our LEED certified homes

what does LEED certified mean?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), is a Green Building rating system created and implemented by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification requires documentation and independant verification of sustainable, energy-efficient, and low-polluting environmentally conscience (essentially "green") construction. This type of construction is awarded LEED certification based upon a point rating system. Depending on how many points is earned, one of four certification levels can be achieved.

The minimum point levels are:
-- 45 for "Certified"
-- 60 for "Silver"
-- 75 for "Gold"
-- 90 for "Platinum."

what LEED certification level has the center achieved?
The Center is constructing a new home which is designed to achieve the "Gold" rating. This home will be the first gold-certified home in the State of Kentucky. Reaching this high level of sustainable green construction cost the Center an additional $10,000 compared with similar home construction without LEED certification.

why LEED for homes?
Some focus areas include:
-- Interior air quality
-- Energy efficiency
-- Insulation
-- Landscaping with native non-invasive, low water requirement plants
-- Low VOC (Volitale Organic Compound) emissions
-- Walkability and density of surrounding neighborhood

To learn more about the qualifications needed for Gold LEED-certification, please review the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) rating system. Or to visit their LEED Home website, click here.

Back to: construction methods
Back to: austinburg