A research facility that is LEED accredited has been given the seal of approval by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design initiative of the United States Green Building Council. The specifics, advantages, and difficulties of this innovative sustainability program are explained below.
What is LEED Certified Research Facility?
The U.S. Green Building Council developed a sustainability performance assessment system called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (USGBC). The program’s goals are to evaluate and grade buildings’ environmental performance and to encourage corporate actions that support environmentally friendly planning and management. A building can get points under the LEED certification program’s scoring system for suitable, eco-friendly measures that were done throughout its design, construction, and use.
The program’s goal is to create a global rating system that will hasten the creation and adoption of green building norms and practices. Despite the program’s flexibility, all projects must adhere to certain standards in order to be accepted.
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LEED Certification Prerequisites
By promoting energy- and resource-efficient construction, LEED certification results in buildings that are less stressful on the environment and provide us with healthier, more productive places to live, learn, work, and play. Project managers can choose which credits they want to work for, but prerequisites establish the baseline standards that all structures must fulfill in order to be certified as LEED-certified.
Additionally, completing necessary requirements will not count against your score. Consider them the foundation of a building; without it, a structure cannot be built.
Credits:
These are the features that really distinguish your building from others. As long as it pertains to the type of project you are working on, you are free to pursue any credit you like within your selected rating system. We refer to this as an integrated process since it results in synergistic benefits when certain credits are taken in conjunction with specific prerequisites or even other credits.
Credits are everything else if prerequisites are the building blocks. Credits also give you points for other reasons.
Points:
The prize increases with the number of points. There are several benefits to earning LEED certification, from healthier buildings to those that use fewer resources and money. The degree of LEED certification a project achieves is based on the amount of points it receives. There are four certification levels:
- Certified (40–49 points)
- Silver (50–59 points)
- Gold (60–79 points)
- Platinum (80 or more points)
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Benefits of LEED Certified Research Facility
Despite being a voluntary program, earning a USGBC seal of approval communicates to the community that you care about the environment. One of the best tools for marketing competitiveness is an internationally renowned eco-friendly program. Over the course of the building’s life, using green building techniques will result in cheaper energy expenses and maintenance costs.
Better indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and lots of daylight are features of buildings that receive the LEED certification seal. The levels of productivity, staff engagement, and customer happiness will all be indirectly increased by working in a nice and comfortable atmosphere. This is crucial because a company’s biggest operating costs are often labor, rent, and upkeep.
The public will be able to see the program’s dedication to sustainable practices and green building standards in a research facility that has earned LEED accreditation.
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LEED Certification Building Types
In reality, there are numerous kinds of LEED certifications. Retail, educational, medical, hospital, warehousing and distribution, and healthcare facilities are all included in the field of building design and construction. All of the aforementioned industries’ modest remodeling projects are covered by the Building Operations and Maintenance certification. The interior remodeling projects that take place in retail, hospitality, and commercial spaces are covered under the Interior Design and Construction certificate.
Redevelopment or new land development projects that include both residential and non-residential uses are under the purview of the Neighborhood Development program. Any level of the development process may see the occurrence of these projects. Single-family low-rise homes and multi-family mid-rise homes are also covered by the Homes program. Organizations with several buildings can now obtain the brand-new LEEDv4 certification.
Sustainable Living Checklist
For the certification program’s standard checklist, specific features and functions are rewarded with points. For instance, efforts to carefully develop the site, protect or restore habitat, and appropriately construct a storm water system are rewarded with points under the sustainable site category. A minimum energy performance plan that details how the building owner will maximize energy performance and material resources is required under the energy and atmosphere category.
Buildings that use recycled materials for the walls, floors, and roof are given points. Building materials from nearby regions and post-consumer recycled content will get you bonus points. Other categories include post-project water and electricity sharing, trash management during construction, and creative design processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a LEED-certified Building?
The most commonly adopted international standard for identifying structures that are economical, efficient, and beneficial for occupants and the environment is LEED Certification. Buildings and residences seeking to become sustainable can apply for LEED certification, whether they are new or existing.
What is the Advantage of having a LEED certification?
With a focus on energy savings, water efficiency, decreased carbon emissions, and improved indoor air quality, LEED-certified buildings are created. Additionally, the design's overall resource management and consideration of its effects on the environment are taken into account.
What does LEED’s 40-60 rule mean?
A rating method shouldn't be employed if it applies to less than 40% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space. A rating system should be employed if it is suitable for more than 60% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space.
How many LEED-certified projects exist?
From 767 projects registered in 2017 to 1,001 projects registered in 2021, LEED O+M has increased by 30%.
Conclusion
LEED focuses on energy modeling rather than actual energy use and is a design tool rather than a performance measurement instrument. It has been criticized for lacking climate specificity and for having a point system that could promote poor design decisions and make energy conservation the evaluation’s weakest component. The “LEED brain” phenomenon, in which the public relations value of LEED certification promotes the creation of buildings, has also been questioned.
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