In 2007, the National Association of Home Builders made a bold prediction, stating, “between 40% and 50% of the homes built in 2010 are expected to be green.”  Well, how do you think we are doing?

To answer, we should first establish what makes a home truly green, and the LEED for Homes system is perhaps our best measuring stick.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification system is a nationally recognized benchmark for the design and construction of high performance, green buildings.  Amidst all the greenwashing and misinformation out there, LEED certification is one way to ensure and quantify a building’s “green-ness” in a trusted and measurable way. Over 100 billion square feet of commercial space is currently LEED certified. With such success in the commercial market, it wasn’t long before a version of LEED custom-made for the residential market was underway.

Space As Art

Officially launched in 2008, LEED for Homes sets specific standards for the design and construction of a green home that address sustainability across the board, addressing specific issues of energy, water, site, materials, durability, and indoor air quality.  To do this, LEED for Homes sets forth a clear set of base requirements plus a point-based rating system to quantify optional green measures.  The more points achieved, the higher the level of green achievement LEED will award the home: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

While some builders may incorporate a green feature or two and proclaim a home to be green, a LEED certified home excels in 8 categories that cover all the green bases:

• Innovation & Design (Includes design methods and strategies unique to geographic region)
• Location & Linkages (Focuses on travel distance from home site to common destinations)
• Sustainable Sites (Specific strategies to limit impact on the site)
• Water Efficiency (Includes both indoor and outdoor water-efficient selections and technologies)
• Energy & Atmosphere (Energy efficiency, especially performance of heating and cooling systems)
• Materials & Resources (Selection of environmentally preferable materials, reduction of waste)
• Indoor Environmental Quality (Improves indoor air quality by limiting pollutant creation and exposure)
• Awareness & Education (Education on operations and maintenance to homeowner or tenant)

Check out this video from the US Green Building Council to see real LEED homes and their benefits:

Benefits of a LEED Home from U.S. Green Building Council on Vimeo.

Intrigued yet? The U.S. Green Building Council has made a “Detailed Explanation of Credits” for the LEED for Homes rating system available on their website.  Click here to jump to their free, PDF download.  (I recommend skipping to page 29, Section III for the Table of Contents)

Interested in LEED for Homes but think certification may be out of reach?  Shh… you didn’t hear it from me, but… download the PDF anyway! With all the credits outlined and individually explained, it makes a perfect green guide for anyone building a new home or planning a major renovation, even if LEED certification is not in the cards.  This way, when it comes time to chose your new air conditioning system, purchase new plumbing fixtures, design your landscaping, or narrow down flooring options, you can ask, “What would LEED for Homes do?” and crack open your handy guide book to find out.

A little overwhelmed? Over 120,000 LEED Accredited Professionals are available to help.  Using this tool, you can search for a contractor, architect, interior designer, etc. in your area who has earned LEED Accreditation through their knowledge of green design and construction.  Try inputting just your city and state and see how many LEED APs are in your area- you might be surprised!

Whether you dream of building a LEED certified home or just want to optimize your home’s design and construction, stay tuned to investigate each the of the eight categories that make up LEED for Homes.

Photo Credit: Green home interior design © Space as Art

Article Sources: U.S. Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institute.

Angela

Angela Rodriguez is the owner and award-winning Principal Interior Designer of Space as Art (www.spaceasart.com), a Sarasota, FL based design studio specializing in commercial, hospitality, and residential interiors with a focus on green design.  Angela enjoys working with clients to “create space as art, places as destinations, and interactive experiences that ignite the senses.”  She is also the founder and Editor of NaturallyFL.com, a new online magazine dedicated to natural living, green business, and eco-tourism in the state of Florida. Find Angela on Twitter and connect on Facebook with Space As ArtNaturallyFl. and