How Does the LEED Certification Process Proceed?

What Is the LEED Certificate and Its Benefits?

The LEED Rating System defines environmentally friendly practices across many categories during design, construction and operation. Work within the LEED certification system includes water conservation, energy efficiency, carbon emissions from location and transportation, material selection, sustainable site planning and indoor air quality.

LEED certified buildings provide many advantages. First, LEED certified buildings support both human health and the environment while saving on operating costs. Environmentally friendly design and practices deliver energy savings and lower operating costs. In addition, LEED certified buildings have high indoor air quality, which positively affects employee health. 

The LEED Certification Process Step by Step

To obtain LEED certification, building owners must meet certain LEED criteria during the design and construction stages. The LEED certification process consists of several steps, each with specific requirements. The first step is registering the project with the LEED certification system. Then, during the design and construction stages, a roadmap is set for the LEED criteria. At this stage, it is helpful to get support from a consultancy firm experienced in green design and practices.

To obtain LEED certification, all steps must be completed and the project must pass the review process successfully. During this process, building owners and the project team must act in line with the LEED criteria and provide the correct documentation. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process requires building owners to meet certain LEED criteria during design and construction. The process consists of the following steps:

1. Stage 1

   LEED Criteria Pre-Assessment

   At this stage, the project’s compliance with LEED criteria is assessed and the criteria to be met are identified. The LEED consultant can also provide the project teams with informative training about LEED certification.

2. Stage 2

   Registration with the LEED Certification System

   Building owners seeking LEED certification must first register their projects with USGBC. This stage is completed by paying the LEED registration fee.

3. Stage 3

   Preparing the Technical Specification

   The strategies and work required to design and construct the project in accordance with LEED criteria are defined in the LEED technical specification. 

4. Stage 4

   Design Stage

   During design, the changes needed to meet LEED criteria are made. Topics include water and energy savings, indoor air quality, location and transportation information, sustainable site planning and related issues.

5. Stage 5

   Material and Equipment Selection

   The materials and equipment to be used in the project are selected in accordance with LEED criteria.

6. Stage 6

   Design Stage Submission

   After design is complete, the assessment application for design-stage topics is submitted and the project’s compliance with LEED criteria is reviewed.

7. Stage 7

   Construction Stage

   During construction, the processes required to implement the strategies defined in design are carried out. Work includes waste management, monitoring indoor air quality, preparing and implementing an ESC plan, and following up the commissioning of devices and equipment.

8. Stage 8

   Construction Stage Submission

   After construction is complete, the certification application is submitted and the project’s compliance with LEED criteria is reviewed. The project review process begins at this stage.

9. Stage 9

   Certification Process

   This stage reviews the project’s compliance with LEED criteria and determines its certification level. It begins after assessment applications are submitted; additional documents and information must be provided to the reviewing organization when required. Any necessary appeals are also made at this stage.

10. Stage 10

    Receiving the LEED Certificate

    The final step is awarding LEED certification to the project. The certification level earned by the project is determined and the certificate is presented to the building owner.

What Are the LEED Certification Levels?

LEED certificates are awarded at the Gold, Silver, Certified and Platinum levels. These levels are determined by how successfully the project meets the LEED criteria. As the chart shows, the Gold level certificate is awarded for 60–79 points from the LEED criteria, and the Platinum level certificate for 80 or more points.

The Certified level is reached with 40–49 points from the LEED criteria — the green building certificate that can be obtained at a lower cost than the other levels. Gold level certified buildings show superior performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, indoor air quality and sustainable site planning. Silver level certified buildings perform at a lower level than Gold but are still confirmed as environmentally friendly structures. Platinum certification shows that nearly all of the criteria in the LEED certification system were considered, and projects at this level stand at the top among certified buildings. For Platinum projects, sustainability and green building criteria must be considered across the whole process — from site selection to building design, and from material selection to construction.

How Can You Prepare for LEED Certification?

To earn a LEED certificate, the project must act in line with the LEED criteria during design and construction. In this process, the team managing the project can work with a consultancy firm experienced in LEED certification and gain detailed information about the certification process.

For successful LEED certification, the right strategies must also be set for the project's budget and schedule. The project team must choose the right materials and practices to meet the LEED criteria during design and construction.

What Are the Costs Associated with LEED Certification?

The costs of obtaining LEED certification vary with the project's size, scope and certification level. Although obtaining a LEED certificate is generally thought to cost more than other conventional building certificates, apart from the certificate fees, certification is possible with zero impact on construction costs. 

The costs associated with LEED certification include consultancy costs, certificate registration and review fees, and construction costs. Consultancy costs are paid to work with an experienced consultancy firm. Such firms have the knowledge and experience to plan, design and build the project in line with the LEED criteria.

Certificate registration and review fees are paid to register with USGBC and apply for certification. These vary with the project's size and scope. 

Finally, construction costs: using materials that comply with the LEED criteria and carrying out the related practices can increase construction costs. But this rate of increase is quite subjective when compared with the work that would have been done anyway without the LEED certificate. 

In conclusion, LEED certification is an important tool for encouraging environmentally friendly design and practices. LEED certified buildings are both environmentally friendly and healthy for occupants. The certification process consists of many steps, and costs vary with the project's size, scope and certification level. However, since a LEED certified building saves on operating costs, these extra costs can be recovered quickly.