What is LEED®?
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) is the pre-eminent rating system for the way
buildings, homes and neighbourhoods are designed, developed and operated all
over the world. LEED is a third-party, green building certification that was
initially designed to challenge the traditional views on the places where
people live, work and learn.
LEED has developed into an
international benchmark in terms of sustainability and building excellence due
to the large number of successful projects and the integrity of the members.
LEED certification deals with both human and environmental health preservation.
The five key elements that are involved in Canadian LEED certification include:
- Sustainable
site development
- Water
efficiency
- Energy
efficiency
- Materials
selection
- Indoor
environmental quality
Despite the strong criteria
necessary to achieve LEED certification, there are flexible green building strategies available to accommodate a large variety of different projects.
The Canada Green Building Council
(CaGBC) is the largest and most recognized green building authority in Canada.
The CaGBC is a dynamic organization that continues to develop certification
criteria specific to the environments, building specifications and regulations
in Canada. As the sole license holder for LEED in Canada, the CaGBC relies heavily
on information received from its diverse range of members and industry experts
in order to continually offer the most comprehensive certifications.
The Value of Membership
The demand for green building and
environmentally friendly construction practices is higher than ever before.
More companies are looking to secure membership to a recognized Canadian green
council in order to display their devotion to the future of green building.
Members of the CaGBC have the added benefits of being able to directly
influence this sustainable future in Canada.
Becoming a corporate member of
the CaGBC automatically provides access to the latest green building practices
and news in the industry. Corporate credibility is greatly enhanced since the
CaGBC is a recognized authority for green building projects across the nation.
Members are able to display the CaGBC member logo and this shows clients,
partners and employees an unwavering dedication to healthy communities. Members
immediately gain access to the huge network of influential and industry-leading
contacts affiliated with the CaGBC. Corporate members also receive savings in
the form of:
- Course
registration fees
- LEED
certifications/project registrations
- Discounts
on LEED Accreditation
- Free
basic listing in the Canada Builds Green (CBG) directory
Individuals are also able to gain
membership to a local CaGBC chapter. This type of membership will provide
excellent networking opportunities as well as access to leading–edge learning
courses/materials.
There are also specialized
memberships available for students and new professionals. These memberships are
referred to as the Emerging Green Builders (EGBs) and they open a world of
networking and professional development possibilities to interested young
people in Canada.
Chapter memberships for EGBs and
other individuals are free if your company is a national member. There is no
better or faster way to connect with and grow your green building industry
network.
Take Control of the Future
The biggest advantage to becoming
a member of the Canada Green Building Council is the opportunity to directly
influence the future of green building in Canada. A membership provides a unique
voice in a forum where revolutionary ideas are shared and encouraged to help
promote the green building movement.
CaGBC memberships provide much
more than just LEED savings for members. Discover all of the benefits and value
that a CaGBC membership offers for
both corporate and chapter members today.