The U.S. Green Building Council recently announced that more than 10,000 homes across the USA have earned LEED certification.
“Reaching this milestone signifies the continued transformation of the home building industry towards high-performing, healthy homes that save home owners money,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President of Residential Market Development, U.S. Green Building Council. “Market leaders across the production, multifamily, affordable and custom home segments have recognized that there are green homes, and then there are LEED Homes, and they are acting accordingly.”
The Ross Street House by RWH Design received its LEED for Homes Platinum rating in July 2009, the first of Wisconsin. The home has captured the attention of green enthusiasts throughout the country for far exceeding the requirements to achieve the highest LEED rating of Platinum.
More following the break.
Established in 2008, the LEED for Homes program includes residential markets of multi and single family, market rate, and affordable housing, focusing on promoting the design and construction of high-performance green homes. Currently there are 10,161 homes certified (and a possible 38,000 units forthcoming)
The 100K Houses were conceived by Interface Studio Architects as a response to this unsustainable approach to housing. Small, efficient, and super-green, the 100K Houses provide sustainable, affordable options for first-time Philadelphia homebuyers. The 100K Houses employ a passive strategy focused on envelope rather than systems. This strategy yielded LEED for Homes Platinum certification and HERS ratings between 42 and 24 (performing 58% to 76% better than homes designed to baseline energy code).
The new neighborhood of Tassafaronga Village by David Baker Partners, is situated on seven-and-a-half acres in the southern end of Oakland and has a range of affordable housing, green pathways, pocket parks, and open spaces. The development has achieved one of the first LEED ND Certified Gold Plans. All buildings are designed to the highest level of green standard—LEED for Homes—incorporating a wide range of complementary green strategies.
The 12-story Mosler Lofts designed by Mithun,were the first LEED Silver certified condos in Seattle. An example of how to create value through innovative, sustainable design beyond an initial development vision, this development was 90% sold within the first 6 months on the market due to its highly sustainable features and contemporary design.
Making LEED more accessible to builders and homeowners, the USGBC recently launched LEED for Homes Scoring Tool. The web-based application allows users to self evaluate their home construction projects to see how close they are to LEED certification. Further details about LEED for Homes and the USGBC can be found here.
