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LEED Program and Earth Advantage (Green Certification Programs)
The first platinum LEED building was made in the U.S. to commemorate well-known early environmentalist, Aldo Leopold. The building is capable of generating 10-15% more electricity than it needs with its main material being locally harvested wood products. For an online tour as well as a more comprehensive description see Aldo Leopold Legacy Center. Another rating system that focuses on the residential level is Earth Advantage. Earth Advantage provides an excellent building certification program designed for new or remodeled homes. The program can help guide the standard home buyer or developer on how to design and support green home buildings. Applying a green certification on a building gives the owner comfort and satisfaction while also adding value to the building.
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Major organizations are working towards the development of green buildings. To support the effort, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has produced a green building certification program called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. The certification program is designed to have a third party auditor perform an assessment on the building's performance throughout its design, construction and commissioning. Based on the results, the buildings are awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze rating to recognize how “green” the building is.