School districts need an objective standard of green building against which to measure the results of their actions. Several green building standards in use today could be suitable for this purpose.
LEED provides a collaborative platform and assurance that building renovations have been designed, are built, and will perform as expected. It provides credibility because of its third-party certification process. LEED also undergoes a process of continuous improvement that allows new technologies to be incorporated.
The US Green Building Council has recently established the LEED for Schools Rating System, which recognizes the unique nature of K-12 schools design and construction.
LINKS
To find out more about the US Green Building Council visit the website.
The US Green Building Council’s LEED for schools initiative is a prominent advocacy effort.
The Sidwell Friends Middle School is the first school in the United States to gain LEED Platinum Certification.
