LEED for Homes · Mar 7, 03:24 PM
The LEED for Homes program is a new, national rating system for green houses, sponsored by the USGBC. If you are building a new home, or doing a major green retrofit, we’d recommend you consider participating in the program. It focuses on energy use, water consumption, durability, indoor air quality, and green materials. The program awards points in each of these categories, and depending on the points you receive, your home receives a certified, silver, gold or platinum rating.
Besides scrutinizing all the major design components of a green home, the program also requires third-party verification of the construction. This consists of visual inspections and physical tests, completed by a green home rater during construction. Because much of what makes a home green is embedded in the construction and can’t be seen, LEED certification gives a homeowner assurance both on the quantity and quality of greenness in their home. It also enhances the home’s value for any future homeowner.
Participating in LEED for Homes will cost about $2000 in fees to USGBC and your green rater. There are three forms your builder will have to submit to USGBC at the project’s completion.
If you’re reading this, you probably already understand the big picture: by building a seriously green home, you will be hedging against increasing energy prices, protecting our children’s future, reducing our reliance on foreign oil, and helping in the fight against global warming.
Go to the USGBC’s green home guide to learn more. Also see our EcoVillage project, which was the first home in northern Virginia to receive a LEED rating.
— Laura Campbell
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