LEED for Homes Certification


LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes is a rating system established by the United States Green Building Council to measure green building. Many builders use green building techniques, but by being enrolled in the LEED for Homes program you can be sure that your home will meet the high standards established by the USGBC for your individual home. The LEED for Homes rating system uses eight different resource categories to measure the overall performance of a home:
• Innovation and design process
• Location and linkages
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmospheres
• Materials and resources
• Indoor environmental quality
• Awareness and education


The rating system works by awarding credits in each of the above categories for specific design and building features of an individual house. Of a total of 129 available points it is required to obtain 60-74 points for a Silver rating. A Platinum-rated house would be creating energy onsite using, for example, a ground source heat pump for geothermal energy or photovoltaic panels to capture the sun's energy. Houses in Coyote Ridge must obtain at least a Silver rating. To learn more about The United States Green Building Council, go to www.usgbc.org. To get an in-depth look at the rating system, visit this page.