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LEED Certification
What is LEED? PDF Print E-mail
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) as a nationally recognized rating system for green buildings that are designed, constructed and operated in an environmentally friendly way. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types, commercial and residential.  It works throughout the building lifecycle: design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fit out and significant retrofit.  BLUEGILL Energy Management consults, participates, and certifies projects seeking LEED recognition.  LEED was created to accomplish the following:
  • Define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
  • Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
  • Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
  • Stimulate green competition
  • Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
  • Transform the building market
  • Revenue driven to attain the highest amount of profit while maintaining the appearance of global concern. Mandatory compliance while attaining highest monetary profit
Environmental and financial benefits from LEED certification:
  • Lower operating costs and increased asset value
  • Reduce waste sent to landfills
  • Conserve energy and water
  • Healthier and safer for occupants
  • Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions
  • Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities
  • Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility
LEED points are awarded on a 100-point scale, and credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts. Additionally, 10 bonus credits are available, four of which address regionally specific environmental issues. A project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified. Based on the number of points a building earns, it can be awarded certification of one of four ratings:
  • Certified 40+ points
  • Silver 50+ points
  • Gold 60+ points
  • Platinum (highest rating) 80+ points
 
Residential Builders and Remodelers PDF Print E-mail

BLUEGILL Energy Management has certified LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) on staff.  Our LEED APs can provide independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

Eligibility

The following project types are eligible to participate:

  • Detached single-family homes
  • Attached single-family homes
  • Low-rise multi-family – one to three stories
  • Mid-rise multi-family – four to six stories, LEED for Homes Mid-rise Pilot, which will run through 2010
  • Gut/Rehabilitation
  • Manufactured and Modular housing
  • Mixed-use buildings
  • Dormitories and assisted living facilities
  • In law flats
  • International projects - At this time, projects outside the United States, US territories, or military bases are not allowed to participate in LEED for Homes. Canadian projects are allowed to participate, because USGBC is working with the Canadian Green Building Council to develop a program in Canada.  

Please visit http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147#eligible for the requirements for each type of dwelling.

 

 
 
Commercial Contractors - Existing Buildings and New Construction PDF Print E-mail

BLUEGILL Energy Management has certified LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) on staff.  Our LEED APs can provide independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.  

Eligibility 

Commercial buildings as defined by standard building codes are eligible for certification under the LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core & Shell rating systems. Building types include – but are not limited to – offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings (e.g., libraries, schools, museums and religious institutions), hotels and residential buildings of four or more habitable stories.  

If you are unsure whether your building project is a candidate for LEED certification, review the LEED Rating System Checklist that applies to your project to tally a potential point total. Your project is a viable candidate for certification if it meets all prerequisites and can achieve the minimum number of points necessary to earn the Certified level.