LEED-ND is Used to Recognize “Smart Communities”

Along with the trend to construct energy efficient high-rises and skyscrapers, there is a move to develop energy efficient neighborhood communities.  In 2010 the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) joined forces with the Congress for the New Urbanism and the U.S. Green Building Council to launch LEED for Neighborhood Development, or LEED-ND to formally rate a community’s environmental footprint.   

An Introduction to LEED Certification

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) prestigious rating system which certifies that a building, home, or community meets the highest standards of environmental sustainability. The certification, founded in 1998 and is now acknowledged as a worldwide standard, has had a major impact on sustainable design standards. In fact, over 1.85 million sqft becomes LEED certified each day¹.

What is LEED Certification?

LEED is essentially rating system created to benchmark the “green” performance of a building. Designed to be a practical framework for accomplishing green building design and construction, LEED focuses on performance in five core tenets:

• Sustainable site development
• Water savings
• Energy efficiency
• Materials selection
• Indoor environmental quality

For each category, the LEED certification system outlines a set of requirements called “credits” and each credit is worth 1 point. At a minimum, a building requires 40 points to achieve a LEED certification and greater certification levels are offered to buildings with more points. The LEED certification levels are as follows:

• Basic Certification 40 – 49 Points
• Silver Certification 50 – 59 Points
• Gold Certification 60 – 79 Points
• Platinum Certification 80 – 110 Points

How and When to use LEED?

Contrary to popular belief, the LEED rating system is not just for commercial buildings. It is also appropriate for implementing sustainable solutions in neighborhoods, community projects, and even residential homes. Additionally, the core tenets of the LEED certification can be applied to projects at all points of the development process—from initial designs and renovations to simple improvements.

What are the benefits of LEED certification?

Certifying a home or building using the LEED system offers sizeable financial, environmental and health benefits for both the building owners and the planet.

• Financial: Save money with an energy efficient building which uses less power and less water.  Also, LEED buildings may qualify for additional tax rebates and incentives at the local level.
• Environmental: LEED buildings conserve energy and water.
• Health: LEED buildings use recycled or renewable materials which are healthier and safer for occupants.
  

The Conco Companies’ mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise, experience and quality to each project.  We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development. We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

“Green Building” Practices are Good for the Environment & Business

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports, “As of May 2016, more than 15 billion square feet of building space is LEED-certified worldwide. More than 851 million square feet of real estate space became LEED-certified in 2015, representing a 10.4 percent jump from 2014.”  They add that the green building market will set a record in 2015 with “LEED-certification being reported as a top sustainable goal for both public and private organizations.”   

One of incentives to construct LEED certified buildings is that despite the initial higher investment, the building is ultimately more valuable.  USGBC cites an average increase in value of 4 percent, in part, due to the building’s energy efficiencies and reduced maintenance costs.  The return on the investment is typically as fast as seven years and that doesn’t take into account the enhanced health benefits for the buildings’ occupants and the benefits to the environment.     

In addition according to the USGBC, LEED certified buildings “report almost 20 percent lower maintenance costs than typical commercial buildings, and green building retrofit projects typically decrease operation costs by almost 10 percent in just one year.”  Further statistics indicate that LEED certified buildings in the U.S. offer an estimated:  $1.2 billion in energy savings; $149.5 million in water savings, $715.2 million in maintenance savings and $54.2 million in waste savings.    

Experts state that the growth in green building is also fueled by higher standards and guidelines both federally and state-wide.  In addition there is a greater awareness by the general public regarding rising energy costs and global water shortages.  A number of new projects are becoming even more ambitious and are working to construct buildings that have an annual zero net energy usage. 

At The Conco Companies, we are one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source:usgbc.org/articles/green-building-facts 

Many of Conco’s Projects have LEED Certification

Many of the projects that The Conco Companies are involved with incorporate energy efficient and “green” sustainable features to not only construct better buildings but also to achieve LEED certification.  So what is LEED and why would the construction industry try to achieve a higher LEED rating?  To start with, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely recognized green building rating system in the world. 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) started LEED in 1998 with the intent to provide third-party guidelines for the building industry to design, construct, and operate buildings that provide the most optimal environment as possible.  The standards used by LEED are reviewed and publically updated periodically by the USGBC that has almost 20,000 members.  LEED is important as it promotes and rewards energy efficiency along with the protection of renewable resources. 

USGBC explains that for new construction, achieving a higher LEED certification can improve the market demand for the building over non-LEED certified buildings.  Furthermore, the occupants of a LEED rated building benefit by being in a healthier environment.

The LEED system uses certifications based on the organization’s guidelines to recognize buildings that achieve these goals.  Certifications include Silver, Gold, and Platinum (the highest achievement).  At each level, the following five categories determine how points are awarded:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. 

Certification levels are improved by such things as installing heating and cooling systems as well as energy-efficient appliances.  Ratings are also improved with the use of recycled materials.  Additional recognition may be achieved in other categories such as Innovation in Design or Regional Priorities.  Points in Regional Priorities are earned when a builder is recognized for going to great lengths to lessen or eliminate the harmful impact on an area’s sensitive environment.  LEED endorsements are used for commercial and industrial buildings, residential homes and whole neighborhood projects.  

 

The Conco Companies is one of the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  While we tackle projects both big and small, our experience includes providing the complete concrete package for the Levi’s Stadium along with other notable projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.