Page 15 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

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environmental issues that are focused on in LEED and gives some direction into means
to accomplish the goals, or gives more detailed background information on the
environmental systems and impacts that many of the LEED subcategories are based on.
In this way, an engineer or other professional may better grasp the intent of the
proposed sustainability methods. A better understanding may result in better and more
comprehensive, or perhaps alternative designs to obtain the goals. This book is meant to
be a guide for all professionals working on sustainable construction in the United States.
The book is divided into three different types of sections. The first section, which
consists of Chap. 1, gives an introduction to both sustainable construction and the USGBC
LEED–New Construction rating system. The second section, Chaps. 2 through 7, goes
into detail on many of the prerequisites and credits used by the USGBC for certification
through its version 3 (LEED 2009) rating system for new construction and major
renovations. The last section, Chaps. 8, 9, and 10, consists of several distinct parts
broadening out from the specific rating system items with emphasis on application to
various sectors of particular interest to many groups, management, the military, and low-
impact development (LID). Chapter 8 includes the Minimum Program Requirements as
specified for a project to be eligible to register for LEED 2009, and gives some overviews
of construction management and organization for helping a green professional make a
sustainable construction project successful particularly if based on the LEED rating
system. Chapter 9 gives a view of how the Federal Government and one of its largest
departments, the Department of Defense (DoD), have evolved as major contributors to
the sustainable development movement in the United States. This chapter starts with a
broad overview of how the DoD is involved in the movement and gradually details it
down to the example of how the DoD is starting to address the improving of indoor air
quality. Chapter 10 gives a broad overview of how this rating system may effectively
intersect with another growing movement in the sustainable construction arena in the
United States, Low Impact Development (LID), which focuses on the outdoor impacts of
construction, particularly with respect to stormwater.
The Engineering Guide to LEED—New Construction can be used either as a textbook or a
reference book. The exercises in the chapters help to develop sustainable skills and
understanding for the students, while also allowing them to research the new principles
and guidances that may evolve after publication of the book. I hope that others find as great
a satisfaction and enjoyment in becoming more green as I have over the past few years.

Liv Haselbach