What's the difference between a LEED Certified development and one that's LEED Platinum Certified? Quite a bit. LEED certification comes in varied levels as judged by a LEED inspector. There is a checklist for developers to follow for acquiring points, and the LEED inspector verifies that the proper procedures and materials have been used. Once the total number of points has been determined, the development is assigned a level of certification ranging from the bottom, simply LEED Certified, all the way to the top of the scale, LEED Platinum.
There are different subsets of certified developments including homes, schools, commercial buildings, and more. While you can apply for LEED certification after construction has begun, it is prudent to start the process before you break down as LEED Platinum requires a start-to-finish inspection of the building process. It requires that all aspects be examined including: “sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality” (www.gbccr.org). Let's look at a few of the considerations for becoming LEED Platinum certified.
Pre-Planning and Site Selection
To begin, you should contact a LEED inspector and read through the guidelines that stipulate what is required to acquire the points you need for LEED Platinum. There are factors that you may not initially think of when planning your development, so going straight to the source, your local LEED inspector, will assist you immensely.
Where you place your development is very important. You shouldn't build in wetlands or in places where it would greatly disturb the natural wildlife. That would cost you a great deal of points. A great deal of time should be devoted to the planning stage of your development, and that will reduce most of the headaches later on. For example, in the architectural design stage of planning, you want to maximize your usable space by eliminating all functional obsolescences so that the overall footprint of the building takes up less space. That alone will reduce your costs of construction as well as adding points when you consider climate control, building materials, and sustainable energy options.
Even access to public transportation, alternative fuel sources, and bicycle lanes are a factor in accumulating points.
Water and Energy
Throughout a LEED construction process, efficiency is key. Water and Energy should be supplied by local and renewable sources. Reducing and recycling wastewater, stormwater management, and water-efficient landscaping will add quite a few points. Pulling your power from renewable sources by employing solar panels and wind-generated electricity are also very important.
Water and energy management are where technological advances will assist you the most, so keep up with the latest news on this front. Water heaters, for example, are being produced in smaller size and higher efficiency. The old model of water heater keeps a large quantity of water at a specified temperature, and it must continually refill and reheat the water. It requires a lot of space, and it wastes energy. For a home, you can employ a much smaller heater which can be mounted on a wall. It heats the water as necessary and doesn't expend energy unless hot water it required. That also benefits the homeowner by reducing operating costs and providing a consistent source of hot water.
Materials and Resources
The highest levels of LEED certification require that you use the appropriate materials in the construction process and eliminate waste. Anything that can be recycled in the construction process, and during operation of the building, must be collected. You should use certified wood, local materials, and renewable materials in your construction.
The reason you use local materials is to reduce the fuel expended to bring the materials to your site and therefore transportation costs. Many of the materials which are discarded in normal developments can be reused for your next development or stored and sent to a recycling center. The guidelines for this area of LEED certification can save you quite a bit of money in development costs, and it's worth a lot of points in the certification process, so pay special attention to what you can do in this area.
Operation and Innovation
When everything is put together, there's still a little left to be done. Equipment should be in place on the property to monitor the energy and resource efficiency. Also, the indoor environment quality will be considered. Management of tobacco smoke, carbon dioxide, and even use of daylight are used to determine the indoor quality. The main point of this area is to ensure that the health of the building's occupants is protected and all resources are consumed at maximum efficiency throughout the life of the building.
LEED certification also takes into consideration any innovation you've made in the design and building process. If you find a better way to do something and share it with everyone else, you'll accumulate points. Employ the latest technology and use the latest in green design and green building techniques, and if you can find any ways to make them better, do it!
LEED Platinum certification is a long road, but it's worth it for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, LEED Platinum places your development at the highest quality for efficiency and health, so the end result is that the profits you can reap are much higher. Your development will also be set apart as a leader in green development, so that is free publicity. Striving for Platinum certification will guide you in reducing construction costs, raising property value, and preserving the environment we share. It has its challenges, but it's definitely worth it.