Sustainability

One program that has been instrumental in transforming the market is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a points-based green building rating system developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is tailored for tenant improvement (TI) projects and guides building tenants and design teams to help them make sustainable choices and improve the indoor environment within the scope of work they control.

LEED-CI offers a total of 57 points in six possible categories:

• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Materials and resources
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation and design

For a project to be certified, it must meet all prerequisites and generate a minimum number of points within the above credit categories. The number of points awarded determines the level of LEED certification - Certified (21-26 points), Silver (27-31 points), Gold (32-41 points) and Platinum (42-57 points).
Although LEED does not certify products and services used in a given project, they do play a role and can help a project achieve credit points.
For more information on LEED, vist the USGBC website.
If you're interested in pursuing a LEED-CI project and would like to learn more, give us a call to schedule an appointment. We have trained professionals, including an on-staff LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), who can help you navigate the LEED process.