strategicinsight BY DAVID MALONEY, CHIEF EDITOR
FACILITY PLANNING AND DESIGN
SHOULD GREEN-LEANING COMPANIES UNDERTAKE THE EFFORT AND
expense to become LEED-certified or would they be better off simply adopting
the program’s eco-friendly practices? That depends on the company and what
precisely it hopes to gain from its green initiatives.
For those not familiar with the program, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC), the program recognizes facilities—anything from offices and hospitals
to DCs and private residences—that meet specific standards in five key areas:
sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials
and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
To achieve certification, companies designing new facilities or renovating existing structures submit their plans to the Green Building
Certification Institute, which administers the LEED program.
Certification is based on a performance credit system that awards points
based on an action’s potential environmental benefits. Gaining certification basically entails accumulating enough points from a checklist of possible green choices. For instance, when it comes to building construction,
points might be awarded for the use of eco-friendly materials, having a
water conservation plan in place, and minimizing energy consumption.
Based on the points earned, a facility may qualify for one of four certification levels—Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
For organizations seeking to burnish the
LEED or follow?
While there are
advantages to
becoming certified
for your environmental
efforts, you can reap
the same benefits
without the official
stamp of approval.
