LEED is classification system used nationwide in the United States that assist in the construction of resource and energy efficient buildings that are healthy to live in. Therefore, it is a move towards shifting mainstream homebuilding towards practices that promote sustainability. LEED platinum building has several aspects that define specific building practices, materials, and products. The first aspect of the LEED platinum building is innovation and design. Here, the building mechanism must necessarily formulate new ideas and transform the current ones with regards to building the sustainable structures ( Wu et al . 2016). It also includes vital measures such as formulating design methods that are critical in guaranteeing the construction of ‘'green structures.''
Water efficiency is an essential aspect of the LEED platinum building. It is imperative to note that the primary aim of LEED is to provide a framework for the construction of cost-saving, efficient, and highly healthy buildings. Water efficiency is at the heart of all this. Therefore, when talking about water efficiency, it is important to give a holistic approach whereby various facets are looked into including both indoor and outdoor uses, specialized uses, and other aspects such as metering. Kubba (2012) asserted that the water efficiency aspect not only assesses the reductions in the utilization of potable water but also non-portable and other alternative water sources. The building mechanism also puts much emphasis on minimizing outdoor water usage by creating a landscape that does not support excessive irrigation practices.
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Elzeyadi (2012) asserted that the LEED system also advocates for energy efficiency as a means of underscoring the importance of the green building. In this regard, it is imperative to note that a whopping 40% of all the buildings in the US are responsible for up to 40% of the power energy. The buildings are fitted with architectural designs that improve on energy usage hence conserving the environment and asserting the green building philosophy. According to Jalaei and Jrade, (2015), the LEED provides a guideline that engineers, builders, and architect need to use to comply with the efficient energy regulations which will enable the users to minimize on the unnecessary use of power and other forms of energy.
The success of the green project as stipulated in the LEED platinum building also requires a keen interest in the materials and resources. Several important questions need to be answered such as the materials used, the source of the materials, how the materials are made, and finally how they are disposed of. When all the answers are achieved, then the success of the green project is guaranteed. The materials used in the construction should be green in nature, that is, they promote the conservation of energy. In this regard, it is important to use renewable sources and recycled materials which will ensure that both the occupants of the building and the environment at large benefit. The building must also emphasize on the usage of natural materials which tend to minimize the usage of energy.
Another vital aspect of the LEED platinum building is that it enhances sustainability. It does so by creating a framework for not only design but also the process of construction. Göçer, Hua and Göçer (2015) pointed out that other factors that are covered in the framework include operations and the process that could be utilized in the maintenance of new and the already existing buildings. As such, it a system is created whereby the buildings are secured for the future because every stage of their life cycle is adequately covered for.
References
Elzeyadi, I. (2012). Post-occupancy evaluation: A design, operations and performance assessment of a LEED Platinum building. World Health Design Journal , 12 (1), 60-69.
Göçer, Ö., Hua, Y., & Göçer, K. (2015). Completing the missing link in building design process: Enhancing post-occupancy evaluation method for effective feedback for building performance. Building and Environment , 89 , 14-27.
Jalaei, F., & Jrade, A. (2015). Integrating building information modeling (BIM) and LEED system at the conceptual design stage of sustainable buildings. Sustainable Cities and Society , 18 , 95-107.
Kubba, S. (2012). Handbook of green building design and construction: LEED, BREEAM, and Green Globes . Butterworth-Heinemann.
Wu, P., Mao, C., Wang, J., Song, Y., & Wang, X. (2016). A decade review of the credits obtained by LEED v2. 2 certified green building projects. Building and Environment , 102 , 167-178.
