Overview

Sustainable design projects often involve a myriad of considerations, ranging from seeking higher levels of energy efficiency to using recycled-content materials to incorporating daylighting, and so on. Many projects mistakenly assume that the only real question is whether to seek LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. However, the decision to seek LEED certification, unsupported by a commitment to integrated design and to funding for the specific costs of certification documentation, is likely to be a recipe for frustration and ultimate futility. For this reason, many projects registered under the LEED system have failed to finish the process, as discussed in Chap. 5. According to those estimates, fewer than half and perhaps less than a third of all LEED projects registered through the end of 2004 had achieved certification by the end of 2007, even allowing for a three-year time lag between registration and certification. ^[*]

I support the LEED system and encourage my consulting clients to include it in their projects wherever possible; however, sustainable design involves a far broader set of considerations. The following sections incorporate and expand the LEED criteria to a broader range of design, construction, and operational considerations.

There are many excellent books and web sites that provide answers to specific sustainable design questions. However, often the issue is asking the proper questions at the proper time, to fulfill sustainability mandates from a client or owner. To draw out of building team members the full range of intelligence, experience, and expertise they already...