You may have noticed that like other modular building companies, Porta-King offers many features that can assist business owners in green design and LEED certification. While “green design” and “green building” have become household terms over the past decade, sustainable design was not always so popular among architects and developers. If there was a decision to be made between sustainable building and a cheaper alternative, businesses would most likely opt for the more affordable option.
LEED, or “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” was created in 1998 by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to give businesses an incentive for making the greener choice. Although this program has increased sustainable design’s credibility and popularity, there has been an on-going discussion between the public and the USGBC over how effective LEED really is.
Developing the System vs. Extorting the System
LEED has made huge strides in developing a green building certification system with research-based principles. In doing so, it has raised public awareness and appreciation for sustainable design.
However, since LEED is a point-based system that covers a wide range of development areas, many people try to extort the system to get more points without making their building truly sustainable. Therefore, it’s important for business owners to keep the ultimate goal of sustainable design in mind when attempting LEED certification. Don’t get too caught up in the number of points your modular building receives.
Room For Improvement
Luckily, the USGBC is not set in its ways. The council is very receptive to public opinion and has made changes over the years to accommodate and improve on their rating systems. For instance, LEED Version 4 has incorporated “neighborhood development” in an attempt to address location as part of a building’s sustainability.
While LEED certification is not awarded by modular building companies like Porta-King, our products have the potential to contribute to a LEED certified building. Depending on the product, we can also provide documentation to assist you during the certification process.
