Frequently Asked Questions

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification program, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance, increasing energy savings, water efficiency, and carbon emissions reduction, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts, and improving indoor environmental quality.

It is developed through a consensus process by volunteer members of the Canada Green Building Council who contribute their expertise to its technical development. LEED was first introduced in March 2000 in the US and initially addressed new commercial construction. It has since grown to include specialized versions for homes, neighbourhood developments (under development), commercial interiors, high-performance building operations and maintenance, and core and shell development. More than 3.2 billion square feet of real estate in 60 countries are pursuing LEED certification.

LEED Canada for Homes, which launched in March 2009, certifies green homes using criteria in eight different categories: site selection, water efficiency, materials & resources, energy & atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, location & linkages, awareness & education, and innovation. All LEED certified homes must meet 19 mandatory measures and a minimum set of optional measures. The green measures are verified on-site by a third-party verification team using a protocol developed by the CaGBC. LEED has four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with Platinum representing the highest level of achievement.

LEED Canada for Homes, which launched in March 2009, is a consensus-developed, third party-verified rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. LEED Canada for Homes is applicable to single family and multifamily homes and is intended for both market-rate and affordable housing.

LEED certifies green homes using criteria in eight different categories: site selection, water efficiency, materials & resources, energy & atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, location & linkages, awareness & education, and innovation. Within each of these areas, projects earn points toward certification.

All LEED certified homes must meet 19 mandatory measures and a minimum set of optional measures. The green measures are verified on-site by a third-party verification team using a protocol developed by the CaGBC.

LEED has four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with Platinum representing the highest level of achievement.

LEED certification recognizes and celebrates leadership in high-quality green homebuilding, and allows you as a builder to clearly differentiate your work.

LEED is recognized both for the technical merit of the rating system, as well as for the integrated design process the rating system encourages. In the end, LEED results in better design, greater project oversight, higher build quality, lower warranty costs, and greater customer satisfaction.

In essence, LEED homes represent the very best “high-performance” typically available. LEED homes are more comfortable, will last longer, cost less to operate, and won’t harm the health of residents. Purchasers are willing to pay a premium to obtain these benefits. Yes, building green is good for Canadians, and good for the planet, but most importantly, it’s good business.

See also ‘Why certify homes though LEED Canada for Homes?’

LEED for Homes is Canada’s most credible green building rating system. Since the year 2000, hundreds of national experts have played a role in developing the voluntary new houses program. Builders have played a central role in the development as committee members, reviewers and active pilot participants.

LEED certification recognizes and rewards builders for meeting four levels of performance; certified, silver, gold and platinum. Certification is a homeowner’s assurance that their homes are durable, healthy, environmentally friendly and affordable. See also ‘Why should I build a LEED home?’

LEED is a national, third-party certification system for green homebuilding that is both focused on measurable results and rigorous in application. If you are new to green building, it may help to first start with other programs and work up to LEED. In addition to LEED Canada for Homes, BEC delivers the very best of these other programs.

However, LEED Canada for Homes and BEC Consulting do provide lots of support for builders, including Reference Guides and instructor-led workshops and online courses. Also, every project team works with a local or regional Provider that can help to guide your project successfully through the certification process.

To determine which of the green building programs would present the best fit for your organization, BEC Consulting offers builders a free review of the specifications, checklists and requirements for LEED and the other green building programs.

Each LEED Canada for Homes registered project is inspected by a LEED Canada for Homes Green Rater under the guidance of a LEED Canada for Homes Provider. Providers and Green Raters are local organizations and individuals with demonstrated experience with green building.

A LEED Canada for Homes Provider has three primary roles in a given market:

LEED Canada for Homes Providers are located around the country and selected by CaGBC through a periodic RFQ process to support builders through the LEED certification program. They have demonstrated outstanding abilities and have a proven record of supporting builders in the construction of high performance, sustainable homes.

The LEED Canada for Homes certification system is designed for new single-family homes as well as low- and mid-rise multifamily buildings. Existing homes or buildings undergoing extensive renovations are also eligible to participate in the program. Contact a BEC to determine if your project is suitable.

For green remodelling projects that do not qualify for LEED Canada for Homes, USGBC and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) have partnered to create REGREEN, the first US green residential remodelling guidelines for existing homes. The REGREEN guidelines are available for free download at www.greenhomeguide.org.

First, check out the LEED Canada for Homes Services section of our website . This section includes a step- -by-step outline of the LEED consultation and certification process, and the commitment required of a builder/project team. After you have read our LEED services section you will be presented with an offer for a no-cost introductory meeting to discuss you potential project.

You may also download the LEED Canada for Homes Rating System and Checklist from the ‘resources’ section of our website. . These documents are an easy way to familiarize yourself with the program, so you can decide if you want to take the next step and register a project.

Connect with the LEED Canada for Homes Provider of your choice. They’ll walk through the checklist with you so that you can see how LEED Canada for Homes applies to your project. Your Provider will also help you complete an ERS (EnerGuide) rating and perform the onsite verification steps required for LEED certification.

Set your green goals. LEED is a flexible system, so you’ll need to choose which credits are aligned with your project’s green goals. Your goals should include which level of LEED certification – Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum – you’re aiming for.

Register your project. You can register your project online through BEC Consulting. Registration fees apply.

Document and verify. You’ll work with a third-party verification team to help them verify all green elements of the project. You’ll be asked to provide product literature, design drawings, etc. and to coordinate with the verification team so they can conduct on-site performance tests and verification steps. Project team members will be asked to sign-off that various design measures were completed appropriately, and you’ll fill out the project checklist with your Provider.

Certify. Once your project is complete and your documentation is ready, your Provider will submit your final LEED checklist to the CaGBC for certification. Following a rigorous review, your project will be awarded its final certification.

Celebrate! We want to help you to celebrate your achievement with a certification packet you can share with your homebuyer and a PR toolkit to shares the good news with your community.

Registration and certification fees vary based on housing type. Discounts are available to CaGBC members and additional discounts are available for multi-home or multi-building projects.

See the LEED Canada for Homes website for more details.

NOTE: LEED Canada for Homes requires completion of on-site inspections prior to certification, so additional Provider and Green Rater verification costs will apply and are based on market prices.

There are many factors which influence Provider and Rater fees including project location, the project team’s LEED experience, and the level of certification being sought and credit specific verification requirements. Since each project is unique, after our initial project review we provide the project team with a detailed price proposal outlining the mandatory services required as per their project scope, and any optional services that may assist the project team. Prior to our initial review, BEC Consulting can provide pricing estimates to help with your project planning, please contact us here: Contact Us

You can call the CaGBC at 1-866-941-1184 or email them at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING