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BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationallyrecognized green building certification program designed to provide guidelines

for implementing practical green building solutions. Created and ran by the U.S.Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Building Certification Institute(GBCI), LEED consists of nine rating systems for the design, construction, andoperation of buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. These include:

LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations

LEED for Core & Shell Development

LEED for Schools

LEED for Retail New Construction

LEED for Commercial Interiors

LEED for Retail Interiors LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

LEED for Neighborhood Development

LEED for Homes

Each of these systems operates though a point system to gain Certified (4049points), Silver (5059 points), Gold (60-79 points), or Platinum Certification (80+points). Points are based on water efficiency, sustainable sites, materials andresources, indoor environment, energy and atmosphere, and regional priority.The certification relies on documentation as opposed to on-site testing, and lastsforever (except Operations & Maintenance).

ENERGY STAR

This program is primarily focused on energy use; setting standards that arerecognized internationally for energy efficient consumer products. Ran by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Energy Star compares homes to certify those that are at least 15% moreenergy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code(IRC) and include additional energy saving features to be 20-30% more efficientthan standard homes. Energy Star also provides an energy performance ratingsystem applied to buildings, and recognizes top performing ones with the

ENERGY STAR. This certification lasts one year, and not all building types areeligible.

GREEN GLOBES

This certification program follows an online assessment, rating system, andoutline for green building design, operation, and management. Adopted from aCanadian protocol, Green Globes operates in the US by the Green Building

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Initiative. This program is unique in the fact that it is both easy to use andaffordable, while being comprehensive in the following seven categories:

Energy

Indoor Environment

Site Water

Resources

Emissions

Project Management

Green Globes relies on certified assessors to verify compliance, and introducesuses to the idea of incorporating Life Cycle Assessment tools into material andresource selection. It is available for new construction, existing buildings, andresidential homes.

NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING STANDARD

This certification, developed and administered by the National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB), establishes green building, construction practices, andperformance levels for residential areas. It covers both new construction andrenovations of all residential types; including single-family homes, multi-familycomplexes, and mixed-use buildings. Homes with this certification mustincorporate the following six categories:

Lot Design

Resources Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency

Indoor Environmental Quality

Operations/ Maintenance/ Education

There are four levels of certification available including Bronze, Silver, Gold, andEmerald. The standard can also be applied to land developments in the form ofOne, Two, Three, or Four Stars. Certified assessors are required to verifycompliance.

GREENGUARD

This certification program focuses greatly on indoor air quality, promoting low-emitting building materials, paints and finishes, cleaning products, furnishings,electronics, and other consumer products. Developed and ran by the GreenguardEnvironmental Institute, certification is available for new commercial andresidential buildings as well as major renovations. There are four programsavailable, including:

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required as the system evolves, and certification must be renewed every twoyears.

GREEN ADVANTAGE

This program offers certification for professionals knowledgeable in greenbuilding principles, materials, and techniques. There are three types available:

Commercial

Residential

Commercial/Residential

Green Advantage is primarily aimed at the building industry, providingcertification for green builders and building-related practitioners to help them gainemployment while allowing building occupants to enjoy healthier, high-efficiencyhomes. While training is available, it is not required to take the open book exam.

If passed, the certification is good for three years.

COMPANY CERTIFICATION

B CORPORATION

This company certification was created to help businesses address social andenvironmental problems through performance standards, accountability, andbuilding constituency for good business. In order to become a B Corporation, a

company must do the following:

1. Pass the B Impact Ratings System test2. Adopt the B Corporation Legal Framework3. Sign a Term Sheet

Certifications are done by B Lab; a non-profit whose mission is to help thegeneral public tell the difference between good companies and good marketing.After achieving certification, B Corporations must present supportingdocumentation of their adoption of the B Corp Legal Framework, and are subjectto on-site review during each two-year term.