Decoding L.E.E.D. Certification for Metal Structures

Brought to you by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) is the verification for your metal structure – It is known as LEED certification. USGBC invests more than $30 million annually to maintain, operate, and improve LEEP & customer delivery.

It is an internationally recognized green building certification program. It tells you how much the structure you own is sustainable and environmentally friendly. It is an independent third-party verification that aims to improve metal building’s performance in the following terms –

• Energy saving water efficiency
• Reducing carbon footprint
• Daylighting
• Site & material selection

So, without further ado, let’s dive into what’s and how’s around LEEDs.

What is L.E.E.D. Certification?

LEED Stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It is a point based rating system. The higher the rating, the more sustainable & energy efficient your metal building will be. The foundation for LEED was laid in 1998. Even since then, different versions of LEED have been suggested and implemented.

The latest version is LEED v4.1. It has raised the standard over which sustainability is addressed.

 

What is L.E.E.D. Certification For?

It is meant to increase awareness among the general population of green building, their positive impact on the environment, and energy saving methods. After all, who doesn’t want to save money on their monthly energy bills?

Both companies and people can use and benefit from it. It is a positive initiative towards a greener tomorrow. Using an eco-friendly structure, you can get various government benefits like tax credits.

 

What L.E.E.D. Measures?

It measures how green your metal buildings are. It consists of four levels of certification. They are as follows –

Certification Name		Points
LEED Certified	40-49
Silver Certification	50-59
Gold Certification	60-79
Platinum Certification	80+

 

The higher your points are, the more sustainable your building is. LEED credit systems are based on some essential parameters, each having its own weightage. Some crucial ones are listed as follows:

Priority
Climate Change	35%
Impact On Human Health	20%
Fair Use Of Water Resources	15%
Effect On Biodiversity	10%
Green Economy	10%
Impact On Community & Natural Resources	5%

 

Following are the different types of rating systems, their adaptations, and versions. You can find this in metal structures as well.

 

“Rating Systems”   —————————–	Rating System “Adaptations” —————————–	Rating System “Versions”   —————————–
Building Design & Construction (BD+C)	New Construction (NC)	v2009
Operation & Maintenance (O+M)	Core & Shell (CS)	v4
Interior Design & Construction (ID+C)	Data Centers (DC)	v4.1

 

L.E.E.D. Certification for Metal Buildings

You may be tempted to think that green buildings cost more, but to your surprise, you can get affordable & sustainable – 2 in 1 when you choose a metal building. Let’s look at some of the pointers LEED puts at the center of attention, which metal structures fulfill.

1. Site:

Installing a metal structure on your site promotes eco-friendly living. Not just that, a steel building is easy & fast to install, with minimal raw material wastage and 100% reusability.

 

2. Energy Saving:

You can install a cool metal roof to save heat loss from the roof. An insulated metal structure puts less pressure on the HAVC system working, making the whole building energy efficient. It stops moisture buildup and prevents rusting, promoting the life of metal panels.

 

3. Green:

It does not matter how many times you reuse steel. It maintains its strength and durability. So, you get a high return on investment. Even sometime in the future, if you want to demolish and construct a new design, you can recycle steel 100%. This leads to virtually zero wastage, making steel buildings environment friendly.

 

4. Indoor Air Quality:

Metal does not decompose or emit any fumes or toxic gases in the air. You can also customize your metal design to get maximum natural light. This will have a positive impact on human health. With metal, you also get to have acoustical control as you desire.

 

5. Water Saving:

Metal building allows for the collection of rainwater via the use of gutter and downspout. This water can be stored & reused in numerous ways. Since water gets redirected immediately as it hits the vertical metal panels, it is collected quickly. It means cleaner water than compared to other rainwater harvesting.

Also, metal buildings do not require huge amounts of water or wood during construction. This is a bonus point.

 

Can Anyone Apply for It?

The short answer is – Yes. You can get pretty much any structure certified as green as long as it adheres to the codes presented by USGBC. So, if you are planning for a renovation or a new installation of metal buildings, do check whether it is certified by LEED or not.

Both commercial and residential structures can use it. Now, a question that might come to your mind is,” What data do I need to give to get the certification?” check them out…

1. water efficiency
2. energy saving & carbon or other greenhouse gas emission
3. material & natural resources
4. indoor environmental quality, interior innovation & construction  
5. site sustainability & regional priority

 

End Goal of L.E.E.D.

Truth be told, the main goal of the LEED program is to tackle climate change and meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

• It aims at reducing the contribution to global climate change.
• It aims to save biodiversity and the ecosystem.
• It aims at promoting sustainable and recyclable materials.

 

In The Final Analysis

Whether you are buying a metal building for the first time or as a second investment, you must always look for a LEED rating. It will help you save money and contribute positively towards the protection of nature. After all, it is nature that provides us with its beauty and grace.

Buy your steel building from a certified dealer only. And do not forget to cross check several quotes to land on the best deal.