The official name for the certification is LEED-ND, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development. This new concept takes the techniques used to make greener buildings, and applies it to whole neighborhood development and subdivisions.
The idea began back in 2004, when the U.S Green Building Council looked to expand the concept of LEED, working with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress for New Urbanism. The goal is to create neighborhoods that have a gentler impact on the environment, while reducing carbon emissions and meeting a broader social and quality-of-life goals, such as housing affordability and locating jobs near homes. Developers can score higher in the new ratings system by preserving wetlands, enabling community gardens and farmers markets, and meeting other goals.
LEED-ND organizers recently launched training sessions so a developer, architect or other professional can obtain credentials as a LEED-ND specialist. Some 400 people applied within the first couple days.
Over the last decade, it has been found that buildings that are LEED certified have attracted more tenants and higher rents than non-LEED certified buildings. It will be interesting to see if the same is found with LEED certified neighborhoods. While smart growth planning and land use has been pushed by planners for year, hopefully this will be a push in the right direction for new neighborhoods and developments across the United States.
For a full article on LEED-ND, CLICK HERE
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