LEED
LEED®(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Homes Rating System is a third-party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green homes through the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council). Full details can be found in the 114-page LEED for Homes Rating System document.

LEED® for Homes addresses building strategies and requirements across seven topic areas where a home can attain points towards the four performance levels of Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum. Our Green Life Smart Life project is aiming for Gold, not because we're not willing to do more, but because one of our objectives is to keep the project affordable. That, combined with zoning requirements, neighborhood association rules, maximizing ocean views, and the size of our home may keep us from achieving a higher certification level. The project is currently the only LEED-H project in the state of RI, will be the first Gold home and will be the second LEED-H house in the state.

Here's the LEED-H Point chart as of November 2008:

With LEED-H you will need to calculate a "Home Size Adjustment" based on your home's size. According to LEED, this compensates for the overarching effect of home size on resource consumption by adjusting the award level point threshold based on home size. The adjustment is based on the square footage of the house and the number of bedrooms. At 4350 square feet and 4 bedrooms, our adjustment calculation added 12 points to all of the certification thresholds. Green Life Smart Life will have to attain 72 points minimum for Silver and 84 points minimum for Gold. Platinum for GLSL means 102 points.

LEED Categories and Point Overviews

Innovation in Design :: 0 point minimum/ 11 point maximum :: Sustainable design begins with the initial design phases of a project and continues through the lifecycle of the home. Strategies created in this area address building performance, durability, integration of green techniques and achievement of project goals. There is significant research and education that is a critical path to the success of the ID points and the use of a LEED Accredited Professional can streamline the knowledge gathering, preparation and design process. The three Innovation & Design Process credits in the LEED for Homes Rating System are: Integrated Project Planning, Durability Management Process and Innovative or Regional Design.

Location and Linkages :: 0 point minimum / 10 point maximum :: By creating sustainable land use strategies, a homeowner can minimize the negative site-related environmental effects that result from home-building projects. Green Life Smart Life is being built on the footprint of a condemned single-family home site, and though not part of a compact development project, has taken careful consideration into site selection, local infrastructure, community resources and access to Open Space.

Sustainable Sites :: 5 point minimum / 22 point maximum :: Land stewardship maximizes the natural elements of a building site by incorporating the home into the land to manage the effects of surface water, soil, erosion and pesticides on local ecosystems and native habitats. The Sustainable Site category awards points based on preservation principles in these areas: Site Stewardship, Landscaping, Local Heat Island Effects, Surface Water Management, Non-toxic Pest Control and Compact Development.

Water Efficiency :: 3 point minimum / 15 point maximum :: On an annual basis, the water deficit in the US is estimated at approximately 3,700 billion gallons. The water efficiency section of LEED-H concentrates on water reclamation, reuse and reduction. According to research a new homes can easily reduce water usage by 30% by installing high efficiency fixtures, irrigation systems, and low flow fixtures and fittings.

Energy and Atmosphere :: 0 point minimum / 38 point maximum :: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings consume approximately 37% of the energy and 68% of the electricity produced in the United States annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The overall goal of this area (which is also where you can rack up the most LEED points) is to reduce building energy consumption, use renewable energy, eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals, and commission building systems. Building a home with a reduced carbon footprint is one of the best strategies for the environment and for families. Energy efficient homes produce less C02 and consume significantly less energy while simultaneously providing homeowners cost savings in a healthier, more comfortable environment.

Materials and Resources :: 2 point minimum / 16 point maximum :: By planning and implementing best green building practices, builders can minimize construction waste, use renewable construction materials, and design more durable buildings. By selecting environmentally preferable products (worth ½ of a point each, homes can earn 8 out of a possible 11 points) homeowners can make sustainable choices in the build and design of their home. Reclaimed and recycled-content materials can save costs and resources while improving a home's air quality and a family's health.

Indoor Environmental Quality :: 6 point minimum / 21 point maximum :: As homeowners realize the link between their health and their homes; the increase in allergies and asthma and their lives, they start examining the items around them. The IEQ points in LEED make you examine household pollutants including carbon monoxide, radon, mold, dirt and VOCs (off-gasses from an extensive list of household and building products). This category also IAQ provides two paths, the ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package (worth up 13 points) and a prescriptive path which adds moisture control, outdoor air ventilation, distribution heating and cooling, use of low emitting materials, air filtering and contaminant control during construction.

Awareness and Education - minimum 0 points / maximum 3 points :: In order for green home building to succeed, it has to be promoted, monetized, implemented and accepted. Over time, green homebuilding will become a transparent process and will again become known as merely homebuilding. Until that time, education and awareness around what a LEED home means, what it does and how to maintain it is as critical as the process itself. To learn how more and LEED and how you can build green, visit the U.S. Green Building Council at www.usgbc.org.