What is a LEED-certified home?
A LEED-certified home meets the eco-friendly building and design standards developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
A home that’s LEED certified improves the home’s energy and water efficiency, and reduces CO2 emissions.
How to get a green / LEED-certified discount on home insurance
Many insurers offer as much as a 5% home insurance discount for LEED-certified homes in California.
All you have to do is upload your LEED Certificate within 14 days of buying your policy. Easy.
How do I know if my home is LEED certified?
Chances are you know whether your home is LEED certified because it was likely a selling point! Compared to average homes on the market, LEED-certified green homes often cost 20% more. That’s because these homes must be designed and built for this certification from the outset of their construction.
While LEED certification for existing homes is possible, most homes must be gutted down to the studs or completely remodeled to qualify.
LEED certification requirements
To get an eco-friendly home LEED certified, you may need:
- Register your project with LEED.
- Get the home verified by a LEED inspector.
- Wait for the application to be reviewed by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) – it usually takes 20 to 25 business days.
- Get certified based on the efficiency points your home earned.
There are four residential levels of LEED certification depending on how efficient the home is:
- Standard Certificate: For homes that are at least 40 to 49% efficient.
- Silver Certificate: For homes with 50 to 59% efficiency.
- Gold Certificate: For homes that are 60 to 79% efficient.
- Platinum Certificate: For homes that score 80 to 110%.
Homes are scored based on:
- Indoor air quality
- Sustainable and recycled materials
- Water efficiency
- Energy consumption
- Waste emitted into the atmosphere
- Sustainable landscaping
- Proximity to transit, stores, schools, and other amenities
The requirements are long and detailed, but the nice thing about a LEED-certified home? It uses 20 to 30% less energy than other homes. Plus, it increase the value of the home by about 4%.
