LEEDS Credits
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
In Canada, LEED® Canada for New Construction and Major Renovations version 1.0 is an adaptation of the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED®), tailored specifically for Canadian climates, construction practices and regulations. It was adapted from the USGBC's LEED-NC® 2.1 and influenced by anticipated changes planned for version 2.2.
CaGBC Home PageLEED credits is a way for building owners to qualify for a growing array of government incentives, validate their achievement through third party review, and contribute to a growing green building knowledge base. LEED credits are awarded based on a points system: points are awarded based on materials and practices used in five principal categories:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
An additional category, Innovation & Design Process, addresses sustainable building expertise as well as design measures that go beyond LEED criteria.
Useful web sites:
www.cagbc.org
www.usgbc.org
www.buildinggreen.com
Green Roofs in Toronto
New Green Roof Bylaw Passed By Council
On May 26, 2009 Toronto became the first City in North America to adopt a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. The bylaw will apply to all new building permit applications made after January 31, 2010 (residential, commercial and institutional) and January 31, 2011 for all new industrial development.
The new bylaw will be required on all new development above 2,000m˛ of Gross Floor Area and have a graduated coverage requirement ranging from 20-60%.
For more details see:
- City of Toronto Green Roof Bylaw
- Overview of Requirements for Green Roof ByLaw
- Overview of Requirements for the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard
- Green Roof Construction Standard Questions and Answers
Useful web sites:
www.csa.ca/climatechange/services/carbon/Default.asp?language=English
www.scc.ca/en/news_events/features/featuresindex_109.shtml
www.standardsstore.ca/eSpecs/News.do?newsId=news7
www.toronto.ca/greenroofs/index.htm
