Real Estate Investing

You may have heard a lot about LEED certification without understanding what it really means. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development, is essentially a rating system set up by the U.S. Green Building Council to gauge the “green”-ness of buildings. The LEED rating system has tiered levels, based on points accumulated for different building features. It offers basic certification, then the gradually higher silver, gold and platinum levels. Consumer Reports offers a more in-depth explanation on its web site:

“These levels correspond to the number of points earned in eight categories: Innovation and design, location and linkages to the larger community, sustainable sites, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials and resources, indoor air quality, and consumer education.”

LEED certification is highly sought after by commercial, government and industrial buildings. Basic LEED techniques, like low-emitting paint and Low E (energy-efficient) windows, are actually being implemented on a regular basis by many new homebuilders nowadays. This trend is part of a growing awareness that a few simple steps, sometimes at no extra construction cost, can go a long way toward helping the environment.