LEED FOR HOMES PILOT PROGRAM: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A NEW LEED PROGRAM FOR THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR

INTRODUCTION

In August 2005, the U.S. Green Building Council ( www.usgbc.org) announced the introduction of a new pilot-phase LEED for Homes rating system. The new system sets a national standard for environmentally responsible building in the residential sector. While there are some exceptions, most “residential green building” programs around the country have been regional in nature. LEED for Homes’s goal is a national standard and certification process that encourages and regulates the green building process. Builders and consumers adopting the LEED standards will find themselves at the cutting edge of high-performance homes, as well as promoting and implementing environmentally conscious building processes.

This article discusses the implementation of the LEED for Homes pilot phase rating system in a new residence that is nearing completion in a rural setting near Charlottesville, Virginia. Specifically, this paper explores the various “decision points” as we encountered them in the actual project.