LEED certifications
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a U.S. system that classifies a building's energy and environmental efficiency. LEED certification is based on a set of assessments of the materials used in the building's construction.
The LEED criteria were created to achieve several goals, including limiting the impact of construction, recognizing environmentally conscious builders, developing projects with green, and therefore more environmentally friendly, materials and construction methods, maintaining a globally ecologically oriented design, greater attention to materials and resources, water use and management, energy savings, improving the energy performance of buildings, reducing air pollution, and improving the quality of indoor environments.
How is a LEED-certified building built?
The design and construction of the building must be ecologically sustainable in every respect.
Some essential points for the construction of the building are several, among which, extremely important, the use of construction materials with low environmental impact and lower or no emissions in closed environments, this guarantees a greater healthiness of the environment, reducing the use of drinking water for irrigation, using REC certified energy, using FSC certified wood.
The internationally recognized LEED certification.
LEED is also a flexible and articulated system used for new construction, existing buildings, small homes, and urban areas.
Base (40/49 points), Silver (50/59 points), Gold (60/79 points) and Platinum (80/110 points) are the LEED certification levels. A score is obtained based on the construction, materials and sustainability scores. Out of 110 points available in the LEED rating system, at least 40 must be obtained to access the Base certification level, and at least 80 are needed to enter the Platinum class.
Obtaining LEED certification has several advantages, both for professionals or construction companies, and for the property owner, increasing its value.
After the builder submits the required building documentation and scores, LEED certification is achieved.
