LEEDs Points Benefits

The LEED rating system is based on achieving a certain number of points, which are allocated for design choices defined within the standard. There are 6 sections to LEED that target specific design criteria:
1. Site Selection
2. Efficient use of Water
3. Energy and Atmosphere
4. Materials and Resources
5. Indoor Environmental Quality
6. Innovative Design

Depending on the number of points achieved, the building can attain Platinum (52 – 69 points), Gold (39 – 51 points), Silver (33 – 38 points) or LEED certified (26 – 32 points) status. The intent of the LEED standard is to provide a design guideline and third-party certification tool for green buildings. Therefore, products cannot be LEED certified – only buildings can be. An architect or designer can make product choices that will help a building qualify for LEED points.

A few Contractors have concerns that their already narrow profit margins will shrink even more as the demand for “green” buildings increases and more and more environmentally responsible systems are added to specifications.
However, many mechanical contracting and engineering firms have found that going green can be a selling point. The group quickly gained notice after working on a building expansion that promotes building sustainability for businesses and residents through education, research, and technical assistance. It’s become a recognition tool for companies willing to research the Green Building movement and the LEED program, complete a project that satisifes LEED Certification - companies within the construction community that demonstrates the ability to successfully design, build, and support LEED project will become noticed and likely contacted for the many future GREEN building projects which will qualify for LEEDS Points.
Know the Benefits of Green Building!
Simply put, a few short years ago, green wasn’t on the radar screen of most contractors. Any efforts in this area were incumbent on the building owner. Until recently, only niche projects or building owners with unique perspectives pushed for green construction. Even then, they were forced to do most of the research themselves and pull from a small pool of contractors. Times have changed, and contractors need to know the facts:
Higher building costs are offset by lower operating costs. The myth about green buildings is that they cost substantially more to build than conventional buildings. When green building practices were first conceived, that was true. A rapid learning curve in the design community has reduced the premium for greening a building to about 2 percent of overall construction cost.
 This premium is quickly recovered through the substantial reduction in operating costs inherent in green buildings.
 The environmental advantages of green buildings are realized immediately. Green buildings use less energy, consume fewer resources in their construction, and minimize the impact on their surrounding environment and infrastructure.
 Occupants of green buildings benefit from better health. Green buildings have better indoor air quality, reducing absenteeism (among workers) and illness among occupants.
  Workers in green buildings demonstrate increased productivity. According to the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, studies have shown that people working in green buildings are 5–16 percent more productive than those in conventional buildings.
The LEED Program in the united States provides many benefits, most importantly preserving our Nation's Environment and Resources for future generations!