Green Building Programs

Green building programs give people the resources, tools and strategies to successfully build green. Created and administered by experts in the fields of energy and water conservation, indoor air quality, innovative product development and architecture, these programs help builders, remodelers, home building associations, and homeowners learn how to build green, and the benefits of doing so.

► Click here to read green building statistics.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) is a Green Building Rating System™ developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to accelerate global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices. Since its launch in 2000, the program has become a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

LEED certified buildings use key resources more efficiently when compared to conventional buildings, which are simply built to code.

Who Uses LEED?

Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED projects are in progress in 41 different countries, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.

What are the different LEED rating programs?

There are various LEED Rating Programs, depending on project type: New Construction, Existing Buildings, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Healthcare, Homes, and Neighborhood & Development. Please visit the USGBC's website for details on each program.

LEED for Homes

LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

How does the LEED system work?

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five environmental categories: 1) Sustainable Sites, 2) Water Efficiency, 3) Energy & Atmosphere, 4) Indoor Environmental Quality, and 5) Materials & Resources.

Projects earn points toward LEED certification by meeting or exceeding each category’s technical requirements. Points compute to a final score that relates to one of four possible levels of certification: LEED, Gold, Silver, and Platinum (LEED certification being the most basic and Platinum being the most advanced).

How do I find LEED-compliant products on Eco-rate?

Eco-rate has identified products that are eligible for points under the LEED for Homes Rating System. If a product is eligible, you will see a LEED tab after clicking on the product title. There, you will find eligibility information, including which credits the product may earn points toward achieving. Click here to see an example.

We are currently in the process of identifying products that are eligible under the other LEED rating systems. Please contact us with feedback.

More information on LEED

For more information on LEED or questions on how Eco-rate can support the progression of you LEED project, please contact Eco-rate’s LEED Accredited Professional by email or by phone at 206.708.7464. You can also visit the USGBC's website.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. Recognized by more than 65% of the American public, the ENERGY STAR Label is the trusted national symbol for environmental protection through superior energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR Homes are up to 30% more efficient than conventional homes and now represent more than 20% of the new home marketplace in more than 10 states.

In addition to their labeling program, ENERGY STAR has home certification programs throughout the country. For a home to earn the ENERGY STAR label, it must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the US EPA.

ENERGY STAR certified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes, and offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills.

For more information, contact Eco-innovations, an ENERGY STAR Partner, or visit ENERGY STAR’s home program website.

How do I find ENERGY STAR qualified products on Eco-rate?

By clicking on a product title or image from the product results page, you will find a "Specifications" tab. Within this tab, you will find an "ENERGY STAR Qualified" line item, which indicates whether the product is ENERGY STAR qualified or not. Click here to see an example.

► All computers, dishwashers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, televisions, washers and light bulbs featured on Eco-rate are ENERGY STAR qualified. By featuring price and lifecycle cost ratings, Eco-rate allows you to find the most cost-effective of the ENERGY STAR qualified products.

WaterSense

WaterSense® is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. EPA. The mission of WaterSense is to protect the future of the nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services.

WaterSense is the symbol for water-efficient products, services and products. By setting performance and water use specifications, WaterSense helps consumers identify products that meet EPA criteria for efficiency and performance.

The WaterSense label appears on high-efficiency toilets and bathroom sink faucets that use 20% less water than standard models.

► All toilets and bathroom faucets featured on Eco-rate are WaterSense qualified. By featuring price and lifecycle cost ratings, Eco-rate allows you to find the most cost-effective of the WaterSense qualified products.

National & regional green building programs

Nationwide, statewide and local green building programs are successfully being implemented throughout the United States.

Eco-rate and Eco-innovations, both with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, are proud to have the Built Green™ of King and Snohomish Counties Program as our local green building program. Built Green™ of King and Snohomish Counties is the second largest residential green building program in the United States and is nationally recognized for its leadership and impact on the green building industry. For details on the Built Green™ of King and Snohomish Counties Program, please visit their website at www.builtgreen.net.

Other successful national and regional green building programs include:

    ► Built Green™ Canada
    ► Built Green™ Colorado
    ► Built Green™ Washington
    ► Earthcraft House, Atlanta, GA
    ► Florida Green Building Coalition
    ► NAHB Green Building Program™
    ► Santa Monica Green Building Program

Other Programs

EPEAT

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool® (EPEAT) is a system designed to help purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. Eco-rate uses EPEAT criteria to assign computer manufacturer's with environmental stewardship points (a key criteria for our Environmental Impact Ratings for Computers) and to assign computer products their Toxicity Ratings. EPEAT criteria is divided into 8 categories:

1. Reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials
2. Materials selection
3. Design for end of life
4. Product longevity/life cycle extension
5. Energy conservation
6. End of life management
7. Corporate performance
8. Packaging

To view a more detailed version of EPEAT criteria, please click here.