LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that “provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings,” according to USGBC. Though it’s more common for commercial buildings to be built to LEED standards, single-family homes can do it. LEED certification includes four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with each level reflecting the number of points earned based on sustainability achievements. As part of our services, we conduct a LEED® GAP Analysis to assess your building’s current performance and provide a roadmap to achieve LEED certification, ensuring compliance with sustainability goals.

This certification empowers building owners to reduce their energy and water consumption significantly. Achieve environmental stewardship and cost savings by creating a net-positive regenerative building. Begin this process by selecting a state-of-the-art building envelope and façade that utilize high-performing, regional materials. By utilizing regional materials, we minimize the environmental impact of transportation. According to LEED, regional materials are defined in the Materials and Resources (MR) Credit 5 as “building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% or 20%, based on cost, of the total materials value.”

Design your sustainable building to harness clean and renewable energy technology, natural ventilation for cooling, and passive solar heating. Architectural design elements such as shading, whether through natural landscaping or building elements such as awnings, overhangs, and trellises, can significantly decrease the energy required to cool your building. Consider incorporating skylights for daylighting and adding a cistern for water collection.