Understanding Leed And Why It’s Important

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that recognizes the very best eco-friendly building strategies and practices. Becoming LEED certified has many advantages for companies, especially in a city as environmentally-conscious as San Francisco. In addition to running more efficiently (and ultimately more cheaply), LEED certified businesses benefits from government incentives, increased property values, and even new marketing and branding possibilities. Here’s a closer look at LEED certification and some of the steps you can take to achieve it, such as hiring a green cleaning service in San Francisco.

Levels of LEED Certification

There are four levels of certification, each of which represents varying levels of green building designs and practices. The more points your business earns, the higher your level of certification. The four levels of LEED certification are: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80+ points).

Rating Systems

Points are offered in eight categories for adopting specified building practices, materials, or products. Some of the highest point categories include Sustainable Sites (measures the building’s impact on the surrounding environment), Energy and Atmosphere (higher points giver for more energy-efficient heating and cooling systems), and Indoor Air Quality (the measure of the air inside your building). There are many ways to achieve a higher number of points in a given category, like hiring a green cleaning service for example.

Benefits of Becoming LEED Certified

Going through the trouble to run an energy- and resource-efficient building is no small feat, and buildings that achieve LEED certification through varying means like reducing water consumption or hiring a green janitorial service enjoy many benefits. For example, LEED buildings may qualify for a number of incentives like tax rebates and zoning allowances. LEED businesses also have the benefit of branding themselves as environmentally-conscious, which is important in a city like San Francisco where green cleaning services are often preferred.