LEED Quality Homes

LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a green building certification system that is internationally recognized. LEED provides ways to identify and implement measurable and practical ways for people to design, build, operate, and maintain green buildings.

LEED has multiple rating systems for projects, which is based on an open, consensus based process. They type of rating system used is depends on the type of construction being done. Volunteers from the building and construction industry make up a committee which leads the process. Some of the things LEED ratings are based on include water efficiency, energy efficiency, location sustainability, what materials and resources are used, and awareness or usage of the buildings green capabilities.

Some of the different categories or profiles that LEED provides to chose from are new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell, schools, homes, retail, and neighborhood development. If a project seems appropriate for more than one category, they have a 40/60 rule to determine which category to use. To determine which is more appropriate, LEED recommends assigning every square foot to one of the categories, and then using the resulting percentages to determine which is most appropriate. If a catergory has 60% or more, then that is the recommended category. If the categories are between 40% and 60%, it is up to the projects lead designer which category to use.

One of the profiles is a core-and-shell project, which could be a bit ambiguous. Generally, a core-and-shell project consists of base building elements, such as the structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC, etc.


One example of a LEED-certified project is the Medium Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, W.A. The facility is labeled as a new construction profile, and has a Gold rating of 45/60 points. The individual ratings are 10/14 for site sustainability, 5/5 for water efficiency, 11/17 for energy and atmosphere, 5/13 for materials and resources, 10/15 for indoor environment quality, and 4/5 for innovation and design. Since 2006, all military buildings must achieve at least a silver rating from LEED in an effort to reduce excess water and energy usage and waste production.