When people ask “what is LEED certification?”, they can expect a few different answers. Basically, it is divided into four levels across several different categories. Projects earn points for using sustainable sites, using water and energy efficiently, using certain materials or green resources, and creating high-quality indoor environments. Each project is eligible to earn a total of 100 points in these categories with a possible 10 bonus points that are awarded for innovative tactics and regional priorities.

The number of points that a project earns determines their level of certification. There are four certification levels: certified (40 to 49 points), silver (50 to 59 points), gold (60 to 79 points) and platinum (80 points or more). When a project earns the platinum level, all of their certification fees are refunded. However, every project earns points in a different way depending upon which type of certification they are applying for. In the following nine sections, we will answer the question “what is LEED certification?” by looking at the different categories of certification.

LEED-NC (New Construction or Major Renovation)

This category applies to the new construction of commercial and institutional buildings, including offices, high rises, government facilities, recreational centers, factories, and labs. In this category, the site can earn 26 points, the use of water can earn 10 points, attention paid to energy and atmosphere is worth 35 points, materials are worth 14, and the indoor environment is worth 15 points.

LEED-EB: O&M (Operation and Maintenance of Existing Buildings)

This category applies to existing buildings that want to operate and maintain themselves more efficiently. It deals with areas such as cleaning the building, recycling efforts, maintaining the exterior, and upgrading equipment and systems. Buildings that have never applied for LEED can apply for this certification, and buildings that have already earned LEED for NC, SCH or CS can also apply. The points in this category are distributed almost exactly as they are in the LEED-NB category except that water efficiency is worth a possible 14 points, while materials are only worth 10.

LEED-CI (commercial interior)

The commercial interior category is primarily for tenants and interior designers. It allows people who do not have any decision making power over the outside of the building to make environmentally friendly decisions for the interior of the building. When they make the interior greener, they also make it healthier, more productive, and cheaper to run and maintain. The bulk of points in this category are awarded for energy and atmosphere with a total of 37 points available in that category. The quality of the indoor environment is worth a possible 17 points.

LEED-CS (core and shell)

This category, which is complementary to the LEED-CI category, deals with the core and the shell of the building. Thus, it addresses buildings’ structures, envelopes, and HVAC systems.   In this category contractors and developers can earn 28 points for their site, 10 for their efficient use of water, 37 for their attention to the energy and the atmosphere, 13 for the materials they choose to use, and 12 points for the quality of their indoor air. Additionally, they can earn the same 10 bonus points in innovation and regional priority that every category is eligible for.

LEED-SCH

This category addresses the particular needs of schools, from those housing primary grades to high school students. It is similar to the LEED-NC, but it also looks at the acoustics in classrooms, how the materials work to prevent mold, and other environmental factors that are important for children’s health issues. With 19 possible points, this category assigns more points to the quality of the indoor environment that any other LEED category.

LEED-Retail

This is the category that can help a bank, a restaurant, a clothing store, or an electronics store win LEED points. It is applicable to all retail projects. Under LEED-Retail, projects must apply for points under the new construction category or the commercial interiors category. To determine which categories may apply to you and how to earn points, you may wish to speak to a LEED consultant from Burnham. They can guide you through the entire certification process, whether you are applying in the retail category or any other category.

LEED-HC

As one of the newest LEED categories, LEED-HC applies to health care facilities. Buildings that are being designed for use as medical facilities, such as doctor’s offices, nursing homes, and even medical schools, should try to earn points in this category.  Because this category has been in existence for less than a year, a LEED consultant may be necessary to help you ascertain how to focus on each of the six categories that you can earn points in.

LEED-Homes

Even residential structures can earn a LEED certification. These green homes must be carefully built with LEED guidelines implemented in every step of the process.

LEED-ND

LEED-Neighborhood development is the ninth and final of the categories that buildings can earn points in. This category has been established as a joint effort between the USGBC, the Congress for New Urbanism, and The Council for the Defense of Natural Resources. To earn LEED certification in this category, a project must have third-party proof that their location and their designs are environmentally responsible and their development techniques are sustainable.

Related Posts:

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Certain zoning laws can make some projects seem absolutely impossible. However, there are ways to get around these laws. To help some developers achieve their dreams and make their projects a reality, Burnham has a team of professionals who can help guide them through the steps of getting the necessary zoning variances.

Getting variances approved is primarily an administrative feat. Essentially, the person applying for the variance needs to understand the current codes and regulations. Then, they must draft a proposal that shows why they deserve an exemption from these codes and regulations.  Typically, they must show that their project faces undue hardship if it was forced to comply with the zoning laws that they wish to circumnavigate. They will present their proposal to the proper boards, and then, depending upon municipal laws, they may have to take additional steps while they wait for approval.

If your project needs zoning variances, you may be surprised at how difficult this task can be. The team at Burnham has a deep understanding of how the zoning laws work in most areas of the country. In addition, their vast experience allows them to understand the best ways to apply for a variance. When applying for a variance, the burden of proof is typically placed on the applicant, and Burnham can show your project leader how to artfully meet this burden. They work closely with architects, planners, and engineers to put together the necessary testimony when applying for a variance.

Regardless of where you are applying for the zoning variance, you can expect the process to look similar to the one outlined here. Typically, you will have to present an application to the local zoning board as your first step. In most cities, this board has the power to give exemptions to the current zoning laws. These exemptions are usually only granted in cases where following the law will cause hardship to the building’s owner.

However, even when a hardship has been established, the zoning variances may not be granted immediately. The applicant must continue the process, and he or she must also indicate that their project will not infringe upon the rights of their neighbors. The burden of proof will address the project’s potential benefit to the community, any negative aspects of the project, as well as other factors.   .

In addition, the project manager must take steps to notify the neighbors about the possible zoning variance. They must notify all of the neighbors who live within two hundred feet of the property. The notifications must be delivered by hand or via certified mail. In addition, they must publish their plans in a local newspaper. The neighbors must also be given the chance to present their feelings or responses at a public meeting.

The formal meeting will typically be in front of the zoning board. Project managers must present their own applications or they can have a professional, such as the ones from Burnham, represent them. Most corporations must be represented by a lawyer at their zoning board meeting. Once the variance has been approved, the project can finally be started. This process can be extremely time consuming and arduous. Even the smallest mistake in the application can cause major time delays. For this reason and many others, it is important to use the help of a professional when applying for variances.

There are many reasons that a project may wish to apply for a variance. They may wish to have an exemption regarding the height or size of their building. They may wish to have a building that is closer to other buildings. This is especially relevant when the building will be located on a small lot size that makes building the structure to certain codes virtually impossible. In cases like these, the developer may also need to ask for a variance regarding the percentage of land that is allowed to have a structure on it.

Other variances may address how the building will be used. These non-conforming variances may deal with a certain characteristic of the structure, or they may deal with the nature of the building itself. For instance, if a developer wants to locate a factory in a residential zone, he or she may have to apply for a variance. They may have to prove that the structure will benefit the community. For instance, they can present arguments about creating local jobs. Another example of a non-conforming structure would be if a developer wanted to build a two-story building in a one-story zone. Even the number of parking spaces may require a developer to apply for a variance.

Making your dream project into a reality is not impossible. In fact, the point of zoning variances is to help developers complete a project in spite of the hardships presented by local ordinances. However, the process is not easy or simple. Working with a professional who is skilled in navigating the system is your best hope for turning your vision into a reality.

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Last month, we looked at the different types of LEED certification. This month, we will look at the long-term benefits of several elements of the LEED certification process. The long-term benefits are both tangible and intangible, and this blog post will touch on a few of these benefits. The total number of long-term benefits greatly exceeds the ones mentioned in this post. Furthermore, while some benefits are universal to the certification process, some benefits are unique to certain parts.

One of the most tangible benefits that is associated with the LEED certification process is lower operating costs and lower energy bills. Over time, these benefits are multiplied. According to the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), LEED buildings normally have a rate of return of at least twenty percent. This rate is based on energy efficiency combined with projections about the future higher costs of oil and natural gas.

Most buildings that have been involved with the certification process use thirty to fifty percent less water and electricity than buildings that have been built to the current codes in most cities. When values are assigned to this idea, the savings are astounding. For instance, if a LEED certified building saves $1.50 per square foot when compared to a building that has been built to code, that is a yearly savings of $150,000 per year if the building is 100,000 square feet. If the contractor invested $400,000 into the project to make it LEED certified, he or she would get back their initial investment in about two and a half years.

Some returns on the LEED investment seem intangible but when evaluated are actually tangible. For instance, when a building has earned LEED certification, it is a healthier place to be, and thus the people who work there and the other occupants are happier and healthier. This seems like an intangible benefit, but it is very tangible as well. The building owner can look forward to employing an employee base that uses fewer sick days and is more productive overall.

An intangible benefit to the process is improved public relations. The building owner will have an easier time engaging with the community and promoting their building’s agenda when they can clearly promise the community that their building offers benefits to both the environment and the community. This intangible benefit can have a lasting effect on the building’s value and the public’s perception of it.

When you look at a specific element of the process, it is easier to evaluate the potential cost benefit of it. For instance, many builders earn LEED points by creating green roofs. There are a number of different roofing materials and strategies that can make a roof qualify for LEED points, such as applying reflective PVDF coating to a roof. When the cost benefits of this roofing material are analyzed, it appears that it will save the building operators a lot of money in both operating costs and repair costs.

When a building has a PVDF reflective roof, it does not wear as quickly, and it requires less maintenance. In addition, it does not need to be replaced as soon as a conventional roof would need to be replaced. This presents a cash savings for the buildings owner, but it also presents an environmental benefit for the community. With fewer replacements, fewer old roofs are sent to landfills. It can be exposed to lower temperatures than most traditional roofing, and its temperature does not fluctuate as much as many other roofs’ temperatures do. It also helps to reduce the effect of a so-called heat island effect in urban areas. Although the benefits of using PVDF are substantial, it is not the only roofing material that earns LEED points, and it may not be the right choice for your project. To determine which roof is right for you, you may wish to speak with a LEED certified consultant from Burnham Nationwide.

Many of these points are only applicable to new buildings. However, there is also a LEED process for existing buildings. LEED-EB can be earned in a variety of ways, and all of these measures have long-term benefits. For instance, if a building earns their LEED-EB by installing equipment that lasts longer, they will save money on equipment replacement costs. If they earn it by making changes to their operating procedures, they will save money on that as well. For instance, if part of their plan includes turning off equipment when not in use, they will notice an instant and prolonged savings in their energy bills.

Perhaps, the most significant long-term benefit of the LEED certification process is the potential for its effect on the building’s resale value. Some analysts claim that a LEED certified building could garner a selling price of thirty percent more than a regular building. This is an indicator of the true long-term value of certification.

Related Posts:

• What Can LEED Sustainability Offer Academic Institutions?
• The LEED Certification Process – Part 1: Requirements
• The Impacts of LEED Sustainability Efforts
• Why Do You Need LEED Consulting?
• How Do You Know When You Need LEED Consulting Services?