published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

LEEDing the way

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- As more Americans become concerned with environmental issues and reducing energy consumption, both official policy and individual choices are becoming increasingly green.

One obstacle to greening, however, is the haphazard way in which the wide range of government and business responses have been evolving. Nationally, more than 70 green rating systems exist.

This makes it difficult for the contractor -- as well as the consumer -- to make truly informed decisions.

The challenge was to come up with a national standard, and an agreed-upon method in both setting the standard and measuring it; as well as creating a way of certifying individuals to do the consulting, building and inspecting.

Here in Florida the legislature began passing statutes in 1993 aimed at making construction in the state more environmentally sound, and has continued to shape policy ever since.

In its effort to standardize green construction, the state mandated that any public building as of July 1, 2008 -- a courthouse, a school or a government center -- would have to be built using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, created by the U.S. Green Building Council.

According to its official Web site, the council is a non-profit, membership organization founded in 1993 "whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation."

It says it has grown to almost 18,000 member companies and organizations, and has evolved into a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.

LEED was developed by volunteer committees from across the country comprised of professionals from every aspect of development and building -- from concept people to contractors to government officials.

With a goal of reaching a consensus regarding what was safe, effective and affordable, the committees met openly, consulted with technical advisory groups regarding the technology, encouraged stakeholder input and review, had members vote on the rating system when finalized, and provided for an appeal process.

The result is a third-party certification program and nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings -- commercial or residential.

LEED hopes to bring, by creating a structured system and setting standards, voluntary order and protections to an emerging field that is still getting organized, is highly technical, and can be confusing.

At the same time LEED is working to certify individuals in its rating system, so they can be a resource to a prospective builder or current homeowner.

LEED is the only system that requires third party inspection post occupancy, and final measurements.

Individuals certified in the LEED systems as a LEED Accredited Professional will not only be able to advise in terms of insulation values and green options, for example, but also in terms of energy rebate and point programs.

For example, a developer who provides outlets for hybrid or electrical cars; or a company that provides parking for bicycles and a changing room with shower, may receive points toward federal or state tax credits.