LEED Certification Yields Positive IAQ Benefits

Although environmentally friendly buildings made their debut in the mid-1970s, it was not until 1985 that the term "green building" was first used when the Environmental Defense Fund in New York City unveiled its new office building. The renovated building used natural and non-toxic construction materials, low-emitting furnishings and natural lighting. Since then, businesses have adopted "green" building concepts as they began to realize that saving energy meant saving money.[1] By and large, companies have been a slower to realize the full economic value associated with more sunlight and better indoor air quality (IAQ) on employee health and productivity (click here or on the Economics of IAQ tab above for more information about the economic benefits of providing good indoor air quality).

The US Green Building Council (USGBC), a national, committee-based, consensus organization representing a full cross section of the building industry, has taken leadership role to accelerate the adoption of "green" building practices, technologies, policies and standards. To meet the demand within the US market for a definition of "green," the USBGC in 1995 began developing a rating system for that purpose. In March 2000, the USGBC launched the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building Rating System for commercial buildings, a comprehensive system for designing, constructing and certifying some of the world's best buildings.

As of the end of 2003, USGBC LEED certified buildings accounted for 139 million sq. ft. (up from 51 million in 2001) of the commercial building market, which translates into five percent of the new commercial building starts in the US by square footage [2]. The LEED rating systems are not without their critics, but they represent the most comprehensive and convergent endeavor from the building establishment in streamlining sustainable design and construction practices.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program is a credit-based rating system, in which the credits represent different strategies for achieving stated goals. Points are awarded within each credit in each of the following five categories:

• Sustainable Sites seeks to limit development to only appropriate sites, reuse existing buildings, sites or both, protect natural and agricultural areas, and reduce need for automobiles.

• Water Efficiency reduces the quantity of water needed and the municipal water supply and treatment burden.

• The Energy and Atmosphere establishes energy efficiency and system performance, optimize energy efficiency, encourage renewable and alternative energy sources, and supply ozone protection protocols.

• Materials and Resources seeks to reduce the amount of materials needed, use materials with less environmental impact, and reduce and manage waste

• Indoor Environmental Quality establishes good indoor air quality; eliminates, reduces and manages the sources of indoor pollutants; ensures thermal comfort and system controllability; and provides for occupant connection to the outdoors.

• Innovation and Design Process points are available to recognize exceptional performance in categories not specifically addressed by LEED. [3]

Four levels of LEED certification are available - Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum - and are determined by the total number of points earned. Some of the points are identified as pre-requisites that must be achieved in order to qualify for a LEED rating. [3]

Presently, the USGBC LEED rating system has five products in various stages of development, including:

• LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC)

• LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB), pilot version

• LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI)

• LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS), pilot version

• LEED for Homes (LEED-H), under development

Each of these rating systems are extensive in scope, and the USGBC website offers the latest standards in their entirety. With respect to indoor air quality, each of the LEED-NC, LEED-EB, LEED-CI and LEED-H rating systems outlines procedures in the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category for reducing the level of indoor pollutants and for establishing, verifying and maintaining acceptable indoor air within the interior spaces of a building. These procedures delineate a well-rounded and concentrated approach planning for improved occupant comfort and productivity. For more information about the LEED-CI rating system, click here on the LEED-CI tab above.

The USGBC LEED building certifications foster interdisciplinary communication and a growing understanding of the complex building industry. The evidence is mounting as to the fiscal and environmental viability of instituting sustainable (green) building measures, and case studies are continuing to be developed proving the multiple benefits of sustainable design (click on Building Green Workplaces tab above for examples of case studies). In short, a LEED-certified building is capable of speaking both the language of the bottom line and of the environment and can prove to the community the efficacy and value of green building efforts. In addition, LEED-certified buildings provide an effective vehicle for raising awareness about the benefits of sustainable building and providing good IAQ.

References

1. Martin S. Green building: The right stuff. Mother Earth News. June/July 2000.

2. Personal Communication. Penny Bonda, Director of Environmental Communications. EnvironDesignWorks. Washington, DC. March 9, 2004.

3. Bonda, P. LEED program for commercial interiors. Selected Papers From the Aerias Third Annual National Symposium: Protecting Indoor Environments and Building Occupants. Atlanta, Georgia. October 22 - 24, 2003. Aerias, LLC. Marietta, Georgia. 2003.