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Why Build to LEED Standards

What is LEED?

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design or (“LEED”) is a rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (“USGBC”). LEED helped us make 81 Brent efficient and healthy.

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification program, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance, increasing energy savings, water efficiency, and carbon emissions reduction, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts, and improving indoor environmental quality.

Using the green building tool and third-party verification process 81 Brent reached the highest level on the rating scale. LEED Platinum

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To learn more about the LEED process, and to see if your project meets all of the LEED Minimum Program Requirements visit the LEED for Homes website here. Below you will find Tibits from the LEED site.

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LEED for Homes is a consensus-developed, third party-verified rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. LEED for Homes measures a home’s performance based on eight categories: site selection, water efficiency, materials & resources, energy & atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, location & linkages, awareness & education, and innovation. Within each of these areas, projects earn points toward certification.

Each LEED-certified home undergoes onsite inspections and thorough performance testing to ensure proper performance. LEED for Homes is applicable to single family and multifamily homes and is intended for both market-rate and affordable housing.

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Indoor Water Use

We installed high efficiency fixtures and fittings for all toilets, showers and faucets. How energy efficient are they?

Flow rate for all toilets is 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf).
Flow rate for all bathroom faucets is 1.50 gallons per minute (gpm).
Flow rate for all shower heads is 1.50 gallons per minute (gpm).
Energy efficient and ENERGY STAR appliances. For example, all of the dishwashers clean a full load of dishes using 1/3 less water and energy.

Outdoor Water Use

What is a rainwater harvesting system?

Rainwater is rich in nutrients, reduces fertilizer use and is sustainable. The harvesting system combines a sub-surface rainwater harvesting collection system with a recirculating decorative water feature. By capturing and reusing rainwater we are benefitting the environment while saving money.

100% of the roof area is used for harvesting.
100% reduction in irrigation water demand.

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Each LEED for Homes registered project is inspected by a LEED for Homes Green Rater under the guidance of a LEED for Homes Provider. Providers and Green Raters are local organizations and individuals with demonstrated experience with green building. A LEED for Homes Provider has three primary roles in a given market:

LEED for Homes Providers are located around the country and selected by USGBC through a periodic RFQ process to support builders through the LEED certification program.

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LEED-certified buildings cost less to operate, reducing energy and water bills by as much as 40%. Businesses and organizations across the globe use LEED to increase the efficiency of their buildings, freeing up valuable resources that can be used to create new jobs, attract and retain top talent, expand operations and invest in emerging technologies.

LEED buildings have faster lease-up rates and may qualify for a host of incentives like tax rebates and zoning allowances. Not to mention they retain higher property values.

Need more information?

For more information, please visit http://www.usgbc.org/homes, or send an email at
Homes@usgbc.org, or call (800) 795-1747.

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