| A rating system, known as the Leadership in | | | | Green buildings efficiently use resources |
| Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), is a | | | | such as water, land, materials and energy, |
| voluntary system for defining what elements | | | | and have considerably lower operating and |
| make a building green. | | | | maintenance costs than non-green buildings. |
| | | | These financial benefits are realized over |
| "LEED certification will provide challenges | | | | the life of the building: |
| to the industry including the need to ensure | | | | |
| an understanding of a new generation of | | | | Reduced energy costs |
| materials properties and developing the | | | | |
| practices and processes needed to ensure | | | | Reduced water usage |
| specifications and finished products meet the | | | | |
| standards of green building. I am especially | | | | Reduction in resource consumption |
| exited to be part of this process and in | | | | |
| making a contribution towards shaping new | | | | Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions |
| building technologies." Ken Moscrip, | | | | |
| President of Paramount Roll and Forming - one | | | | For the construction industry, building green |
| of Southern California's most prominent metal | | | | will continue to grow in importance, whether |
| rolling companies. | | | | it is because of consumer demand, regulatory |
| | | | requirements, or the cost of energy. |
| Originally developed in United Sates by the | | | | |
| U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), many | | | | "The LEED process guides designers and |
| other countries have already adopted a | | | | builders to make technically superior |
| similar system. | | | | decisions in a manner that is environmentally |
| | | | responsible. By embracing this process, they |
| Consisting of a clear set of environmental | | | | are showing commitment to their clients, |
| performance criteria organized into six | | | | their profession and the world community at |
| categories, the Canadian version of LEED, | | | | large. It allows them to provide the best |
| which is very similar to the USGBC version, | | | | design solution for both the owner and the |
| is listed below: | | | | environment." Vipul Acharya, Durisol Building |
| | | | Systems Inc., a leader in ICF green building |
| Sustainable Sites | | | | materials. |
| | | | |
| Water Efficiency | | | | For further information on LEED certification |
| | | | contact: |
| Energy and Atmosphere | | | | |
| | | | In Canada - Canada Green Building Council |
| Materials & Resources | | | | |
| | | | In United States - U.S. Green Building |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | | | | Council |
| | | | |
| Innovation in Design | | | | Given the new emphasis placed on |
| | | | environmental issues, sustainable design is |
| "Building Green is not a new thing it is the | | | | becoming increasingly important. LEED is at |
| right thing, and we always strive to use the | | | | the forefront of the environmental industry, |
| most environmentally neutral building | | | | and can also be used as an excellent |
| practices and materials. However, | | | | marketing tool. LEED can easily be |
| construction debris is always an issue, by | | | | incorporated into the environmental design of |
| ordering what we need and using it when we | | | | buildings themselves, from residential and |
| need it, it has helped us to divert as much | | | | commercial industry right down to industrial |
| as possible from the local landfill. There | | | | practices. |
| are tradeoffs which we all must take, however | | | | |
| protection of our future and wise stewardship | | | | The best way to demonstrate that a building |
| of our planet must be one of our utmost | | | | is "green" is by achieving LEED |
| priorities." Justin Linden, President of | | | | certification. |
| ServiceBlocks Inc - a home renovations | | | | |
| company in Ottawa, Canada. | | | | ABOUT THE WRITERS |
| | | | |
| Benefits of Building Green | | | | David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon are freelance |
| | | | writers in Ottawa. |