What exactly is green construction?
LEED, USGBC and Green Building
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for construction companies to use in the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Once construction is complete, LEED provides building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED rating systems are available for a variety of new and existing commercial and residential buildings; the most relevant systems for commercial construction companies are LEED-NC and LEED for Core and Shell.

LEED for New Construction — LEED-NC
The LEED for New Construction Rating System (LEED-NC) is designed to guide commercial construction companies and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, high-rise residential buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants and laboratories. LEED-NC is applicable to new commercial construction and major renovation projects, making it an important system to commercial construction companies interested in green building.

LEED for Core and Shell
LEED for Core & Shell is a green building rating system for designers, construction companies, developers and new building owners who want to address sustainable design for new core and shell construction. Core and shell covers base building elements such as structure, envelope and the HVAC system. LEED for Core & Shell is designed to be complementary to the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system, as both rating systems establish green building criteria for developers, owners and tenants.

The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System acknowledges the limitations of construction companies and developers in a speculatively developed building and encourages the implementation of green design and construction practices in areas over which the developer has control.

Commercial construction companies and developers can often implement green strategies that indirectly benefit future tenants. Conversely, commercial construction companies and developers can inadvertently implement strategies that prohibit tenants from executing green fit-outs. LEED for Core & Shell works to set up a synergistic relationship, which allows future tenants to capitalize on green strategies implemented by the construction company and developer.

How Does LEED Work?
LEED is a point-based system where construction projects earn LEED points for satisfying specific green building criteria. Within each of the six LEED credit categories, projects must satisfy particular prerequisites and earn points. The six categories include:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy & Atmosphere
• Materials & Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation in Design (projects can earn ID points for green building innovations).

• Certified: 26 - 32 points
• Silver: 33 - 38 points
• Gold: 39 - 51 points
• Platinum: 52 - 69 points

Recognizing the importance of the USGBC and the LEED certification program, Nauman employs a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) as part of the company's full-time staff, to facilitate the certification process on any project where LEED will be implemented.

Nauman has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that environmental responsibility, along with the jobsite safety, legal and ethical business practices, emphasis on quality construction and focus on budget and schedule, is offered on every project we build.

You can speak with one of Nauman's construction professionals, who can answer your questions about LEED Certification and what it means for your new building project. Please call us at (717) 299-1395.

More Information on LEED, USGBC and Green Building
The website LEED.net features a wide range of information about LEED, USGBC and Green Building.