Nowadays, most Americans spend as much as 90% of time indoors. Spending most of the time inside a house or a building creates a negative impact not only in the building itself but also on our environment. When spending time indoors buildings consume at least 40% of all the energy, 12% of fresh water, 88% of drinkable water, 40% in carbon dioxide emissions, and up to 40% in municipal solid waste stream.

At this era, where the time of computers and industrialization took over man power and manual tools becoming indoors all the time cannot be averted. So rather than of forcing people do their activities 40% of their time outside, why not make indoor more sustainable, environment friendly, healthy, and cost-efficient

To make it more effective, one must follow an established system. Register a project in USGBC, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance

What is the Difference of USGBC and LEED?

United States Green Building Council is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization, founded in 1993. The organization promotes design, construction, operation, and lifestyle to be environmentally responsible, cost-effective, and a healthy place to live, work, and play.

LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a program of USGBC that issues third-party certification in buildings by using strategies that can help improve indoor environment quality, minimize carbon dioxide emission, energy efficiency, water conservation, and conservancy of resources.

LEED measures every building type and use a specific rating system for each. Each rating system are categorized based on its purpose. Specialties are divided conforming to building type and purpose (retail, homes, neighborhood, construction, design, maintenance) and further divided to focus more on a specific type(ex. schools, homes).

LEED grants points completed on the credit categories of a rating system. When the required prerequisites and credits are completed, the points are computed then the sum of all the points is the building’s level of certification.

LEED for Existing Buildings

LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance is a tool for ongoing maintenance of existing commercial and institutional buildings. It helps owners, and operators consistently measure the operation growth and maintenance of buildings.

What is the aim of LEED-EB on a building?

The goal of LEED-EB is to address the whole-building cleaning and maintenance issue, recycling programs, and systems upgrade. The goal is to standardize the process of reporting, inspection, and analysis of the building until it reaches its end life.

What is its difference with other LEED certification?

LEED for Retail: New Construction and Major renovation for example, centers attention on the construction/major renovation phase of the building. But when the project is done, the rating system is also finished because that is the only purpose of the rating system.

But in LEED-EB, the buildings rating system become in effect when the building is finish. The building is to be administered and operated using the rating system so it is an advantage on the building and the people living and working inside the building until it reaches its end-life.

LEED-EB Requirements

• Must have at least 75% occupancy rate based on building occupancy standards
• 90% of the building should be included in LEED certification.
• Must comply with the standards of hazardous material management and waste water discharge.
• A minimum of 3-month performance rating period is required for all credits pursued.

When to Use LEED-EB?

1. Re-certify a building that was formerly LEED NC certified.
2. Certify existing whole-buildings excluding individual tenant space or some parts of a building.
3. Quantify the buildings Sustainability
4. LEED for Schools certified buildings that want additional certification.
5. LEED for Core & Shell certified buildings seeking ongoing certification
6. non-LEED building seeking for initial certification and ongoing certification.
7. When you already have substainable recycling solutions in place such as Recyclage Montréal that list links to solutions with a millitary-style treacability.

How do are buildings rated?

A project that aims for a LEED certification should fulfill all the prerequisites in the rating system and should earn a minimum of 34 points. Points gathered are awarded according to the following:

Certified 34-42

Silver 43-50

Gold 51-67

Platinum 68-92

What are the advantages of a LEED-EB certified building?

LEED improves building performance and make it less maintainable therefore:

1. A cut down of cost in operation and maintenance
2. Establishes a healthier and more productive employee workspace
3. Be recognized for leadership in sustainability
4. Reduce environmental impact

Ref. AQrt213023