As some of you might already know LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a rating system for buildings somewhat comparable to Energy Star for appliances. Buildings earn points for things like saving energy and having access to mass transit systems. The more points a building has, the more sustainable the building is. To become LEED certified a third-party inspector verifies that the building was built using strategies aimed at increasing performance, reducing waste, and improving quality of life. Buildings built to LEED standards typically involve higher initial costs. These are due to the increased costs of constructing an environmentally friendly building plan and purchasing environmentally friendly building supplies and appliances. However, these initial costs will be offset over the course of time by the savings derived from reduced energy consumption. It has been found that LEED certified buildings were on average 25%-30% more energy efficient. These long term savings are not the only reasons for businesses to LEED the green movement. Research has found that employees working in LEED certified buildings have noticeably increased productivity due to the better ventilation, temperature control, lighting control, and reduced indoor air pollution. Additionally, businesses using LEED certified buildings are able to add this to their green resume to attract more business from the environmentally concerned crowd. People across the world are beginning to see the benefits of LEED certification and are starting to convert older buildings to meet certification criteria. Just last week the Empire State Building in New York City became LEED certified.
LEED Certification Website: http://www.everblue.edu/what-is-leed
Empire State Building article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/idUS14887746020110915
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