Home improvement LEED accreditation can help you save money on energy costs, boost resale value and make your home a more environmentally friendly place to live. While LEED certification is typically associated with new construction, the program also offers a process for certifying green renovations. Homeowners interested in pursuing LEED certification should work with a contractor who is familiar with the process. A contractor can help you select green improvements that align with your goals and provide advice on how to meet LEED standards.
You can claim bonus LEED points for making environmentally friendly improvements that go beyond what the USGBC outlines in its guidelines. This could be anything from installing solar panels to implementing landscaping that reduces erosion into irrigation water for nearby farmland [source: U.S. Green Building Council]. Some of these bonus improvements may even be related to environmental problems specific to your region. Read more https://www.happygoluckyhomebuyer.com/sell-your-house-fast-in-wilkinson-in/
The LEED program offers three different certification levels. The first level, LEED for Homes, is designed for new homes or major renovations of existing buildings. The second level, LEED for Existing Buildings, is meant to promote sustainable operations of existing buildings over the long term. It considers factors like maintenance programs, use of low-emission materials and indoor environmental quality.
The third and final level, LEED for Commercial Interiors, applies to office space and retail facilities. It looks at how a building uses resources, the amount of waste produced and its impact on occupant health. Aside from focusing on the interior of the building, LEED for Commercial Interiors also addresses issues that affect other buildings in a particular region, such as access to public transportation and community amenities.
LEED certification requires the use of sustainable materials and practices during construction. Specifically, builders seeking LEED certification must make an effort to reuse, recycle and repurpose construction materials, such as flooring, framing and roofing materials. They must also limit construction waste through careful planning and resource utilization, and they must ensure that all new materials meet specific sustainability requirements.
Once a new or renovated home is complete, it must undergo an inspection by a LEED Green Rater. This person is trained to assess whether a home meets the necessary LEED requirements and can award it with a certificate of achievement.
In addition to the onsite verification, LEED for Homes includes an online application and credit evaluation. This application can be found on the LEED for Homes website, and it provides an outline of all the required steps to achieve a specific LEED rating.
Once your home is LEED-certified, it can be a great marketing tool and increase the resale value of your property. Additionally, you may be able to qualify for state and local incentives for green features, such as rebates or reduced property taxes. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) to find out what programs are available in your area.