LEED Certification
LEED Certified dealerships are popping up all over the country: Texas, Michigan, Florida, California, Utah, and more. According to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota Motor Corp. expects to have 100 environmentally friendly dealerships — or just under 10 percent of its U.S. dealer network by 2011. I realize that many supporters of the “green” phenomenon are screaming “YES!” while many others respond with “that’s cool… I guess.” What is this LEED certification all about anyway? Here’s some basic information:
- LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design.
- They are the highly welcomed third party company that sets the standard for the design, construction, and operations of green buildings.
- They also provide resources to building owners and operators for them to be able to equip their buildings to immediately impact performance.
- LEED certification is based on how environmentally friendly and profitable a building is and whether it is a healthy place to live and work.
For more references, guidelines, and an in-depth look into how buildings are ranked and based on what criteria, check out usgbc.org