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The Greening of IT
116 How Companies Can Make a Difference for the Environment

Six volunteers on one committee to more than 200 volunteers on nearly
20 committees and three dozen professional staff.
LEED was created to accomplish the following:

■ Define “green building” by establishing a common standard of
measurement
■ Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
■ Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
■ Stimulate green competition
■ Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
■ Transform the building market

Green Building Council members, representing every sector of the build-
ing industry, developed and continue to refine LEED. The rating system
addresses the following six major areas:

■ Sustainable sites
ptg
■ Water efficiency
■ Energy and atmosphere
■ Materials and resources
■ Indoor environmental quality
■ Innovation and design process

Benefits and Disadvantages

The move toward LEED and green building practices has been driven
greatly by the tremendous benefits that are a direct result of implementing a
green approach. Green buildings use key resources more efficiently when
compared to conventional buildings that are simply built to code. LEED cre-
ates healthier work and living environments, contributes to higher produc-
tivity and improved employee health and comfort. The USGBC has also
compiled a long list of benefits of implementing a LEED strategy, which
ranges from improving air and water quality to reducing solid waste. The
fundamental reduction in relative environmental impacts and all the eco-
nomic and occupant benefits go a long way for making a case for green build-
ing. It is also important to note that these benefits are reaped by anyone who