As someone who was recently integrated into the landscape architecture industry, I have found myself learning fascinating new components and elements of the field. For this issue I researched sustainability measures and initiatives and familiarized myself with LEED Certification. I am far from an expert, so this article is written to serve as a refresher about the basics
of LEED and to hopefully provide fascinating and inspiring examples of LEED Certified projects.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification created by United States Green Building Council (USGBC) that recognizes achievement in sustainability and leadership in architectural design. There are numerous LEED categories that include building design construction, neighborhood development, cities and communities, and several others.

Benefits
Statistics found on the USGBC website show that certification carries several benefits. Data shows that LEED projects have a competitive advantage because, as USGBC states, "61% of corporate leaders believe that sustainability leads to market differentiation and improved financial performance." Additionally, they found that there are significant environmental benefits as well. USGBC estimates that LEED certified projects have created 34% lower carbon dioxide emissions, 25% less energy consumed, 11% less water consumed, and 80 million tons of waste diverted from landfills between 2015 - 2018. Furthermore, cost reducing benefits have been estimated to save $1.2 billion in energy, $149.5 million in water, $715.3 million in maintenance, and $54.2 million in waste during the same time period.

When a project is being evaluated under this system there are three components that result in certification; those components are LEED points, credits, and prerequisites.

Perquisites
Perquisites are the set of conditions that must be met in order to become LEED certified. Examples of prerequisites within the Neighborhood Development category include smart location, agricultural land conservation, imperiled species and ecological communities, and wetland and water body conservation. While they do not result in the cumulation of points, they are fundamental to the certification which cannot be received without meeting them.

 

Credits and Points
Credits and points are directly connected to one another as the approval of a credit results in the collection of points which leads to becoming certified. Specific credits are applied for when attempting to certify a project. Continuing with the Neighborhood Development Plan example, there are five different sections within the scorecard: Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, Green Infrastructure & Buildings, Innovation & Design Process, and Regional Priority Credits. Within those sections, credits can be individually applied for. For example, under the Neighborhood Pattern & Design section, a project can receive credit for walkable streets. If the project meets the criteria for that credit it will receive nine points (the number of points for each credit varies).

USGBC describes how credits fit into the system by explaining, "These are what truly set your building apart from the rest. You are free to go for any credit you want within your chosen rating system, as long as it applies to your project type. Certain credits pair well with certain prerequisites or even other credits... which amounts to synergistic benefits."

A minimum of 40 points of the possible 110 are required, however there are different levels of certification with the lowest called "Certified" being 40 - 49 points. The "Silver" level is 50 -59 points, "Gold" is 60-70 points, and the highest level is "Platinum" requiring at least 80 points.

LEED v4.1
The most current rating system, LEED v4.1, is being promoted as, "the next generation standard for green building design, construction, operations and performance." It is focused on improving practices in architectural design that address energy efficiency, water conservation, site and material selection, and daylight and waste reduction.

More specifically, in the words of USGBC, LEED v4.1:
???,??? Ensures that all building stakeholders - developer, property manager, occupant and the community benefit from sustainable design, construction, operations and performance.
???,??? Supports projects to implement sustainable and healthy architectural practices to realize environmental, economic, social and community benefits for decades to come.
???,??? Emphasizes integrative design to ensure better design, translation of design into high quality construction, optimize operations and high performance.
???,??? Helps projects deliver higher quality beyond market practices by incorporating innovative design, technologies, construction and material selection strategies.
???,??? Focuses on both performance oriented sustainable strategies and outcomes.
???,??? Helps projects consume fewer resources, reduce operating costs, increase value and create safer and healthier environments for its occupants.
???,??? Helps projects reduce their GHG/carbon emissions.
???,??? Helps projects use toxin free materials to deliver cleaner indoor air to improve productivity, focus and reduce respiratory illnesses of its occupants.
???,??? Prioritizes sustainable materials, helping manufacturers to design, produce and deliver building materials that reduce the environmental impact. LEED v4.1 also helps manufacturers reduce energy, water, waste during manufacturing, carbon footprint during distribution and transportation and overall carbon emissions through the entire production lifecycle.

For More Info...
To read more about LEED:
https://www.usgbc.org/leed
To learn more about LEED v4.1:
https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v41

As seen in LASN magazine, January 2021.