LEED Canada certification
LEED Canada certification is a green building rating system for the new construction and major renovations of buildings. An adaptation of the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, it is tailored specifically for the Canadian climate, construction practices and regulations. It is intended to serve as both a guideline for green building design and as a certification tool aimed at improving the well-being of occupants and the environmental and economic performance of buildings. Administered in Canada by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) since 2002, this rating system offers four levels of certification: certified, silver, gold and platinum. The CaGBC certifies projects based on the total point score achieved following an independent review and audit, in addition to the documentation submitted by the design and construction team.
The Centre for Sustainable Development team is aiming for the highest level of certification possible for green buildings: LEED Canada-NC 1.0 Platinum, which requires a minimum of 52 points out of a total of 70.
Reasons for adopting LEED certification:
- Gain recognition for green building leadership
- Validate performance through third-party review
- Qualify for various incentives offered by municipal, provincial and federal governments
- Contribute to the growing green building knowledge base
- Obtain a LEED certification plaque and certificate
