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Information » LEED, USGBC and Green BuildingLEED,
USGBC and Green BuildingLEED, USGBC and Green BuildingAccording
to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global
adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation
and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance
criteria. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for construction companies
to use in the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Once construction is complete, LEED provides building owners and operators the
tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’
performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing
performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site
development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor
environmental quality. LEED rating systems are available for a variety of
new and existing commercial and residential buildings; the most relevant systems
for construction companies are LEED-NC and LEED for Core and Shell. LEED
for New Construction - LEED-NC The LEED for New Construction Rating System
(LEED-NC) is designed to guide construction companies and distinguish high-performance
commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, high-rise residential
buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants
and laboratories. LEED-NC is applicable to new commercial construction and major
renovation projects, making it an important system to construction companies interested
in green building. LEED for Core and ShellLEED for Core & Shell
is a green building rating system for designers, construction companies, developers
and new building owners who want to address sustainable design for new core and
shell construction. Core and shell covers base building elements such as structure,
envelope and the HVAC system. LEED for Core & Shell is designed to be complementary
to the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system, as both rating systems establish
green building criteria for developers, owners and tenants. The LEED for
Core & Shell Rating System acknowledges the limitations of construction companies
and developers in a speculatively developed building and encourages the implementation
of green design and construction practices in areas over which the developer has
control. Construction companies and Developers can often implement green
strategies that indirectly benefit future tenants. Conversely, construction companies
and developers can inadvertently implement strategies that prohibit tenants from
executing green fit-outs. LEED for Core & Shell works to set up a synergistic
relationship, which allows future tenants to capitalize on green strategies implemented
by the construction company and developer. How Does LEED Work?LEED
is a point-based system where construciton projects earn LEED points for satisfying
specific green building criteria. Within each of the six LEED credit categories,
projects must satisfy particular prerequisites and earn points. The six categories
include - Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy
& Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources
- Indoor Environmental
Quality
- Innovation in Design (projects can earn ID points for green building
innovations).
The number of points the project earns determines the
level of LEED Certification the project receives. LEED certification is available
in four progressive levels: - Certified: 26 - 32 points
- Silver:
33 - 38 points
- Gold: 39 - 51 points
- Platinum: 52 - 69 points
Bob
Moore Construction Company and LEEDBob Moore Construction has recognized
the need and business advantage offered by environmental convervation and responsibility.
Recent projects have featured environmental solutions like creative engineering
to facilitate rainwater recapturing and recycling and powerful stormwater retention
systems for buildings near high-pollution settings. In 2009 Bob Moore Construction
company completed the 1.16 million square foot Pioneer 360 Business Center. This
construction project began with the demolition of an abandoned 800,000 square
foot regional mall; more than 95% of the materials removed during demolition of
the mall were recycled rather than discarded. The Pioneer 360 Business Center
is believed to be the first
construction project to be registered as a Gold facility for LEED Core and Shell
in the state of Texas. Recognizing the importance of the USGBC and the
LEED certification program, Bob
Moore Construction company became the first construction company to be a Platinum
Member of the USGBC North Texas Chapter. Bob Moore Construction company employs
a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) as part of the company's full-time staff,
to facilitate the certification process on any project where LEED will be implemented,
and several more employees have earned Green Advantage Commercial Environmental
Certification. Bob Moore Construction company has demonstrated its commitment
to ensuring that environmental responsibility, along with the jobsite safety,
legal and ethical business practices, emphasis on quality construction and focus
on budget and schedule, is offered on every project we build. We encourage
you to contact us today and speak with one of our construction professionals,
who can answer your questions about LEED Certification and what it means for your
new building project. Please call us at (817) 640-1200 or contact
us online. More Information on LEED, USGBC and Green Building The
website LEED.net
features a wide range of information about LEED, USGBC and Green Building.
Please visit LEED.net
for to learn more about this exciting method of commercial construction. Visit
our Featured
Websites page for more links to LEED and Green Building websites. LEED,
USGBC and Green Building ArticlesConstruction Company.com presents the
following articles to offer additional information on LEED, US Green Building
Council and Green Building. | 
