Page 204 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

174 LEED—LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

by the use of established or advanced industry standards, principles, practices, and
materials. Note that the United States, with 5 percent of the world population, presently
consumes 25 percent of the global energy resources.
The U.S. Green Building Council introduced the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and checklist. This system establishes
qualification and rating standards that categorize construction projects with certified
designations, such as silver, gold, and platinum. Depending on adherence to the
number of points specified in the project checklist, a project may be bestowed recog-
nition and potentially a set amount of financial contribution by state and federal
agencies.
Essentially the LEED guidelines discussed in this chapter, in addition to providing
design guidelines for energy conservation, are intended to safeguard the ecology and
reduce environmental pollution resulting from construction projects. There are many
ways to analyze the benefits of LEED building projects. In summary, green building
design is about productivity. A number of studies, most notably a study by Greg Kats
of Capital-E, have validated the productivity value.
There are also a number of factors that make up this analysis. The basic concept is
that if employees are happy in their workspace, such as having an outside view and
daylight in their office environment, and a healthy environmental quality, they become
more productive.

State of California Green Building

Action Plan

The following is adapted from the detailed direction that accompanies the California
governor’s executive order regarding the Green Building Action Plan, also referred to
as Executive Order S-20-04. The original publication, which is a public domain doc-
ument, can be found on the Californian Energy Commission’s Web pages.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS
State buildings All employees and all state entities under the governor’s jurisdiction
must immediately and expeditiously take all practical and cost-effective measures to
implement the following goals specific to facilities owned, funded, or leased by the state.
Green buildings The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed green
building rating systems that advance energy and material efficiency and sustainability,
known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction and
Major Renovations (LEED-NC) and LEED Rating System for Existing Buildings
(LEED-EB).
2
All new state buildings and major renovations of 10,000 ft and over and subject to
Title 24 must be designed, constructed, and certified by LEED-NC Silver or higher, as
described later.