The Green Building Leadership (LEED) is specifically concerned with the manner in which design and planning is adopted across the globe when it comes to the construction of buildings (LEED, 2014). Certain design models can be employed during the planning process of communities and buildings in order to enhance the overall wellbeing of society.
Vital resources such as money and time are saved by LEED certified buildings (Easton, 2012). In addition, the health of residents who occupy such buildings is positively impacted owing to the safety standards put in place. One of the most outstanding attributes of LEED certified buildings is that they enhance the concept of clean renewable energy.
As a green building certification program, LEED aims at establishing and initiating programs that can be adopted in order to boost green energy initiative. In other words, it proposes best-in-class practices in the construction sector.
This implies that there are a number of prerequisites that must be satisfied by building projects in order to obtain certification. In addition, there are several levels of certification that building projects must learn and pass before being awarded the certificates. It is also vital to mention that there are remarkable differences in the rating systems when it comes to the issuance of credits and prerequisites.
It is crucial for new buildings to adhere to design standards provided by law owing to the numerous benefits of such constructions. To begin with, LEED buildings are at a vantage position to save immensely in terms of the consumption of both water and energy resources. Residential energy bills may go as high as $2,150 per year on a typical US household.
Homes that are built according to LEED specifications and standards save a lot of energy (LEED, 2014). Minimum energy is used to heat and cool such homes whenever there is need. Moreover, LEED certified homes have limited probabilities of ductwork leakage since they are individually tested by building professionals. Both indoor and outdoor consumption of water resources are also reduced substantially.
Second, proper ventilation must be incorporated in LEED-certified homes. Better still, appropriate measures must be put in place in order to minimize mildew and mold through the installation of air filters that are highly efficient.
Onsite inspection is one of the operations that is usually carried out in each LEED-certified home. This increases the trust level for residents who use such homes.
Contrary to other non-LEED certified homes, it feels safer to reside in residential premises that are inspected on a regular basis. It is also reassuring to learn that LEED buildings are tested on how they perform in addition to detailed documentation required before and during the construction processes.
The LEED rating system is a profound way of ensuring that buildings are safe both for human use and the immediate environment (Wilkinson, 2008). At a time when the green energy initiate is at top gear, there is every reason for the modern society to adopt programs that can cut down energy consumption.
If less energy can be used to in homes, it implies that the emission of harmful and toxic products to the immediate can also be reduced significantly. Furthermore, water is a vital resource that must be utilized economically. The LEED initiative in the construction of new buildings is a positive step in the right direction towards sustainable utilization of energy-based resources (Wilkinson, 2008).
References
Easton, J. (2012). Benefits of Green Homebuilding. Web.
LEED(2014). Web.
Wilkinson, R.J. (2008). LEED commissioning for new and existing buildings. Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering : HPAC, 80(2), 26-34.