated. There is a scoring system with 110 possible points.

Points are earned based on specific features regarding the building, including construction practices and materials used. Points can be deducted for poor practices as well. The number of earned points determines which LEED certification the building receives. The certifications are: Certified (40-49 points); Silver (50-59 points); Gold (60-79 points); Platinum (80+ points).

In such, this ranking system creates a way to compare the different green buildings. Architects and owners can strive to improve their buildings and designs. However, certifying a LEED building is more than achieving the required number of points. Prior to submitting a building for LEED, there are minimum project requirements. These include the building being in a permanent location of existing land, using a reasonable amount of LEED boundaries, and complying with the project size requirements as dictated by the USGBC. The process to certifying a building includes selecting the rating system, project registration, credit submittals, project review, and project certification.

The building rating system is divided into categories. These focus on areas a building can achieve sustainability and efficiency. The six include: location and transportation, sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. In addition, the USGBC awards bonus points for regional priority, and innovation in design to amount to the 110 points available.

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Building Op and Maint

perations tenance

Neighborhood Development

Gold 60-79 Points

Homes

Platinum 80+ Points

In the early stages of a project, designers, architects, and owners must decide which rating system to use. The 40/60 rule can help. The 40/60 rule states that “if a rating system is appropriate for less than 40% of the gross floor area, it should not be selected; in contrast, if it is appropriate for over 60%, it should be selected”(GBCI).

According to the USGBC, LEED is “for all building types and all building phases” (USGBC). The following list includes all of the adaptations for the different LEED rating systems.

BD+C (Building Design and Construction)- New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers, Healthcare ID+C (Interior Design and Construction)- Commercial Interiors, Retail, Hospitality O+M (Building Operations and Maintenance)- Existing Buildings, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers ND (Neighborhood Development)- Plan and Built Project Homes- Homes, Multifamily Lowrise, Multifamily Midrise In earning credits, there are often prerequisites. While the system has 110 available points, LEED assumes not all credits can be achieved. For this reason, only prerequisites are required as a baseline minimum. The actual credits allow teams to further enhance the sustainable strategies used.

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Project: 12

Bentley University John A. Ice Arena

The Process behind LEED. During the Construction Document process, designers and architects must follow certain guidelines for documentation. These guidelines include the project narrative, photos and/or renderings, elevations, floorplans, project details, and distinguish the boundaries of the project (property area, project boundary, and LEED boundary). After assembling all of the proper documentation, project teams submit the information to LEED Online.

Overall, LEED certification for buildings is “designed to inspire project teams to seek innovative solutions that support public health and our environment, while saving building owners money over a project’s life cycle.”

With this lofty goal, LEED has many aspects to it. Yet, the process to get started is relatively straightforward.

Step One: Select the rating system and learn project requirements Step Two: Review USGBC’s series of LEED certification guides Step Three: Decide which credits to pursue Step Four: Equip the project with the appropriate team members and tools These four steps capture the overall process. In reality, teams have two options when it comes to the LEED certification process. Teams may choose to utilize the combined review process or the split process. As the name implies, the combined review involves a combined submission for both the design and construction phases of a project. Alternatively, the split review allows teams to submit documentation separately based on the credit’s relation to a phase. While the actual certification is awarded at the end of process, split review allows teams to see anticipated points. Officials review the design credits and give feedback. Regardless of which process is used, LEED encourages teams to “document early, document often”.

Ultimately, however, the question for every green building is to consider how it can be economical and environmentally responsible. As the USGBC states, “green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient through a building’s life cycle” (USGBC).

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The LEED Credit Categories.

14 Project: UAMS Hospital

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Location and Transportation

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Sustainable Sites

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Water Efficiency

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Energy and Atmosphere

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Materials and Resources

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Indoor Environmental Quality

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Bonus Categories

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Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Choose redevelopment and infill development Locate near existing infrastructure Protect species and biodiverse habits Increase density of uses Encourage multiple modes of transportation Locate within LEED certified Neighborhood Locate a project near mass transit Limit parking Encourage bicycling, carpooling and alternative fuel vehicles Support alternative transportation

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Category One: Location & Transportation.

The saying “location is everything” is quite accurate, even the USGBC recognizes it as a category in their LEED program. This category of credits is “based on where the project is located, its connectivity to public transportation, and making accommodations for those using alternative transportation modes” (USGBC). Location not only impacts sustainability of the site, but it also impacts how occupants access it. For instance, transportation accounts for 25% of carbon dioxide emission worldwide.

Further, a study in 2008 found 33% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States resulted from transportation pollution. As a result, a project’s location can limit the sheer number of cars on the road, and therefore reduce the amount of pollution. Truly, location is everything.

This category encourages people to think about getting somewhere in a more sustainable manner. With sustainability at the forefront of many designs, it is ever more important to create projects in places where occupants have access to diverse uses. A project’s location choice can increase diverse uses in existing communities. Further, many of these diverse use locations already have infrastructure to support a variety of means of transportation.

This allows it to become easier for architects and designers to incorporate different strategies regarding transportation. When incorporating these strategies, the project team should consider three components, including land use, vehicle technology, and transportation fuel sources. For example, a building can offer charging stations for hybrid electric vehicles, therefore encouraging building occupants to utilize such vehicles.

Diverse uses include various types of facilities, services, and uses. These can further be broken down into the following: Food Retail: supermarkets and grocery stores with produce Community-Serving Retail: convenience stores, hardware stores, farmer’s markets, and pharmacies Services: banks, hair salons, laundry or dry cleaners, gyms, and restaurants Civic and Community Facilities: childcare, government offices, fire stations, police stations, post offices, recreation/communty centers, places of worship, and libraries Community Anchor Uses: commercial office spaces 17

Project: Center for Sustainable Landscapes

Category Two: Sustainable Sites.

As one of the categories of LEED, the sustainable sites section “encourages strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources� (USGBC). In particular, this category focuses on areas including material transportation, site selection, site design and management, stormwater management, and a project’s relation to local and regional circumstances. Implementation in these areas can increase points, which contribute to overall certification.

When first starting a project, the site is a critical aspect to consider, regardless if LEED is being pursued or not. In general, there are many strategies to keep in mind when selecting a site: increasing density, choose a site that will be redeveloped, and protect the habitat. In regards to developing the land, avoid environmentally sensitive lands. These sensitive lands include farm land, flood plains, habitats, bodies of water, and wetlands. These sensitive lands are regulated by various government agencies, such as FEMA.

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Instead, architects and designers should look to build upon high priority sites. High priorities sites include federal empowerment zones, historic sites, and brownfields. Federal empowerment zones are regulated areas that are considered economically distressed communities. These areas receive incentives and grants from the government to lift the community out of poverty by stimulating business enterprise and job creation. In contrast, historic sites contribute to the overall architecture and aesthetic of the community. Lastly, brownfields are sites that may contain hazardous chemicals and need to be remediated. If teams elect to build on high priorities sites and protect sensitive lands, they can achieve LEED points.

Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Locate project near mass transit Limit parking Create a small building footprint Choose a previously developed area Minimize hardscapes Minimize water usage Use reflective materials Harvest rainwater for use Maximize open space Plant native and adapted species Prevent construction pollution Prevent light pollution Protect and restore habitat

With this category in particular, the LEED system looks at many different measurements, including: Floor Area Ratio: relationship between the total building floor area and allowable land area the building may cover Brownfield: previously used or developed land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution. Site must be remediated before land can be utilized Community Connectivity: quantifiable connection between a site and its surrounding community, as measured by proximity to homes, schools, parks, stores, restaurants, medical facilities and other services Development Density: total square footage of all buildings within a particular area to determine population density Imperviousness: the resistance of a material to penetration by liquid to prevent rainwater runoff Prime Farmland: avoid previously undeveloped land with soil suitable for cultivation Site Disturbance: the amount a site is distributed as a result of construction Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): measure of how well a material rejects solar heat Street Grid Density: an indicator of neighborhood density Transportation Demand Management: the process of reducing peak period vehicle trips Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): measurement that estimates the travel miles associated with a project

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Category Three: Water Efficiency.

According to the USGBC, the water efficiency section “addresses water holistically, looking at indoor use, outdoor use, specialized uses, and metering� (USGBC). In essence, this portion of LEED focuses on efficiency first, in regards to water conservation. The Earth is 71% water; it has a limited supply of fresh drinking water. As a result, LEED recognizes the need to conserve as much as possible. Thus, this section focuses on promoting efficient usage to reduce potable water consumption.

The water efficiency category is broken down into three subcategoriesindoor water, outdoor water, and process water. As the names suggestion, indoor water is used in plumbing fixtures, while outdoor water is used for irrigation to water plants. Process water, however, is used in the running of a building, often through appliances such as ice makers, dishwashers, and cooling towers. When beginning a LEED project, the project team must consider how water will be used and reduced. For instance, if there are sinks and showers with graywater in the project, that could be collected and reused for nonpotable uses, such as irrigation. Similarly, if there is an increased amount of rainfall on the site per year, some of it may be harvested for collection.

Consideration of these factors will allow a project to maximize credits earned and utilize water in an efficient manner.

Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Installation of efficient fixtures Use of water reclamation systems Installation of submeters Reduction of process water use Use of locally adapted plants Use of xeriscaping Selection of efficient irrigation technologies Using non-potable water Using evaporation Using drip irrigation Selection of energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star logo

Through research and studies, the USGBC focuses on the movement of water throughout a building. These studies allow designers and architects to understand the amount of water consumed per fixture.

To measure water consumption, the LEED system utilizes many different measurements, such as: Gallons Per Flush (GPF): water consumed by flush fixtures such as toilets and urinals Gallons Per Minute (GPM): water consumed by flow fixtures such as faucets, showerheads, and sprinklers Irrigation Efficiency: ratio of water delivered to plantings in comparison to water that evaporated

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Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Minimize solar gain the summer Maximize solar gain in the winter Use adjacent buildings for shade Reduce the need for artificial lighting Use energy efficient light fixtures Reduce heating and cooling Size the building/project appropriate Monitor energy consumption through submeters and automated controls Install high performance mechanical systems Specify high-efficiency appliances Use high efficiency infrastructure

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Category Four: Energy & Atmosphere.

The USGBC describes the energy and atmosphere section as, “to promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies” (USGBC).

This category looks at how energy in the building is utilized through energy demand, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and ongoing energy performance. Energy comes from a variety of sources- lighting, chillers, boilers, and air handler units (AHUs). As a result, design can not only help earn LEED points, but also impact building costs and the environment.

Thoughtful design and specification can reduce the demand on appliances throughout the building. Strategies can be as simple as the smaller the building, the less energy required to heat and cool it. At the same time, methods can include using free energy with on-site renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaic cells, wind power, bioenergy, geothermal, or hydropower. Offsite renewable energy options include green power, renewable energy certificates, and green energy certification program.

The team should consider energy efficiency throughout the duration of a project, including occupancy. In the beginning, energy simulation tools can determine performance before construction. The team can also address the building envelope materials through the roofing, facades, and glazing. Once the building is occupied, the energy consumption is up to the users. The first step is to train them. A project’s green capabilities are useless if people do not leverage them. By monitoring, verifying, and conducting preventative maintenance, owners can feel confident their building is energy efficient.

In order to understand how much energy is being consumed, the USGBC offers a variety of ways to measure output including: Energy or Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Capita: ratio of a community’s total greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to the total number of residents Energy Use Intensity: amount of energy consumption per square foot Light Power Density: installed lighting power per unit area Performance Relative to Benchmark: comparison of building systems’ performances with a standard Performance Relative to Code: comparison of building systems’ performance in regards to minimal compliance to applicable energy codes ASHRAE 90.1: benchmark for energy codes

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Category Five: Materials & Resources The materials and resources section of LEED is described as “credits [to] encourage the use of sustainable building materials and reducing waste” (USGBC). A building is comprised of a mixture of materials, both inside and out. As a result, this section focuses on waste management, life cycle impact, and consideration of materials for the long term.

LEED encourages the use of rapidly renewable resources, as well as materials with a high recycled content.

Sustainable materials can be specified for both the interior and exterior. For interior, designers should use products with EPDs, verified sources of raw materials, implement sustainable purchasing policies, and reduce energy use from material transportation through sourcing locally. This ensures products maintain the triple bottom line.

For the exterior, reusing a building’s existing materials can earn LEED points. The use of between 25 and 75% of existing materials can earn a maximum of 5 points.

Regardless of certification, the goal of all buildings, not just green buildings, should be to divert trash from landfills.

This goal can be achieved through design, but also through construction, operations and maintenance. Through small features, such as maintaining a recycling program, to complex processes, such as conducting a waste stream audit, the ultimate goal remains the same. The USGBC offers a variety of waste management strategies including: reducing the size of the building footprint, implementing construction and solid waste planning and management policies, monitoring and tracking waste, and recycling.

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Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Composting Specifiying environmentally preferable products (EPPs) Size the building/project appropriate Develop construction waste management plan Encourage recycling throughout the building Specify green electronic equipment Reuse existing buildings and salvaged materials Use efficient framing techniques Promote source reduction in operation

Since a building is made up of a variety of materials, there are different ways to measure the sustainability of said materials. Measurement tools include: Rapidly Renewable Materials: amount of building agricultural products that can be harvested in a sustainable fashion; expressed as a percentage of the total materials cost Recycled Content: percentage of materials in a product that is recycled from preconsumer or postconsumer waste to make new materials Regional Materials: use of building materials that are extracted, processed, or manufactured within 500 miles of project site Sustainable Forestry: managing resources to meet long-term needs of humans while maintaining biodiversity of forested landscapes Waste Diversion: amount of waste disposed in ways other than incineration or landfills Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): assessment of cost of a material over its entire life cycle Reuse: the amount of building materials returned to the same ore related capacity as their original use Health Product Declaration (HPD): information about a material in regards to its relationship with humans and ecological health

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Project: 26

ASID Headquarters

Category Six: Indoor Environmental Quality.

LEED involves both the physical attributes and condition of a space.

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) section aims to “promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views” (USGBC).

This section supports health and wellbeing through indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics.

The four components of this section ensure a healthy building and ultimately, healthy occupants. Like its name suggests, IAQ focuses on proper air ventilation and good indoor air quality. By ensuring the air is clean, occupants can literally take a breath of fresh air. Lighting is another component of this category. Studies show good lighting has a variety of benefits, such as increased productivity. Allowing natural light into the space through skylights, lightshelves and large windows, can benefit individuals. In addition to daylight, artificial light should also be considered. By providing control over light settings, individuals feel a sense of ownership. Acoustics are another aspect of IEQ. Designer and architects should optimize acoustic performance through sound absorptive materials. The last portion involves thermal comfort. This not only fosters a better experience, but also gives occupants control. Easily located dials and motion sensors for temperature, ventilation, and lighting can help earn LEED credits.

Ways to Earn Credit in this Category: Prohibit smoking in and around the building Install CO2 monitors Specify low emitting materials Install operable windows Give occupants light and thermal control Install high efficiency air filters Conduct an air flush out before occupancy Maximize daylighting and views to exterior

Since IEQ is not a tangible attribute of a building, there are ways for architects and designers to measure it.

Carbon Dioxide Concentrations: an indication of ventilation effectiveness throughout a building ASHRAE 55: measurement for thermal comfort ASHRAE 62.1: measurement for air filtration of MERV Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV): rating which indicates the efficiency of the mechanical system’s air filters Thermal Comfort: a gauge of the temperature, humidity, and airflow as determined by the ASHARE standard Ventilation Rate: amount of air circulated through space; measured in air fluctuation per hour Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): amount of carbon compounds in the air; often from adhesive, sealants, paints, carpets, and particleboard

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28 Project:

LendLease Office Chicago

Ways to Earn Credit in ID Category: Exemplary performance Innovative performance Pilot Credits LEED AP Team Member Education throughout building

Bonus Categories.

The final two categories of the LEED rating system are bonus sections. Credits can only increase a building’s final score, not detract from it. The USGBC defines these categories as “a project’s opportunity demonstrate leadership in the green building industry and to let your team contribute creative approaches to the field of sustainable design” (USGBC).

The two bonus categories are regional priority and innovation in design.

The regional priority category serves as an incentive to pay special attention to site specific issues. Teams can earn a maximum of four points by responding to local climate, population density, regulations, environmental social equity issues, and public health priorities. Each state has its own set of guidelines as to what priorities should be addressed. These priorities also differ based on rating system and adaptation.

The innovation in design category is a significant, measurable, environmental way to encompass credits not already defined in the LEED rating system. It encapsulates the ultimate goal of green buildings- to benefit owners, occupants, society, and the planet as a whole.

Ultimately these bonus categories of LEED rewards buildings and projects for being creative for implementing new ideas.

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Project: 30

Phipps Conservatory

The Overall Goal of LEED. Overall, the LEED rating system measures innovation, energy savings, a project’s carbon footprint, and corporate responsibility. These lofty goals are measured through the eight categories: location and transportation; sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; regional priority, and innovation in design. Yet, at the end of the day, LEED is about educating, collaborating, and celebrating designers, architects, projects, and most importantly, the Earth.

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References and Resources.

Featured Projects: Autodesk San Rafael Office- LEED Certified Montgomery College Rockville Science Center- LEED Gold USGBC Headquarters- LEED Platinum Bentley University Arena- LEED Platinum UAMS Hospital- LEED Silver Center for Sustainable Landscapes- LEED Platinum ASID Headqurters- LEED Platinum Lendlease Chicago Office- LEED Silver Research: https://new.usgbc.org/leed

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Thank You.