Daily Real Estate News  |  October 2, 2007  |   Green Rating System for Homes Debuts
The U.S. Green Building Council, whose Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED guidelines has been an industry standard in determining whether a commercial building is Earth-friendly, is now rolling out a rating system for residential construction.

The standards known as LEED for Homes will rate environmental performance in several categories, including site selection and preparation, energy and water use, building and finishing materials, and the quality of indoor air. It will also measure how well builders teach residents about the systems.

Points will be awarded in every category. The more points a home gets, the better its certification, starting with a basic “certified” label and moving upward to silver, gold, or platinum status.

The National Association of Home Builders will launch a similar rating system in 2008, but at least at this point, LEED certification is broadly considered the most rigorous.

Source: USA Today, Thomas Hayden (10/01/07)