LEED: The Way To A Green Future With Sustainable Building Design

LEED: The Way to a Sustainable Future with Sustainable Building Design by Hendrick Manufacturing.

One of the most common buzzwords in business today is “green.” For once, businesses aren’t using it to talk about money. Lots of businesses are using the word “green” to describe their efforts to make their operations more eco-friendly. Whether they use biodegradable or sustainable materials, convert their facilities to renewable energy, or contribute to causes that make a positive difference for the environment, many companies have made green principles part of their business model. In doing so, they have not only made a positive impact in conserving natural resources and reducing pollution, but they also have earned the goodwill of consumers and improved the standing of their brands. There are many ways businesses can ride the green wave to become more environmentally responsible and profitable. They can start by taking a close look at their own facilities.

The spaces businesses inhabit have a tremendous impact on those businesses’ environmental footprints. That’s because commercial buildings use a significant amount of all the energy consumed in the United States — roughly 20 percent. Although much of that energy could be saved by adopting simple practices; turning lights off when no one is in the room or installing low-flow plumbing fixtures; a lot of energy used by commercial buildings is simply because of inefficient building design. Adopting sustainable building design in new construction or remodeling projects will help commercial buildings use less energy, contributing to a business’s overall sustainability.

The U.S. Green Building Council has coded specific standards for energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings. These standards are known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Attaining LEED certification means a commercial building lives up to many of the principles behind sustainable building design, signifying that the businesses inside that building are committed to sustainability and environmental leadership.

Attaining LEED certification can be as simple as changing incandescent light bulbs for energy-efficient LED or CFL alternatives. Or, it can be as significant as using sustainable building materials such as perforated metal or renewable bamboo in place of old-growth wood products. No matter how LEED certification is achieved, it sends a message to consumers and the rest of the world that a business is serious about being responsible from an ecological standpoint. If your business cares about reducing its environmental footprint through sustainable building design, the following guide should answer any questions you may have about LEED.