LEED

LEED

LEED is the 21st century brand new comer. I started seeing more and more LEED certified courses, construction after year 2000. The problems we faced and learned from LEED projects is that budget allocation (per initial materials/ equipment estimates) especially in large federal/ state government/county/metropolitan projects is normally off, in turn the implementation of work becomes chaos, generating lawsuits sometimes, even 30-40 years experienced skilled workers have a very hard time to build and install in sync with the project criteria. Just like you change the formula you have been using for your whole life. A lot of times you have problems getting the right stuff with the right price to comply with the project design and also cost control wise I see it is disasterous. the intention is very good but implementing true and ideal LEED installation and building is questionable still to this day for the private enterprises and their LEED projects


LEED Is a green building certification that is a mark of quality and achievement in sustainability

LEED, or leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement

LEED, construction that deploys materials with no or reduced or limited VOCs (volatile organic compounds) content. In short LEED construction is taking out VOCs from construction materials

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are organic toxic chemicals that are emitted from a variety of household products and materials. Every thing from house paint to that new couch you just unwrapped will contain levels of these chemicals

VOC emissions can be especially bad for people with compromised immune systems, as well as children and elderly

VOC means any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions – VOC definition per 40 CFR part 51.100 (S) (as of October 30, 2014)

“ Eyes, noses and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination and nausea. Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system. Some organic can cause cancer in animals, some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans” 

VOC also means that are organic materials that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. They include both human made and naturally occurring chemical compounds

Examples of VOCs are gasoline, benzene, formaldehyde, solvents such as toluene and xylene, styrene, and per chloroethylene (or tetrachloroethylene) the main solvent used in dry cleaning

How can you reduce your VOC impact?

Ventilation and climate control:

Increasing the amount of fresh air in your home. Will help reduce the concentration of VOCs indoors. Increase the ventilation by opening doors and windows. Use fans to maximize air brought in from the outside. Keep both temperature and relative humidity (RH) as low as possible or comfortable

VOCs are carbon containing compounds that evaporates easily from water to air at normal temperatures (This is why distinctive odor of gasoline and many solvents can easily be detected

VOC are primary precursors to the formation of ground level ozone and particulate matter, which are the main ingredients of smog. Smog is known to have adverse effects on human health and environment (The Environment Canada Air site provides more info on smog)

Other sources of VOCs include the burning of gas, wood and kerosene, as well as tobacco products. VOC can also come from personal care products such as perfume, and hair spray, cleaning agents, dry cleaning fluid, paints, lacquers, and from copying and printing machines

REF: https://iaspub.epa.gov>substreg>search  

Note: Author completed 3 LEED public futuristic projects (1.regional intermodal transit center, 2.justice center, 3.detention facility) successfully as submittal department (all) project(s) engineer