LEED benifits?
Last Post 21 Nov 2010 05:33 PM by Bruce Frey. 5 Replies.
Printer Friendly
Sort:
PrevPrev NextNext
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
judasUser is Offline
New Member
New Member
Send Private Message
Posts:23

--
20 Nov 2010 12:07 PM
i read all the litrature but what are the real benifits to LEED . not as in cost savings if i was a fool and was just going to throw a uninsulated 2x4 house up and to get LEED and save money in actually building a smart house.
 right now i am initally doing a (polysteel waffle .. maybe) ICF 2 bed down(putting a low income 3/4 bed over the garage/ house ), 3 car garage/workshop, use only recycled /crushed concrete agrigate 30% fly ash 20% BF slag adding 2 inch exterior foam from a retailer selling surplus/salvaged foam bonded and sealed.siding .. not sure. floors 1/8 local wood maybe on site. counters DIY copper on local wood cabinets.
 LARGE DIY vertical drainback solar heat electric booster. DHW going thru a gray/black water exchange and passing thru the drain back tanks. will be putting in ground loops as well possible heat pump/selling point later/cooling. roof shall be standing seam copper/galvalume with stuck on solar to cut/elimanate house/apartment electric cost along with wind. LED low voltage (battery(salvaged from local boat yard) back up)lights.

also the cost as in having people come inspect and filing fees ect

long story short i want to know what the REAL cost to benefits(return) to LEED certification or ball park it :)
cmkavalaUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:4327
Avatar

--
20 Nov 2010 05:28 PM
Judas;

I don't think the benefits are in cash, except with energy efficiency, there is a lot of hype about LEED certifications, environmentally a good thing to do, but from a ROI aspect not too much to benefit from.
I still like the EnergyStar program that offers benefits for the contractor and homeowner
Chris Kavala<br>[email protected]<br>1-877-321-SIPS<br />
lzerarcUser is Offline
Basic Member
Basic Member
Send Private Message
Posts:423

--
20 Nov 2010 07:17 PM

Judas
I studied and completed LEED courses, but decided to not pursue with the testing to become a LEED AP.  The reason is I did not believe in adding as much as 5-8% to the project cost JUST to get LEED accreditation.  I have designed a LEED Gold building and working on a Silver.  For a home owner, I would highly recommend not pursing it.  LEED accreditation does not make your building any better.  It simply shows you were willing to pay for the much higher upfront costs for green construction methods, conditioning and water, site, interior air quality, etc, as well as the high cost of actually getting it accredited.  What does this rating do for you?  Nothing.  Most clients we work with want it purely for advertising reasons.  When there is a green movement, if you can advertise your facility being a LEED Silver, gold, whatever, it makes people think you really care about the environment and possibly grow a warm fuzzy spot in customer's hearts. 
However you do not need to be LEED, to be....leed.  Practice good design, and not worry about the points.  Many leed requirements are silly.  They add costs and things to your building that you may not normally have or need, simply to accumulate points.  You see 0 spent on LEED accreditation back to you.  However you see return on the items you install to achieve leed.  Keep that in mind.

MANY clients come to use asking the very same question.  LEED is a buzz word, just as GREEN is.  Its sad, in my professional opinion, how big companies such as Walmart use Green and shove it down people's throat.  "we are green because we offer recycled bags".  BS.  Show my net zero buildings and next to 0 carbon footprints, site restorations and then I will believe you.  I explain to them the process, the 3rd party reviews and the costs involved.  Then I show them the costs of the building alone, which is higher than most due to the extra things added.  At the end of the day, we "design to meet LEED", but dont purse it.  THe client is left with a leed functioning building, and keep more $ in their pockets.

For a home owner, look at the big picture.  Put things into your design that help you and have pay offs within 20 years or less.  Some items just cost so much you will never see that money back, plus add the price of accreditation. 

Dollar for dollar put into your house, insulation and attention to the shell detail will be the cheapest areas to save the most money in the future with fastest returns.  ICF is a great system, however its a budget system.  You can do cheaper and gain higher R in other ways. 

so to answer your question.....0. 

cmkavalaUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:4327
Avatar

--
20 Nov 2010 07:58 PM
izerarc;

well put
Chris Kavala<br>[email protected]<br>1-877-321-SIPS<br />
judasUser is Offline
New Member
New Member
Send Private Message
Posts:23

--
21 Nov 2010 12:36 PM
yea thats what i was thinking .. only real money possible is resale no lower interest rate or grant or insurance or property tax . designed and built to meet or exeed LEED standards might sound good on a listing in +/- 5 years if i get more tired of this location.. its like i was reading that electric on demand (200$ models) are not elegable for the 100 rebate.. um why... i wouldnt mind putting a non(or displaced) emission water heater thats ~18" x 12" x 3" in the bathroom and kitchen for 100$(or less for smaller unit) after energy star rebate. beats $500 for a central tank and 1100-1400 for a central gas heater .. i can make electricity but not enough methane to get it lighted and no propane that i know.. danng lawyers / lawmakers / greenwashers
Bruce FreyUser is Offline
Basic Member
Basic Member
Send Private Message
Posts:429

--
21 Nov 2010 05:33 PM
On a large commercial project, the cost of LEED certification and paperwork is a miniscule percentage of project costs and does add some value to the building. My company has over 100 Million sf of LEED Exisiting Building (Operations and Maintenance) and probably about that much in LEED C&S (Core and Shell) and LEED NC (New Construction), so for us, it does make a difference.

Having said that, I won't pursue LEED Home certification when I build my house. You are better off spending the certification money to make your house a little tighter. The additional direct costs usually do have benefit, but those decisions should be made on their own merit, not to satisfy a rating requirement. The residential certification programs are primarily set up for the very large homebuilders and there is a lot of "greenwashing" involved in them IMHO. As Chris said, the Energy Star program is one of the most meaningful.

Bruce

Bruce
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Active Forums 4.1
Membership Membership: Latest New User Latest: croccohvacusa New Today New Today: 0 New Yesterday New Yesterday: 0 User Count Overall: 35027
People Online People Online: Visitors Visitors: 139 Members Members: 0 Total Total: 139
Copyright 2011 by BuildCentral, Inc.   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement