|
LEED Certification
LEED certification is offered by the U.S. Green Building Council and states that a building is environmentally friendly, healthy and designed to be a healthy place to live and work. It is a third party verification meaning that the gaining of this certification is completely neutral and passed entirely on facts and the meeting of standards.
In order to receive LEED Certification there are a minimum number of points that must be met on the rating system in order to qualify. In order to see if you qualify you must fill out an application.
For new construction, there are three versions; 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2. Applications are available online for all versions other than 2.0; existing buildings, core and shell, and commercial interiors applications are also available. Be sure to fill out all of the information as completely as possible and provide all necessary documentation this will ensure that your application is processed in a timely manner.
The next step is the review process. An inspector will come out using the documents provided in your application to inspect the location following the guidelines set down for the certification. If the building passes, it receives certification. However, it is rare to find a building that passes on the first try. In the case that something does not pass, a review report with suggestions is passed on. The company then has a period of time to provide the documents or corrections in which case another review is done.
Each type of construction has its own set of review criteria so it is important to research beforehand in order to make sure you apply for the correct certification. There is also an appeal process with a fee per credit you wish to appeal it must be made within a certain amount of time and a new review will be done.
|
