What is LEED Certification?
When designing, staking or conducting testing for a new building, we recognize that those buildings are going to be around for decades to come, which is why we keep sustainability at the forefront of our work.
One way that certain buildings are verified as green and sustainable is through LEED certification. According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a “mark of quality and achievement in green building.”
According to the website, buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions in the United States and 73% of U.S. electricity consumption. By working to design, build and construct more efficient buildings, we can design a better and more sustainable future.
LEED certification verifies that the design, construction, operations and maintenance of a building is resource-efficient, sustainable and cost-effective. The LEED rating system evaluates the impact of a building’s design and construction on the environment, taking into account things like efficiency in site development, water and wastewater management and more. The system aims to help building owners and operators be more environmentally conscious and efficient.
One of our projects that achieved LEED certification recently received a Capstone Award from the Kansas City Business Journal for Sustainability. The Park Hill Support Services Center and Transportation Center facilities were recognized for the sustainable design, construction and operation of the facilities.
Our firm assisted with a component of the LEED certification for this building through our site design services, incorporating ways to maximize things like rainwater and storm water retention. Other factors that attribute to a LEED certification are things like building materials, landscaping and energy usage.
Projects can earn LEED points across different aspects of building design and/or construction:
- Integrative process
- Location and transportation
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Innovation
LEED certification leads to more productive spaces; reduces strain on the environment; and increases cost-savings. With multiple LEED Accredited Professionals at Kaw Valley Engineering, we are proud to sustainably design for the future.
As civil engineers, we offer a diverse knowledge of storm water treatment and mitigation practices as well as construction materials, which invariably offer alternatives containing recycled options. For more about our civil engineering services, please click here.