This entry will focus on how the LEED rating systems are set up and the basic categories of credits. For a basic introduction to LEED, check this website.
The LEED Rating Systems are the sets of credits and categories that a LEED project team is aiming for. They are specific for the type of construction, like a new building would go for LEED for new construction, a school would go for LEED for Schools, a home would go for LEED for Homes.
Every rating system has the same set of categories, though the credits within them may be different.
The categories are:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Locations and Linkages
- Awareness & Education
- Innovation in Design
- Regional Priority
The different credits in each category may be weighted to be worth more points than other credits. Some credits allow for incremental points to be earned by how much is accomplished by the building. For example, a certain percentage decrease in water usage could result in 1 point, but by decreasing water usage by then next threshold percentage could result in 2 points.
The Energy & Atmosphere category’s credits have the most potential points to be earned.
That’s it for now. I’ll be posting more on this since I’m almost done with graduate school applications, but for more advanced notes, see my previous post.
This is really cool, Chewy! I’ve been getting more interested in LEED because Nintendo’s new building is going to have the Silver certification. I even heard that they’d have compost bins in the completed building–pretty spiffy!
That is pretty awesome! I would really love to see the building when it is finished.