Alternatives to LEED-CI certification

WASHINGTON — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is arguably the most widely known certification for building interiors; however, two other certifications exist that address similar attributes: Energy Star and Green Globes, according to Green Buildings.

Energy Star, as offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), examines building energy usage and compares that data to national averages to establish a rating, the story stated.

According to the article, the Energy Star rating complements LEED-CI certification as it examines energy usage, a major component of the LEED-CI process.

Green Globes, originally developed in Canada and adapted for the U.S. in 2004, is similar to LEED-CI in that only points applicable to the specific project are taken into consideration; projects are not penalized for not achieving irrelevant points, the story noted.

According to the story, Green Globes differs from LEED-CI because once a building is constructed, a team of third-party assessors — including architects and engineers — walk the building to ensure it meets certification requirements.

The total cost of Green Globe certification for a 15,000-square-foot office building ends up being about $5,000 more than LEED-CI certification, the story added.

Sarah Gudeman, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP), said: "People haven't really heard of [Green Globe]. It's no wonder people lean more towards LEED. The two rating systems aren't supposed to be in competition, but I honestly don't see how they would conceivably fit together [like LEED-CI and Energy Star do]. Still, it's good to know what's out there."

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