LEED-ing the Way

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or LEED, is a certification program for architects to certify their designs based on different rating-scales that indicate how well their work meets stringent standards for being eco-friendly. Professionals can also obtain credentials to showcase their knowledge, activism, experience and credibility towards the design of buildings and structures that meet LEED requirements.

This is important because architects provide a product of permanence, and they are entrusted with providing the best user experience possible while leaving the least amount of impact on the environment. Budgets, materials and space are almost always limited to some degree, and architects must exercise a great amount of creativity and responsibility as they solve the problems of their clients, their clients’ clients, and the community at large.

Hence the LEED Certification: It’s a set of standards for architects to strive toward in their designs, and it’s an important credential for prospective clients to look for so that they can be sure that they hiring the right team to meet the ever-increasing demand for responsible, sustainable eco-friendly design.

For building and development projects, there are 5 key rating systems to address the various types of projects architects typically work on that are determined from a combination of criteria including items such as: location and transportation, materials and resources, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, sustainable sites, indoor environmental quality, innovation, regional priorities based on geography, and more. These 5 LEED rating systems consist of:

• Building Design and Construction (BD+C)
• Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)
• Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M)
• Neighborhood Development (ND)
• Homes

At SLAY Architecture in San Antonio and Laredo, Texas we pride ourselves on employing team members who are LEED accredited and providing a body of work that meets and exceeds LEED standards is an important goal for our organization, and our clients. We take this work very seriously.

For more information on LEED certifications and credentials, visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s website at www.usgbc.org.