The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has been changing the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. Dedicated to a sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings, USGBC created LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for professionals demonstrating knowledge in sustainable design, construction, operations and maintenance of buildings and communities.

While LEED certification has become second-nature in terms of commercial projects, it has still been mostly absent when it comes to homes. Homes are, arguably, the most important buildings in our lives, so transforming them to become more green is important—especially since LEED homes are built to provide clean indoor air and incorporate safe building materials.

The voluntary LEED for Homes rating system promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban and urban apartments, and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings.

Blane Haywood, Shaw’s vice president of marketing and national accounts, acknowledges the challenges of greater LEED for Homes visibility among consumers. “The typical homeowner has relatively little understanding of the specifics of LEED. They may want a sustainable, green or environmentally friendly home, but what that means to them varies by individual. And they are more likely to focus on attributes such as energy efficiency or wanting safe, healthy products in their home rather than any one certification. That said, homeowners do value third-party certification to verify the claims that are being made…”

Is LEED for Homes Right for Your Customer?

To continue reading click the link: http://www.floortrendsmag.com/articles/99278-leed-for-homes-do-your-flooring-customers-need-it

LEED for Homes: Do Your Flooring Customers Need It?

By: Terra Donnelly

Floor Trends Magazine

November 2015