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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a point and credit system developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is designed to promote energy efficient and environmentally friendly practices in construction and renovation projects. This set of standards is part of an incentive program that offers grant funding and tax breaks for those buildings which qualify for LEED certification. San Diego business owners who want to participate can start the process by contacting our qualified consultants.

LEED Certification Represents Best Practices

Before you get started, you should know that the LEED system is not a minimal building standard. This is a set of incrementally higher benchmarks which are preferred (but not forced upon) a builder or developer. Participation is voluntary. There are four levels of certification:

• Certified
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Many government buildings have already gone through the certification process - especially in California. The private sector is quickly adapting too. Certification is generally done by an industry professional who is a trained expert in the LEED system. The accreditation process must be overseen by this approved third party - you can't do it alone.

The Green Building Council issues the LEED certification in a three step process:

1. Qualified satisfactory application
2. Thorough review
3. Compliance verification

Points can be added for "greening" the interior of an office building, not just the exterior structure. Ratings can be influenced by such factors as the type of carpet and paint you use and whether renewable resources are selected for furnishings. That's why Greenguard certified office products and furnishings are often recommended for employers seeking to earn LEED credits. San Diego area clients gain access to an entire catalogue of such office furniture when they contact us for a free consultation.

Keep Your Existing LEED Points and Add Even More

Are you already participating in the LEED program? Be aware that any time you make alterations in your work environment this can impact your ability to continue meeting LEED certification requirements. San Diego buildings that are certified are subject to compliance verification and follow-up to ensure that subsequent changes are in line with green objectives.

So, the next time you upgrade or renovate your offices, make sure you take this into account. This is actually a perfect time to increase your certification level - wouldn't it be great to go for platinum? We would love to help you achieve this goal.