LEED® for Homes and Appliances

The USGBC is in the process of pilot testing a new rating system applicable to "green" homes that use less energy and water than conventional homes, while making less of an environmental impact as well. The pilot rating system for homes is based on a total of 108 possible points in 8 categories as follows:

Location and Linkages (LL)
Sustainable Sites (SS)
Water Efficiency (WE)
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Materials and Resources (MR)
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Homeowner Awareness (HA)
Innovation and Design Process (ID)

In order to qualify as a "certified" LEED® home, certain pre-requisites, plus a minimum of 30 points out of the 108 point total, must be achieved. In order to qualify a higher level, points must be achieved as outlined below:

Under the category of Energy and Atmosphere (EA), appliances are addressed with the specific intent of minimizing energy demand for appliances. Under the rating system, a potential of up to three points toward LEED® certification can be achieved by specifying appropriate appliances for a home. The first two points can be earned by specifying and verifying installation of ENERGY STAR® appliances. One half-point each is available for a refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a clothes washer that all bear the ENERGY STAR® label. An additional half-point is also available for using ENERGY STAR® labeled ceiling fans in the house.

A full additional point can be earned by specifying a very efficient clothes washer beyond the ENERGY STAR® minimum. Such a clothes washer would need to demonstrate that it has a tested modified energy factor (MEF) of 1.8 or greater and a tested water factor (WWF) of less than 5.5. Selecting and specifying the proper appliances are the parts that architects or designers can control. However, the USGBC requires verification that these appliances are actually installed. An approved third party, referred to as a "rater," will perform a visual inspection of the installed appliances and product labels to affirm that the specification criteria have been met. Then, the appropriate LEED® for homes paper work can be filled out and submitted. Carefully following this simple process will not only generate points toward certification, it will significantly reduce the amount of energy and water that the home uses by running appliances.