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Feel like some green-building lingo is alien-speak?

03.24.2008

Submitted by tmeronek on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 12:13am.
The Bite:
Come back down to Earth. You might've seen the acronym LEED around - it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it's the most widely accepted stamp of approval to certify that a building's green. Plant your non-UFO vehicle down right here for the full translation.
The Benefits: 
  • A universal yardstick. LEED provides standards to look for when building or buying an apartment or house, helping us determine what's really green.
  • Black-holing pollution. Buildings account for more than 40% of CO2 emissions worldwide. (Yeah, that's more than the 35% that car emissions create.) LEED buildings - which take into account the site, water, energy, resources, and indoor environmental quality - reduce CO2 by 30%-40%.
  • Galaxy-sized payoffs. According to a study conducted by the CA Sustainable Building Task Force, green buildings typically cost 2% more initially, but you'll recoup 20% of building costs over 20 years, thanks to lower utility bills.
Personally Speaking: 
Fewer than 1,000 homes have been LEED-certified so far (and none of us live in any of 'em), but it's definitely something we'll look for when we're in the market for a new place.
Wanna Try: 
Cara Godwin

Cocktail Fact

A 2002 poll found that 68% of Americans believe the government knows more about alien life than it's letting on.

Bang For The Bite

Applying for certification costs up to $2,250 per new home, but it will make your home-green-home even more attractive to future buyers.

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