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