The US Green Building Council LEED Certification is a measurement criteria of one of the principals we are trying to demonstrate with the Barn/House.
For more information about the US Green Building Council visit their web site at (www.USGBC.ORG). The following is taken from the LEED for Homes documentation:
What are Green Homes
"The environmental impact of the residential sector is significant. There are more than 120 million homes in the United States, and about 2 million new homes are constructed each year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the residential sector accounts for 22% of the total energy consumed in the US and 74% of the water. Indoor air pollutants can often be four to five times higher than outdoor levels. Twenty-one percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are contributed by the residential sector. The considerable impact on the environment created by homes necessitates a shift toward more sustainable residences.
Green home building addresses these issues by promoting the design and construction of homes that have much higher performance levels than conventional homes (i.e. homes that are built to the minimum building codes). Generally, green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, and more energy efficient. And of course, they also have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes."
Overview of LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is an initiative designed to actively promote the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices. LEED for Homes is targeting the top 25% of new homes with best practice environmental features. LEED for Homes is a collaborative initiative that actively works with all sectors of the home building industry.
The LEED for Homes rating system uses eight different resource categories to measure the overall performance of a home:
1) Innovation and Design Process the category that includes several types of innovation measures including: special design methods, unique regional credits, measures not currently addressed in the Rating System, and/or exemplary performance levels.
2) Location and Linkages the placement of homes in socially and environmentally responsible ways in relation to the larger community.
3) Sustainable Sites the use of the entire property so as to minimize the projects impact on the site.
4) Water Efficiency the water conservation practices (both indoor and outdoor) built into the home.
5) Energy and Atmosphere the improvement of energy efficient particularly the building envelope and heating and cooling design.
6) Materials and Resources the efficient utilization of materials, selection of environmentally preferable materials, and minimization of waste during construction.
7) Indoor Environmental Quality the improvement of indoor air quality by reducing possible air pollution. 8) Awareness and Education the education of homeowner, tenant, and building manager (as appropriate in larger multifamily buildings about the operations and maintenance of the green features of their LEED Home.
The LEED for Homes rating system works by awarding credits for different aspects of environmental design in each of the above categories.