Achieving Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is the recognized way to demonstrate that your building is truly "green." The LEED green building rating system -- developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington D.C.- based, non-profit coalition of builidng industry leaders -- is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing negative environmental impacts.

The LEED rating system offers four certification levels that correspond to the number of credits a building accrues.  The four certification levels are:

1. certified (26 - 32 points)
2. silver (33-38 points)
3. gold (39 - 51 points)
4. platinum (52 - 69 points)

There are five categories for credits.  Each of the following categories has mandatory elements as well as optional elements a building can have to score points:

1. sustaniable sites
2. water efficiency
3. energy and atmoshere
4. materials and resources, and
5. indoor environmental quality.

Alternative transportation is an optional element in the sustainable sites category.  A building can earn 1 point toward their LEED certification for each of the following:

• Public transportation access (locate project within 1/2 mile of commuter rail, light rail or subway station or 1/4 mile of 2 or more bus lines)
• Bicycle storage and changing rooms (provide secure bicycle storage with convenient changing and shower facilities for 5% or more of regular building occupants)
• Parking capacity (size parking capacity to meet, but not exceed, minimum local zoning requirements AND provide preferred parking for carpools or vanpools capable of serving 5% of the building occupants)
• Alternative fuel vehicles

LEED standards cover new commercial construction and major renovation projects, interiors and existing building operations.  Click here for an application or to find out more.