November 6, 2008

LEED Homes – density considerations

by Environmental Building Strategies in Green Building, LEED No Comments

LEED in general has advocated that the higher the density, the “greener” the building. This is especially true in the LEED for Homes project that the USGBC unveiled in the beginning of 2008. “About 500 builders representing 10,000 homes across the U.S. participated in the LEED for Homes pilot program.” Since then the program has registered ~ 275 homes in California and has been in strong competition with the “easier and cheaper” GreenPoint program. LEED has since expanded their community and are looking for LEED H Providers in an effort to keep up in the competitive residential market. Other programs such as Green Communities as well as local green building ordinances in and around San Francisco offer cheaper solutions to budget conscious builders. However density, as mentioned before, is the true difference that sets these programs apart. LEED density considerations head on and makes it truly difficult to construct a 3 bedroom 10,000 square foot house on 10 acres of land and call it environmentally friendly. LEED continually updates their programs and successfully ran a pilot program to determine the inherent value of their credits. On the flip side, density can be advantageous. Construct a 3 story condo complex in a downtown environment and you barely have to incorporate any “green” construction practices to earn the LEED stamp of approval. So where is the benefit in the trade off. I say LEED you say GreenPoint. Who is right and where is the best balance?