LEED certification concerns the construction of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings.
Everyday, more buildings are constructed using green materials that are less detrimental to the environment or are upgraded for energy efficiency. Building owners can receive LEED certification, an internationally recognized green building certification system that recognizes that the building owner, whether commercial or residential, has used design and building strategies to create a structure that is water efficient, provides energy savings, reduces CO2 emissions and improves the quality of the indoor environment. (Reference 1, paragraphs 1 through 3)
Fundamental Building Commissioning
The United States Green Building Council has included commissioning---a quality assurance process---in the LEED system certification. The Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning is the main step in obtaining certification. Owners have to complete six tasks that verify and ensure the building's design, installation and operation has meet all fundamental elements and systems to be considered a green building project. Some of these task include reviewing the basis of design documentation, utilizing a commissioning plan and verifying functional performance and training. (Reference 2, page 4)
Commissioning Certification
When the building owner has met the commissioning requirements for LEED certification, they submit documentation to the U.S. Green Building Council that all tasks have been completed. This documentation includes a copy of the commission plan with the six tasks highlighted along with a letter certifying the building's design intent was met with a successfully executed plan. (Reference 2, page 5, paragraph 4)
Additional Commissioning
Additional credits can be obtained to place more of an emphasis to a building owner's project. Additional Commissioning has the same requirements as for the Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning, along with five more tasks to ensure and verify the design and construction of the entire building has been met. The five additional tasks involve a focused design review completed before the construction's document phase, a review for those construction documents and the creation of a re-commissioning management manual. (Reference 2, page 6)
