How LEED Applies to Different Property Types
By Dees Stribling
Currently, there are nine distinct building types that can apply and either be certified LEED, LEED Silver, LEED Gold or LEED Platinum.
- New Construction and Major Renovations: The original LEED category, which was designed to certify new high-performance commercial projects.
- Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance: Provides a benchmark to measure operations, improvements and maintenance in existing structures.
- Commercial Interiors: A benchmark for tenant improvements.
- Core & Shell: Aids developers, builders and designs in sustainable design for new core and shell construction.
- Schools: Addresses the specific needs of K-12 school spaces.
- Retail: Addresses the specific needs of retail space.
- Health care: Promotes sustainable planning, design and construction for healthcare facilities.
- Homes: Promotes the design and construction of green single-family residential space.
- Neighborhood Development: Integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building into a program for neighborhood design, the first of its kind.
In the U.K., BREEAM certification, which is the equivalent of LEED in many respects, also has distinct categories. These include some of the same property types as LEED, such as office, retail, schools and health care. Additionally, there are more specialized property types not specifically under the LEED umbrella, such as industrial properties, courts and prisons.
|
|
|
