LEARNING OBJECTIVES Part 1 - Some Facts Part 2 - The LEED Rating System Part 3 - Green's Impact CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

<< Glossary of Terms >>

Part 1 - Some Facts

In the United States, buildings account for:

• 39% of total energy use
• 72% of electricity consumption
• 38% of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2)
• 40% of raw materials use
• 30% of waste output
  • 136 million tons annually
• 14% of potable water consumption

The role of the USGBC
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is a community of leaders working to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Industry-led and consensus-driven, the Council is as diverse as the marketplace it serves. Membership includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies and nonprofits. Leaders from within each of these sectors participate in the development of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ and the direction of the Council through volunteer service on USGBC's open committees.

Driving USGBC's mission to transform the building and construction industry is a robust set of tools, including the LEED Green Building Rating System, which is now accessible through LEED-Online and supported by a robust LEED Workshop program and LEED Professional Accreditation program. In addition, the Council supports a rich education and research agenda. Since its founding in 1993, USGBC has been focused on fulfilling the building and construction industry's vision for its own transformation to high-performance green building.

Chapters, affiliates and organizing groups are the front door of USGBC across the U.S., with participation growing rapidly.

However, it's at the local level where the work is delivered - in city halls, county commissions, zoning boards and permitting offices. A network is forged that allows a single voice for green building to be shaped and used to move the transformation forward. Rapidly emerging green building networks such as USGBC's CEO Roundtables, Federal Summits, NGO Briefings and Member Circles link common interests in ways that can advance the larger common good.

Average savings of green buildings
On the financial front you can't argue that green buildings aren't a smart financial decision. In terms of energy savings alone, they have a huge impact on the cost of running a building.

And today, green buildings - LEED certified and silver buildings - can be built for not a penny more than conventional buildings, on a first-cost-basis, delivering:

• Enhanced productivity
• Energy savings
• Verified performance
• Increased value
• Reduced liability
• Improved risk management

There are so many other financial indicators that matter:

Energy savings: 30%
Carbon savings: 35%
Water-use savings: 30-50%
Waste savings: 50-90%

The impact of green building on productivity is tremendous:

• Schools - 20% better test performance
• Hospitals - earlier discharge
• Retail - increase in sales per square foot
• Factories - improved output
• Offices - increase in productivity

Not only is the USGBC able to demonstrate that productivity in green buildings is significantly higher; it's impact on improved health can be seen as well.

Upon submission, results of your evaluation will be displayed with the correct answers shown in red.