Energy Saving and Measuring the Carbon Footprint
A Need for Local Standards
In the United States alone, there are few notable examples of standards that have been created to measure the sustainability of green building, while also creating a competitive market for green practice. Some examples of these rating systems include the nation-wide standards, and energy-star standards. Other local systems in cities such as Portland, Boulder, San Francisco and Austin apply rating systems that list specific standards that are appropriate to their respective environmental region.
One weakness of all rating systems is that they are based on criteria that measure sustainability through the building’s entire life cycle. Rating systems may give extra points for using recycled plastic decking material during construction, but these systems do not consider the performance of materials through the design, construction, operation, and demolition phases. Does the material need energy extensive tools to install or replace, and which manufactures produce such materials, and how close are those manufactures located to the actual building site? Some of those questions are not addressed by most rating systems, which may be an incentive for local governments to apply their own rating system appropriate for their region.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System (LEED)
The most widely used national rating system in local and federal markets is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system (LEED). LEED was created by the United State Green Building Council (USGBC) to establish a standard by which the effectiveness of green design practices can be measured. The LEED system is also intended to bring awareness to the public and private sectors of green building strategies and technologies, and to transform the market to promote green design and technology industries.
LEED covers many different projects though separate programs for new construction (LEED-NC), existing buildings (LEED-EB), and commercial interiors (LEED-CI). New programs are up-and-coming for public release in core and shell projects (LEED-CS), homes (LEED-H), and neighborhood developments (LEED-ND).
LEED Certification Process
Many federal and city agencies use the LEED-NC for new construction, which is a system that is created around four certification point levels for a maximum of 69 points:
- Certified Level: 26-32 points
- Silver Level: 33-38 points
- Gold Level: 39-51 points
- Platinum Level: 52+ points
The points are distributed across six different categories including:
- Site Sustainability
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Air Quality
- Design Innovation/Creativity
For a project to become certified a project manager must first register the project on-line and fill out a letter template that outlines the specific project measures needed to meet LEED standards. The next step in the certification process is to receive technical assistance from the United State Green Building Council (USGBC).
The USGBC provides a reference package that informs of point credits and ruling, strategies, and technologies. The last step in the certification process is submitting documentation and a USGBC review. After the review process, the project receives an official certificate, is recognized for its accomplishments through media exposure, and becomes qualified to receive incentives based on the level of certification.
LEED-Homes Program
LEED-H program is a voluntary program that is intended to recognize the top 25% of new homes that incorporate green design. Credits for Certified, Gold, Silver and Platinum levels can be achieved in the categories of location and linkages, sustainable sites, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, homeowner awareness, and innovation and design process. The pilot phase is intended to test the credit checklist through an approved listing of LEED for home building providers. Other stakeholders are also important to program implementation:
- LEED for Homes Professional: provides consultation to builders.
- LEED for Homes Faculty: Provides training and technical assistance to home professional, raters, and providers.
On-site inspections by LEED Home Providers confirm if a home is meeting LEED standards in the installation and performance of green building technologies and elements. Further development of the program is needed before the planned public release for 2006.
Both LEED-NC and LEED-H are appropriate programs for rating green building systems. However, local governments should be encouraged to be sensitive to their specific region. As mentioned beforehand, one of the shortcomings of LEED is that it is not specific to a particular climatic region. Green building techniques used in the windy area Chicago are not exactly appropriate for the Pacific Northwest.
The LEED registration process is also rather extensive and expensive given the limited quantity of qualified staff to implement the program. It may be more appropriate for local governments to network and use a LEED-based rating system that more suited for a region’s uniqueness. Marin and Alameda counties of California have developed their own point systems to determine what constitutes a green building, and to help residents achieve sustainable goals for their homes.
Despite some of the shortcomings, rating systems provide the initial steps for providing uniform standards across the entire professional green building sector. Rating systems also bring green practice into the competitive market by recognizing leaders in the field, and by disallowing false claims of quality environmental designs by setting consensus-based standards.
References:
Rating System for Demonstration of LEED for Homes Program. U.S. Green Building Council. 2005.
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