Last May a tornado tore through the Kansas town of Greensburg whipping part of the town off the map, literally. Overcoming tragedy through heartfelt actions, the community used the rebuild as an opportunity to “go green”.

The town is tapping into energy ideas like geothermal options, wind turbines, solar panels, and improved recycling programs. In addition, they are building better buildings too. Kudos to you Greensburg (and to all others that are building green). So, how does one know they are building to a green standard? By building to U.S. Green Building Council’s LEEDs Standards system – silly.

LEEDs is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This nationally recognized third party certification rating system creates standards for sustainable green building. Eco-minded projects like these have LEEDs standards seeded during a building’s design phase and carried all the way through the daily operations of the completed/occupied building.

There are four tiers: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Platinum is the highest. Each tier has certain requirements one has to meet. As you may have concluded, the requirements get tougher the higher you go.

What goes in to a rating can vary depending on the type of structure (new or existing building, developing neighborhoods, home, hospitals, retail, school, etc.). Some of the checkpoints you can expect to get rated on can include:

  • Green design/architecture
  • Construction methods/materials
  • Landscaping choices
  • Water management
  • Energy and Atmosphere Management
  • Indoor Quality (air quality, moisture control, space distribution, etc.)
  • Location (proximity to community, transportation options, open space, etc.)
  • Sustainability
  • Owner and/or Tenant green awareness/education

Why you will make a difference: LEEDs certified homes contribute to a greener planet by reducing energy consumption, waste, and emissions while creating healthier living conditions for occupants. You can also get some extra money in your pocket through qualified incentives, allowances, and tax rebates while reducing utility bills. Think you have a project that fits? Consider the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEEDs certification. Read more about the program here.