In an era of sustainability and environmental responsibility, one term emerges—LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Most homeowners and commercial builders use a globally recognized green building rating to create a sustainable design and environment-friendly place.
So, if you are one of those homeowners who aim to build a green home or transform their place into an environment-friendly area, this article is for you.
Before we go with the steps to achieve LEED certification, you must learn its concept and how it works.
Understanding LEED Certifications
The LEED certification has a set of guidelines that construction professionals use to build a sustainable and environment-friendly environment.
It has 4 LEED Certification levels where your property is rated on things like energy efficiency, water quality and consumption, and overall sustainability to determine your home’s level of ecological responsibility.
By obtaining LEED certification, your home becomes one of the properties that complies with specific criteria and standards that aim to reduce the damaging impact of climate change while promoting a sustainable future.
7 Simple Steps to Achieving LEED Certification for Your Home
One of the challenges homeowners face when transforming their humble abode into a sustainable living environment is the steps to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
Here is a simplified version of the LEED certification process that you can use as a guide to make the procedure more manageable.
Step 1 – Assessing Your Home
Check the different types of materials it uses, what energy-efficient devices you have, whether there are any access doors and panels like Cendrex DRD draft stop access door or skylights installed, and most importantly, what are the different sustainable practices your home and your entire household practices.
Identifying the status of your home in terms of sustainability will help you gauge and quickly determine the next thing you must do.
From here, you can create a list of green home goals you want to achieve, the design you want to have, and the amount you want to allocate as its budget. By determining your home’s current situation, you can lay a solid foundation and a strategic approach to achieve LEED certification for your house quickly.
Step 2 – Determining the Optimal LEED Certification for Your Home
LEED certification generally has four levels representing different sustainability and environmental performance degrees. These certification levels are listed below.
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Certified – LEED certified means your home needs at least 40 points to pass the certification process.
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Silver – Certified homes under this level have at least 50 points.
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Gold – Homes need at least 60 points to achieve this level.
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Platinum – This is the highest level of LEED recognition. It needs more than 80 points to pass the certification.
Step 3 – Building with the Right Materials and Resources
Whether building a new home or upgrading your existing place, always remember that sustainable materials are the key to building green homes. However, before buying anything, make sure to order only from a reliable source and always triple-check if the materials they are selling are what their descriptions and tags say.
You can also consider recycling construction materials such as wood, hybrid timber, and LEED-certified access doors, which all have minimal environmental impact.
Step 4 – Creating an Energy-Efficient Design
Green building and sustainability all have in common—energy efficiency. To increase your home’s green points, check your smart devices, heating and cooling systems, and whether they are energy-efficient. If not, replace them with LEED tags to maximize energy efficiency.
Some of the best investments you can install in your home are solar panels, intelligent controls, and highly insulated access doors that can prevent air/water leakage that may cause your indoor room temperature to fluctuate. Installing skylights will also help increase your certification points.
Step – 5 Installing Efficient Water Fixtures
Your home’s water conservation process is vital in passing the LEED certification. The more your home, plumbing system, and water fixtures help prevent water wastage, the more points it gets. Some homeowners opt to invest in water containers and tanks to harvest rainwater.
As to the faucets, you may also upgrade them to reduce water usage. However, you need to know the right faucet for your plumbing setup. Some of the most efficient faucets and devices that can efficiently reduce water usage are:
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Aerators – They create a steady water flow to reduce your household’s water consumption.
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Sensor-Activated Faucets – Among the most efficient ones in controlling water usage, these faucets automatically turn off the water if the sensor does not detect any activities.
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Low-Flow Faucets – Manufacturers intentionally design these faucets to limit water consumption. Compared to traditional faucets, the low-flow releases less water per minute.
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Smart Faucets – They may sound new, but homeowners are already enjoying their benefits today. With the technology, you can easily connect the faucet to Wi-Fi or smart home systems to control the water anywhere.
Step 6 – Preparing the Documents for the Certification Process
Once you determine the suitable materials, devices, and systems to use, the next important step is gathering and securing essential documents LEED professionals require you to submit to certify your home.
In this step, you may need to contact a professional directly to ensure a smooth transaction.
Step 7 – Maintaining LEED Certification
Maintenance and repair for LEED-certified homes are as necessary as applying for an LEED certification.
Monthly maintenance and repair will also help you have a smooth re-certification process.
Aside from the primary benefits of transforming your home into a sustainable and environment-friendly living space, you may also receive financial incentives and tax benefits.
Conclusion
Your home is not just a place to stay but an environment where you create happy and lasting memories with your family and friends. Aiming for the highest LEED certification will transform your home into a sustainable living environment. It will not only demonstrate a commitment to providing a healthy living space for your family. Going to such efforts will also benefit society by imparting a meaningful impact on the future —enhance your home and improve your quality of life.
