LEED, EnergyStar, HERS® Index – do you know the difference? Below is a list of Green terms and acronyms you’re likely to encounter in the field.
Energy Star®: www.energystar.gov
This certification is awarded by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy and was introduced in 1995. There are more than 2 million Energy Star® certified homes in the US. Energy Star® certified homes are at least 10% more energy-efficient than homes built to code. In addition to buildings, plants, and residential homes, the Energy Star® certification can be found on the labels of products such as appliances, lighting, electronics, building materials, and more.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design): www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/residential
LEED is awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and was introduced in 2007 for homes. There are roughly 555,000 LEED-certified homes around the world, including multifamily. There are 4 LEED levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. LEED-certified homes are designed to provide clean indoor air and ample natural light and to use safe building materials to ensure comfort and good health. LEED is for all building types.
National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Green Certification: www.homeinnovation.com/green
NGBS Green certification is awarded by Home Innovation Research Labs, a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and was introduced in 2005. There are four NGBS levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald. This certification provides independent, third-party verification that a home, building, or land development is designed and built to achieve higher performance in six key areas: site design, resource efficiency, water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and building operation & maintenance.
Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index: www.hersindex.com
The HERS Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It is the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance. The lower the number, the more energy-efficient the home.