Green Building Rating System

Originally developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED® provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

LEED® is both a certification program and an internationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, providing building owners and operators tools they can use to have an immediate and measurable impact on green performance.

Five key performance areas of human and environmental health are recognized in LEED®’s whole-building approach to sustainability:

•  Sustainable site development
•  Water efficiency
•  Energy efficiency
•  Selection of materials
•  Indoor environmental quality

An additional category of innovation and design addresses sustainable building expertise and aspects of the design process not covered by the above five environmental categories.

LEED® Certification distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting the highest performance standards. Following an independent review and audit, certification is awarded based on a total point score of LEED® Credits achieved in the rating. Four levels of certification (certified, silver, gold, and platinum) are possible based on each particular project’s goals and constraints.

The Canadian rating systems are tailored specifically for Canadian climates, construction practices, and regulations, and are developed through an inclusive process engaging experts and stakeholders that represent the various sectors of the Canadian industry.

Growing numbers of private sector organizations and governments are adopting LEED® certification in their policies and operations. Here are some of the reasons why:

•  To gain recognition for green building efforts
•  To validate achievement through third party review
•  To qualify for a growing array of government incentives
•  To contribute to a growing green building knowledge base

Today, LEED® consists of nine rating systems with five overarching categories for the design, construction and operation of buildings, homes and neighborhoods. Currently the list consists of:

Green Building Design & Construction

•  LEED® for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC)
•  LEED® for Core & Shell Development (LEED-CS)
•  LEED® for Schools (no short form)
•  LEED® for Retail New Construction (LEED for Retail-NC, planned 2010)

Green Interior Design & Construction

•  LEED® for Commercial Interiors (LEED®-CI)
•  LEED® for Retail Interiors (LEED® for Retail-CI, planned 2010)

Green Building Operations & Maintenance

•  LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EBOM)

Green Neighborhood Development

•  LEED® for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)

Green Home Design and Construction

•  LEED® for Homes (no short form)

In 2003, the Canada Green Building Council received permission to create its own version of LEED® for New Construction, now called LEED® Canada-NC v1.0, which was based upon LEED-NC 2.0.

LEED-EBOM
LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance certification

LEED-EBOM certification forces an existing facility to go through the process of measuring to achieve accountability. The process leads facility managers through a long list of sustainable operations and maintenance goals for existing buildings. One benefit of fulfilling certification requirements is that it forces facilities organizations to standardize processes.

LEED-EBOM is a hub around which all sustainable initiatives can circle. It provides a benchmark for what is attainable and helps managers refine what they're already doing. Codifying building procedures brings a level of consistency. Without having things in writing, people within an organization will do things in different ways. LEED® forces existing buildings to figure out their own best practices, which usually evolve throughout the certification process.

Facilities make certification a goal because they want proof of their environmental initiatives and that what they're doing is successful. They want a way to illustrate their energy savings efforts to the community without having to talk in technical terms. LEED®-EBOM certification is third-party, independent verification that facilities are doing things correctly. Facility managers are learning to justify their existence using LEED-EBOM certification as a mechanism to show what they've done. Certification is tangible, something they can point to.

Energy and water use standards are very important prerequisites. Other prerequisites require a plan for sustainable purchasing, green cleaning and energy management, among others.

LEED-EBOM certification is not usually something that can be done quickly. It is a process that takes time. One of the parts of LEED-EBOM that sets it apart from its new construction counterpart is the required three-month performance period. For a minimum of three months, facility managers are required to have in place all policies and procedures, and record measurements for that performance period prior to submission. That three-month documentation is often one of the hardest parts of certification.
 
For vendors, making this process as easy as possible for their customers is essentially a business development opportunity, so facility managers are finding more and more green cleaning companies that are much better suited to help them with the submission process of paperwork and calculations in the format LEED® requires.

The benefit is not just the certification itself, but the process LEED-EBOM certification forces facilities to go through. It's a way of garnering good PR for the organization in general and the facility department specifically. It helps codify and systemize facility management practices. It helps save on operating costs. And it makes a facility more environmentally responsible.

LEED® Canada Green Cleaning Requirements

A point system determines whether LEED® certification can be achieved, and buildings earn points (LEED® credits) by complying with a high performance cleaning program intended to reduce hazardous exposures and adverse affects on human health and the environment. The cleaning program is supported by policy, staffing plans, standard operating procedures, and storage procedures that address sustainable and effective cleaning and floor maintenance.