AES recently summarized an article that outlines how any project can incorporate many strategies of LEED that can result in an affordably built LEED home. Learn more about these 22 tips for a LEED home at the main Alliance for Environmental Sustainability web site.
LEED for Homes has always required ENERGY STAR (a HERS rating of 85) as a prerequisite, and rewarded increasingly low HERS ratings with more points in the rating system. However, significant changes in the next iteration of the rating system (LEED 2012) will be even more performance-oriented, which should play well to Passive House customers. Especially those customers who want not only energy-efficient performance and good IAQ, but also those that want to go beyond and incorporate broader aspects of sustainability into their homes. This is where Passive House and LEED become intertwined. Read more » »
The first public comment period is open for LEED for Homes changes that will go into effect in 2012. The comment period closes at the end of this year - Jan 14, 2011. You can download the full version at but as a LEED for Homes Provider, AES has distilled some of the highlights for you. This information comes from the LEED for Homes Specialty Update given Nov. 19 at Greenbuild 2010.
Implementation Timetable: (all dates approximate)
First Public Comment: NOW through Jan 14., 2011 download and comment
Second Public Comment: July 1 - Aug 15, 2011 (tentative schedule)
Revisions released for balloting: August 2012
Implementation: Nov 2012
Note: In addition to the public comment periods, ongoing feedback can be given online via the Stakeholder forum at LEEDuser.com
Let’s go through the major changes section by Read more » »
LEED has had its share of detractors lately whether it be concerns over post-occupancy performance, alignment with ENERGY STAR version 3, collaboration with Passive House, or the impact of green buildings on human health. There are many voices that have talked about ways to improve the LEED for Homes rating system.
Now, those looking to shape the future of green building have through the end of the year to make their voices heard. All versions of LEED, including LEED for Homes, will be finalized in 2011, due to launch in just over a year at the beginning of 2012.
Here are the details: Read more » »
Those familiar with the LEED for Homes rating system know there are many prerequisites that all projects must meet prior to Certification. These are spread across the credit areas, so there are prerequisites in Indoor Environmental Quality, Energy, Materials and Resources, and more.
One area that is a bit confusing is the Innovation and Design prerequisite for Durability Planning and Management (ID prereq 2). This is a two-step process to help ensure homes are durable and built to last by mitigating any local climate variables on the home. The first step is to identify risks, and the second is to identify strategies to address those risks. For example, if the home is being built in an area with high air infiltration, heat loss, and water infiltration, what design and construction strategies are being used to mitigate these issues? Read more » »
The White House isn’t the only residence earning accolades for having a food garden on its property. With the newly-released pre-approved Innovation and Design (ID) credit, LEED for Homes projects that incorporate a food garden into the design will be eligible for an ID point, if certain specifications are met.
The intent of the Food Garden credit is to provide a functional and sustainable means of supporting the homeowner’s food needs. A project may earn credit for an on site food garden if Read more » »
In order to assist green building project teams and LEED for Homes project teams, USGBC has produced a LEED for Homes Homeowners Operations and Maintenance
(HOM) Manual.
The HOM Manual was developed to support the LEED for Homes prerequisite AE 1: Education of the Homeowner or Tenant, and to provide tips on maintaining a LEED-certified home. Be sure to read the Project Team Instructions for how to properly use and customize the manual.
The manual is available to all project teams and can assist anyone looking for information on how a home works.
Download the Basic Operations Training manual (AE1.1)
The Materials and Resources (MR) credit 2.2 is one of the more challenging areas of LEED for Homes to get a handle on. First of all, the unique aspect in LEED for Homes is that credit is awarded on a building component - by - building component basis. This is significantly different from other versions of LEED. For instance, a project can earn credit just for flooring.
Additionally, there are many options for how a certain building component actually earns credit Read more » »
LEED for Homes project teams that sign up for USGBC’s Building Performance Partnership (BPP) are now eligible to earn an optional point in Innovation and Design (ID) point for Utility Tracking, which will be done via EarthAid.net.
For the residential market, providing performance data for energy and water usage after occupancy is not required as in other Read more » »