what
are some of the specific things you get LEED points for?
The LEED for
Homes checklist is divided into eight sections – each focusing on a
different
aspect of a “green” project. The maximum
number of points any home can achieve is 136.
A total of 90-points is required for platinum certification,
75-points
for gold, 60-points for silver and 45-points for certified. Points
are available for how the house is
designed as well as how it’s built.
Being willing
to fit your lifestyle into a smaller than average foot print can gain
you as
much as 10-points. So “less is more”
really counts with LEED.
Assembling a
knowledgeable team of “green” construction experts to help design your
house
and having them involved throughout the construction contributes up to
11-points.
A strong
emphasis (up to 10-points) is placed on choosing to build in an existing
neighborhood, near existing utilities, public transportation, open
space, and
other amenities because by doing so you are helping to reduce a whole
host of
environmental issues associated with suburban sprawl.
Designing
your small urban site to control storm water run-off, minimizing land
disturbance, avoiding using invasive and water-intensive plants can be
worth up
to 22-points.
Harvesting
rain water, reducing the irrigation demands, and using water efficient
fixtures
and faucets can bring in 15-points.
By building
a well-insulated and sealed house, using an energy efficient mechanical
(HVAC,
plumbing, electrical) systems, and making sure the systems are installed
as
designed you could earn as many as 38-points.
Up to
16-points are available by using recycled, reclaimed, and/or locally
produced
materials with low-VOC content and finishes, and utilizing construction
material efficiently while minimizing construction waste.
Improving
the indoor environment of your house through the selection of
non-polluting
paints and finishes and controlling the impact of combustion equipment
through
a well-designed ventilation system can provide up to 21-points.
And even
helping to prompt LEED for Homes construction gets you up to 3-points.
To learn more about the USBGC's LEED for Homes program see:
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147
