Did you know that buildings account for 73% of Carbon Dioxide emissions in the United States? According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), getting your home certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) reduces your ecological footprint. If you want to go green, here’s how you can get started.

What’s a LEED Certification?

The LEED Certification works on a point-based system. Members who score 40 to 49 are certified, but you can work your way up to silver, gold and platinum memberships the more you score points. So, homeowners earn points by making their homes more environmentally friendly. Firstly, homeowners must apply for certification with the USGBC.

How do I get a LEED certification?

There are a few steps in the LEED certification process:

1. Register your project

The USGBC will review your project to make sure it complies with occupancy, environmental, and property laws. The USGBC has an index of projects that comply with these rules for reference. After that, you’ll begin the application process.

2. Apply for LEED certification and wait for the review

You’ll have to fill out the proper paperwork and pay the certification fee. After your application is reviewed and your project is approved, you will be LEED certified.

What type of projects can earn LEED certification?

Any project that helps the environment adds points to your LEED rating. According to the USGBC’s website, a building is rated on location & transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority. Therefore, there are several projects you can do that can boost your home’s value and sustainability.

Green Roofs

Green roofs are a roofing system made of vegetation and a waterproofing membrane. The objective of a green roof is to provide a drainage system that reduces stormwater runoff and reduces carbon emissions. A green roof is a sustainable landscape that can help you rack up points towards your LEED certification. According to a post from Green Roof Plan, green roofs can give you points for energy & atmosphere, water efficiency, and sustainable sites.

See our post on how you can improve your building with a green roof!

Also, homeowners can earn LEED certification points by installing rain gardens in the yard.

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are drainage systems that help water & soil quality while providing a habitable space for wildlife. It also allows you to grow a diverse range of plants to add appeal. A rain garden can easily rack up points towards a LEED certification for water efficiency, sustainability, materials, and regional priority. Since a rain garden can act like a living thing, you can easily check innovation off that list too! If you’re interested in what a sustainable landscape can do for you, see our guide to building one!

Creating a Greener Home

Making your home greener is an amazing step forward as a homeowner. As more people look towards building sustainable landscapes, the rewards and benefits continue to grow immensely. American Landscape specializes in sustainable landscapes, so give us a call today to start going green!