December 10, 2015 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Installing a Solar Power System: A Big Step Toward Achieving LEED Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council has seen an incredible increase in buildings seeking LEED certification over the last decade. As climate change, sustainability, and green practices in general have made the headlines to a greater and greater degree, so has interest in green building practices and certification increased.

These days, some level of LEED certification is almost expected for any retrofit or new building project in certain parts of the country, and solar power is one key component driving LEED certification.

But what exactly is LEED certification and how can installing a solar power generating system help you to achieve it?

For anyone who is not currently working as a builder, architect, structural engineer, or in any other capacity that impacts the design and construction of homes and commercial buildings, it's easy to be unfamiliar with what LEED means, and what factors can potentially lead to LEED certification. In this brief article, we will tackle the basics of LEED, and talk about the connection between solar power and attaining LEED certification.

What Is LEED Certification?

LEED is an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it is a certification program introduced and run by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification works on a point system, with points awarded and taken away for various building practices. Certification can be achieved in several different areas and at several different levels.

The LEED certification system is now in its fourth version and has five different rating systems. These five systems are for homes, neighborhood development, building operations and management, interior design and construction, and building design and construction.

The prerequisites and credits available that apply to each of the various rating systems vary considerably, but basically work in a similar manner. For every sustainable effort made in the design and construction of a particular project, points are awarded. These points then add up to a specific level of certification.

There is the entry level of certification, as well as silver, gold, and platinum levels of certification. LEED points are conferred on a scale of one hundred, and each level of certification signifies a range of total points. Basic certification requires forty to forty-nine points, silver certification fifty to fifty-nine, gold sixty to seventy-nine, and platinum, over eighty.

For more information check out the U.S. Green Building Council’s website.

How Solar Can Help You Get LEED Certification

Solar power and other renewable energy projects can provide a major boost toward LEED certification for homes and commercial buildings. The on-site renewable energy credit is worth up to seven points toward certification and is calculated as a percentage of how much of the building’s total energy needs are provided by on-site renewable energy.

If you were only shooting for basic certification, this represents a potential of eighteen percent of the points you would need.

[Photo via: PugetSoundSolar]

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