Architects Helps Universities Conserve Earth’s Resources Through Environmentally Responsible Designs
Colleges and universities today are looking for sustainable facilities, and a number of them choose to participate in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) process to obtain a measurable level of sustainability.
LEED is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, LEED includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. The goal of the program is to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification based on a point system, with higher points earned correlating to greater energy efficiency: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80 or more points).