Launched in 2008, the LEED for Homes program—part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification—measures a builder’s approach to:
- Innovation and design
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Many other issues
Cabinetry Matters
Your choice of cabinetry influences scoring in two credit categories:
- Materials and Resources measures “environmentally preferable products,” considering such issues as low emissions, local production and a preference for “purchased wood [that] is either not tropical, FSC-certified or reclaimed”
- Indoor Environmental Quality measures contaminant control, such as formaldehyde in cabinet manufacturing
Increased Energy Savings
Along with its environmental benefits, LEED certification can be very cost-effective. Based on Home Energy Rating System testing, LEED-certified homes offer as much as a 30 percent energy savings compared to homes built under the traditional IECC (International Energy Conservation Code). LEED Platinum-certified homes offer a potential 60 percent savings.