Environmentally conscious real estate development practices have been growing in popularity over the last few years, as global warming and climate change have become major issues. Considering this, I think it is only fitting for me to discuss this topic on my blog. The LEED certification is considered to be the most reputable rating system for sustainable building practices and was developed by the U.S. Green Building Counsel. LEED provides builders and real estate developers with a framework for identifying and applying green building design, construction, and operations. The system consists of nine separate subcategories for different building types including commercial, industrial, school, residential, and retail, just to name a few.
Buildings can either earn a certified, silver, gold, or platinum rating in the LEED system. Platinum is the most difficult to achieve. According to an article written by the National Resources Defense Counsel the LEED ratings are determined by the number of credits a building earns in the following five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.
There are several advantages to implementing sustainable building practices in order to receive a LEED rating. For starters, this certification provides proof that a developer or property owner cares about his or her community and the environment. This improves the public’s perception of the project. Additionally, this certification saves the property owner money in the long run since it reduces long term energy and utility costs.
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| CalTrans district 11 Headquarters San Diego, Ca Gold rating |
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| EPA Sacramento Headquarters Platinum rating |
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