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LEED for Homes is a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The USGBC created this voluntary rating system to help promote the design and construction of high-performance green homes. Qualified homes can include affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban and urban apartments, and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings.
The LEED for Homes rating system is designed so that, based on the design and building process, a home earns points towards certification. There is oversight and inspections required throughout the process by a third party. The points are awarded in 8 categories including:
Innovation and Design Process
Location and Linkages
Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency
Energy & Atmosphere
Materials and Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality
Awareness and Education
LEED certification allows consumers to have confidence that the home they are building or buying has been tested for performance, inspected by a third-party, and certified that it is truly built as a green home. These homes have lower energy bills, reduced water consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased durability, better indoor air quality, are environmentally responsible and are part of sustainable communities.
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