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“GREEN” RATING SYSTEMS

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System provides a set of measurable criteria to promote environmentally sustainable construction.

Six major areas are considered by the LEED rating system:

LEED RATING CATEGORIES

• Sustainable Sites- deals with reducing pollution, protecting environmentally sensitive areas

• Water Efficiency- promotes reducing the demand for potable water and the generation of wastewater

• Energy & Atmosphere- encourages increasing the efficiency of buildings and surrounding sites in regards to energy

LEED RATING CATEGORIES

• Materials & Resources- seeks to maximize use of rapidly renewable and recycled materials, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental impacts of new buildings

• Indoor Environmental Quality- promotes enhanced comfort, productivity, and well-being by improving air and maximizing daylighting of interior spaces

• Innovation & Design Process- rewards exceeding the requirements and exceptional systems

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

• Engineered Lumber

• Dimensionally Cut Lumber

• Bamboo Flooring

• Cork Flooring

• Linoleum

• Cotton Insulation

• Recycled Materials

VARIOUS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SYSTEMS• Toilets may run off of a completely recycled water

system (i.e. rain-water or run-off)

•  Solar hot water

• Reused or recycled building materials

• On-site power generation

• Ground source heat pumps

• Wind power

• Rainwater harvesting for gardening washing and aquifer recharge

• On-site waste management.

UTILIZING SITE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

• Use of solar panels (active solar energy)

• The use of windows to facilitate heating and thus lower energy costs (passive solar energy)

• Cisterns may be used to collect rainwater and run-off for a back-up supply of water.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1. What does LEED stand for?

2. Name three of the areas LEED uses as criteria.

3. Name two types of “green” building material.

4. The use of solar panels is also known as what?

5. The implementation of natural heating designs in a building are also known as what?

6. Name three renewable sources of power.

7. Name two sustainable design systems.

8. What is the purpose of a cistern?

9. How many different categories does LEED use in its rating system?

10. What is the name of the LEED category that deals with increasing the efficiency of buildings and surrounding sites?

ANSWERS1. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

2. Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation & Design Process.

3. Engineered Lumber, Dimensionally Cut Lumber, Bamboo Flooring, Cork Flooring, Linoleum, Cotton Insulation, Recycled Materials

4. Active Solar Energy

5. Passive Solar Energy

6. Wind, Water, and Sun

7. Toilets may run off of a completely recycled water system (i.e. rain-water or run-off), Solar hot water, Reused or recycled building materials, On-site power generation , Ground source heat pumps, Wind power (i.e. turbines), Rainwater harvesting for gardening washing and aquifer recharge, On-site waste management

8. To collect rainwater/run-off for later use

9. 6

10. Energy and Atmosphere